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
May be of value in the assessment of residual pancreatic function in insulin treated diabetics, diagnosis of insulinoma and for investigation for covert insulin administration. It is suggested that an endocrinologist be consulted.
Endo/Steroid Lab
CPEP
7 days
7650
2
1
Pre-Testing Requirements - Fasted overnight. Fasting and 2 hour postprandial plasma glucose levels are useful INITIAL screening tests. Please send these results with C-peptide.
Avoid haemolysis.
Transport to lab on water/ice slurry if haemolysis likely.
0.5
Ambient (8 - 24 degrees Celsius)
Transport to lab ambient for up to 5 days if no hemolysis, otherwise frozen.
A deficient plasma C-peptide response to a defined protein/carbohydrate meal is seen in diabetes mellitus. For most clinical purposes the 24-hr urinary C-peptide excretion gives an adequate and more convenient index of endogenous pancreatic function. Excessive urinary C-peptide excretion is seen in insulinoma. Deficient C-peptide excretion is seen in diabetes mellitus and in hypoglycaemia due to the administration of exogenous insulin.
350 – 750 pmol/L (fasting, BMI <25)
Roche Cobas e411
$40.81 (Exclusive of GST)
7650
Measure glucose at the same time.
At room temperature, C-peptide is sensitive to hemolysis, and the rate of C-peptide loss increases with the degree of hemolysis. For example, at a level of 0.8g Hb/L, 10% of C-peptide is lost after 24 hours at room temperature.
C-peptide in plasma is not stable long-term at -20o. Loss is of the order of 2% per month. Stable at -40o or lower.