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
Microbiology - Virology
HIVP
HIV DNA detection
HIV proviral DNA
Proviral DNA
2888
5.0
5.0
2.0
Advanced notice required. Take sample at start of working week.
PLEASE NOTE: With Paediatric samples a minimum of 2.0mL of sample is required
For application and interpretation refer Additional Comments.
HIV pro viral DNA detection.
$369.08 (Exclusive of GST)
2888
The main application of HIV pro-viral DNA PCR is to diagnose HIV infection in infants born to HIV-infected mothers. Please consult a Microbiologist or Microbiology Registrar before sending samples.
Testing is commonly performed at birth and after the compulsory 6 weeks treatment.
Testing may be performed in special cases to diagnose HIV infection when synthesis of antibodies is masked or not present. Please consult a Microbiologist or Microbiology Registrar before sending samples
Testing is performed at Labplus in Auckland.
A negative result may be due to:
1. Absence of HIV, or
2. Level of virus in sample below the sensitivity limits of the assay, or
3. Sequence variation of virus not recognised by the test primers.
Results should be interpreted in correlation with clinical history.