Hospital visiting guidelines updated 20 July 2022: Hospital visitors must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are no longer acceptable. See our COVID-19 pages for detailed information about hospital visiting guidelines, COVID-19 tests and care in the community advice. See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for information about vaccinations.
We are at ORANGE according to the NZ COVID-19 Protection Framework
Last updated:
9th April 2022
Kia whakahaumaru te whānau, me ngā iwi katoa – this is to keep everybody safe:
By sticking to the rules above, you help keep our patients, staff, other visitors and yourself safe. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as our staff work hard to protect and care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.
Exceptions to the ‘one visitor’ policy
Visiting patients with COVID-19
You must NOT visit the hospital if you
Exceptions for people with disabilities
An exception will be made for people with disabilities who are in hospital or have to attend an outpatient appointment – where they need a support person to access health services. For example, a sign language interpreter, support person for someone with a learning disability, or someone to assist with mobility. The support person is in addition to the one permitted visitor.
Everyone visiting our facilities must wear a mask, no exceptions
While we appreciate that some people have legitimate reasons for being exempt from wearing a mask and may even have an official card to confirm this, people who cannot or will not wear a mask cannot visit someone in hospital or attend hospital, other than to access healthcare. This is another measure to minimise the risk to vulnerable patients.
Patients and visitors should also read the additional more detailed visiting guidelines for each specific hospital.
More COVID-19 information
For diagnosis and monitoring of sarcoidosis.
CSF ACE in meningeal sarcoid should be up in the serum range
Specialist Biochemistry
ACEC
CSF ACE
8 weeks
5823
0.2
Patient Specimen - Paired CSF and serum separated from cells frozen
Frozen
CSF samples can be stored at 2-8C for up to 7 days. For longer periods store frozen - stable frozen up to 180 days (from Mayo clinic lab website)
Normal CSF ACE (Mass) 0.3 – 7.4 ug/L
ACE mass assay (unaffected by ACE inhibitors) ran on Beckman AU480 analyser at Pathology Queensland Central Laboratory.
Occasionally plasma ACE samples can be forwarded here as well.
$886.04 (Exclusive of GST)
5823
Blood contamination of CSF is a problem, because serum levels are 30-130 IU/L. Heparinised plasma OK but serum is less prone to turbidity.
Referred to Pathology Queensland Central Laboratory