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
We have therefore tightened visitor restrictions for all Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury hospitals and health facilities.
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
ALT is a cytoplasmic enzyme predominantly found in hepatocytes.
ALT is included as part of the liver function tests panel.
Indications for testing
Investigation of liver disease
Core Biochemistry
ALT
Alanine aminotransferase
SGPT, plasma
3 hours
3530
4.5
1
0.6
Heparin microtainer tube 600 µL
0.1
Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)
ALT should be interpreted with the results of the other liver function tests.
ALT and AST are hepatocellular enzymes. An elevation of ALT and/or AST indicates damage to the hepatocytes with release of the enzyme into the circulation.
The AST/ALT ratio (De Ritis ratio) may suggest the underlying cause of the liver disease:
– AST/ALT >1 is associated with alcoholic liver disease, hepatic ischaemia and some types of viral hepatitis
– AST/ALT <1 is a common finding in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – these patients should be screened for other features of the metabolic syndrome
The magnitude of elevation does not always correlate with the degree of liver damage. Liver enzyme elevations in advanced cirrhosis are often relatively mild due to the paucity of functioning liver tissue. Conversely, very large elevations may occur due to hepatic ischaemia and toxin-induced necrosis (e.g. paracetamol overdose).
Performed on Beckman Coulter AU5822 analyser using Beckman Coulter reagents.
$2.91 (Exclusive of GST)
3530