Pathology | Eastern Health

Test & Collection Guide

Pathology staff view

PLEASE NOTE: Recent changes have been made to this Test

Recent changes for Copper - Blood
Date	Field	Changed From	Changed To
26th March 2025	Preferred Specimen Type	Plasma	Serum
	Preferred Container Type	Trace metal tube ( Dark blue )	Serum tube with gel
	External Laboratory	Alfred Hospital	Royal Childrens Hospital
	Method	Spin and separate plasma into a yellow top PP tube. Pipettes cannot be used to transfer plasma.
26th March 2025	Preferred Specimen Type	Serum	Plasma
	Preferred Container Type	Serum tube with gel	Trace metal tube ( Dark blue )
	External Laboratory	Austin Pathology	Alfred Hospital
	Method		Spin and separate plasma into a yellow top PP tube. Pipettes cannot be used to transfer plasma.

Copper - Blood

Alternate names:

Laboratory:

Referred Test

Test Code:

Specimen types:

Serum

Container types:

Serum tube with gel

Collection Instructions:

Transport specimen at Room Temperature to lab
Sample haemolysis may make this test unreportable

24 hour urinary copper is a more useful test for Wilson's disease.

Copper levels increase with intake of oestrogen, steroids, or in third trimester of pregnancy.

Minimum Adult Volume:

2 mL

Paediatric Minimum Volume:

1 mL

Frequency:

Weekly

Result Turnaround Time:

7-10 days

Laboratory Use Only

If EMR is not available, Pathology results are available from Auscare. If you do not have an Auscare login,please complete attached form. https://pathology.easternhealth.org.au/handbook/downloads/Auscare%20user%20Form%20LIS.pdf

Instruction on how to use Auscare - https://pathology.easternhealth.org.au/handbook/downloads/Auscare%20instructions.pdf

SPECIMEN COLLECTION MODULE (SCM) FAQs - CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE for Consent form to perform tests not covered by Medicare

CLICK HERE for Minimum Labelling Requirements

For Microbiology Swab Collection https://pathology.easternhealth.org.au/handbook/downloads/microbiology/Microbiology%20Swab%20Specimen%20Collection.pdf

Printable Pathology request form https://pathology.easternhealth.org.au/handbook/downloads/2025%20A5%20referral%20slip_2%20pages.docx

"THE ART OF CCCCOLLECTION"

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE PREFERRED ORDER OF DRAW

Feedback

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Test & Collection Guide

PLEASE NOTE: Recent changes have been made to this Test

Recent changes for Copper - Blood

Date

Field

Changed From

Changed To

Preferred Specimen Type

Preferred Container Type

External Laboratory

Method