Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora South Canterbury contracts its laboratory services from Awanui Labs, which operates 2 collection centres and Timaru Hospital Laboratory. The laboratory provides an extensive range of diagnostic testing on site.
Specialist testing is provided by Southern Community Laboratories (the parent company of Awanui Labs) and by Canterbury Health Laboratories.
Awanui Labs
Canterbury Health Laboratories
The hospital laboratory provides 24 hour, 7 day support to the emergency department and hospital wards, with community and outpatient laboratory services available Monday to Friday.
Commonly ordered tests are for:
- biochemistry
- haematology
- microbiology
- histopathology
- cytology
- blood banking.
There are also general practice and home collection services.
- Rural medical centres may offer a laboratory collection service — ask your healthcare provider.
- Home collection is available for eligible patients — speak with your healthcare provider.
Laboratory staff
Medical laboratory staff includes:
- phlebotomists who draw blood samples
- technicians who collect, process and analyse samples and specimens
- scientists who are like technicians but also conduct more advanced testing — and provide evaluation, interpretation, problem solving and advice to healthcare providers
- pathologists who are specialist doctors and provide a diagnosis for some patients, to assist in their care.