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
Specialist Biochemistry
VLFA
Leucodystrophy screen
VLCFA
6 weeks
5695
1.0
1
If Lysosomal enzymes are also requested, in addition to VLCFA, and the samples are collected at Canterbury Health Labs, during working hours, then the whole blood can be forwarded to Specialist Chemistry, they will prepare the Lysosomal enzymes and the VLCFA.
In all other circumstances i.e when samples are not collected at CHL or in the Hospital environment the VLCFA sample must be spun and separated prior to being sent to CHL
If only VLFA is requested the sample must be spun and separated
0.5
Frozen
If overnight - Frozen
Haemolysis may interfere
Gas chromatography mass spectrometry
$330.00 (Exclusive of GST)
5695
Full Clinical Summary required.
Hexacosanoate, C26:C22 Ratio, C24:C22 Ratio, Phytanate and Pristanate will be reported.