The Laverty Pathology 12th Annual Women’s Health Conference will be held this year on Saturday 15 March 2014 at the University of New South Wales
Click here to download the Invitation.
Click here to download the Registration Form.
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Private Pathology Overview- National Pathology Forum 2013
Ian Kadish, CEO, Laverty Pathology presented on “Private Pathology Overview” at the National Pathology Forum 2013.
Click HERE to download a PDF copy of the presentation.
Also feel free to view the presentation by Ian Kasish HERE.
This annual conference provides a platform for the public and private sectors to come together and discuss all the latest issues affecting the pathology sector in Australia.
For more information, please visit the conference website: http://www.informa.com.au/pathologyforum
Laverty offer iGeneScreen™ testing
Laverty Pathology are pleased to offer women access to an exciting innovation in pregnancy care. The iGeneScreen™ Non-Invasive Foetal Screening test is now availabe.
iGeneScreen™ – For Patients
- Make an appointment with your Specialist O&G, Fertility, Ultrasonologist or other doctor familiar with this test.
- Discuss the iGeneScreen™ test with your Doctor and fill out the request and consent forms.
- The test can be performed from when you are 12 weeks pregnant.
- Make sure that you understand the test and all your queries have been answered.
- Your doctor will inform you of the nearest Laverty Collection Centre designated to collect this specific test.
- Please note: Tests can be collected from Monday to Thursday until Midday ONLY and all collections must be pre booked.
Please contact Collections on (02) 9005 7000. - The result of your test will be sent directly to your requesting Doctor within approximately 2 weeks.
- The cost of the test is $1,200.00* and there is no Medicare rebate available. The cost is payable by credit card at the time of your pathology collection. Personal cheques are not accepted.
To download a patient information brochure click here.
iGeneScreen™ – For Doctors
Click here to download an iGeneScreen™ Doctor Information Sheet
Click here to download an iGeneScreen™ Request and Informed Consent Form.
If you would like to be added to the list of Doctors providing this test through Laverty Pathology, please email our marketing department by clicking here and provide us with your name, practice name, address and phone number and we will include you on the next list update.
iGeneScreen™ is an INEX trademark for the non-invasive prenatal screening test developed by BGI.
Innovations Exchange (INEX) is a leading women’s health molecular diagnostic company focused on the research and development of innovative technology for the advancement of women’s, maternal and fetal health. http://www.inex.sg/
BGI is the world’s largest sequencing and bioinformatics institute for the advancement of genomics research and technology. www.genomics.cn/en
Spirometry Testing at Laverty Pathology
Accurate measurement of ventilatory function is now more accessible.
Measurement of ventilatory function is part of routine assessment of respiratory disease. Spirometry is the lung function test of choice for both diagnosis and serial assessment of obstructive airways disease.
The aim of spirometry in general practice is to assess variability of airflow obstruction, and to measure the degree of airflow obstruction compared with predicted normal values.
Current clinical practice guidelines recommend that all doctors managing asthma and COPD should have access to and use a spirometer for optimal assessment of lung function.
Most adults and children over 7 years of age can perform spirometry.
At Laverty Pathology, we offer accurate spirometry conforming to international standards, performed by experienced technicians, and reported by specialist physicians.
Download Laverty Pathology’s newsletter by clicking this link: Spirometry testing at Laverty Pathology
Spirometry Testing at Laverty Pathology
Accurate measurement of ventilatory function is now more accessible.
Measurement of ventilatory function is part of routine assessment of respiratory disease. Spirometry is the lung function test of choice for both diagnosis and serial assessment of obstructive airways disease.
The aim of spirometry in general practice is to assess variability of airflow obstruction, and to measure the degree of airflow obstruction compared with predicted normal values.
Current clinical practice guidelines recommend that all doctors managing asthma and COPD should have access to and use a spirometer for optimal assessment of lung function.
Most adults and children over 7 years of age can perform spirometry.
At Laverty Pathology, we offer accurate spirometry conforming to international standards, performed by experienced technicians, and reported by specialist physicians.
Download Laverty Pathology’s newsletter here:
Prostate cancer treatment praised
Australia and New Zealand are among the best places in the world to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a visiting US professor who says aggressive treatment is being avoided in many cases.
In many countries, a diagnosis of prostate cancer almost always leads to removal or radiation therapy. In Australia and New Zealand, however, many low-risk patients are being managed by active surveillance.This means they are monitored with regular blood tests, biopsies and MRIs and aggressive action is taken only if the disease becomes life-threatening. Visiting American professor James Eastham, who will address urologists at a conference in Melbourne on Monday, is full of praise for his colleagues in Australia and New Zealand. He says about one in three men who are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer are candidates for active surveillance. In Australia and New Zealand, about half of these are managed with active surveillance. This is well ahead of the US, where only about 10 per cent of eligible patients are managed by active surveillance. This leads to over-treatment. ‘I’m impressed. This is not the traditional way of treating cancer,’ said Prof Eastham, from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. He will reassure the annual scientific meeting of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand that the latest research from around the world suggests active surveillance is a safe and effective way to manage patients. ‘It maximises quality of life without compromising quantity of life.’ Prof Eastham also agrees with the society’s position on screening men at the age of 40. ‘We know testing saves lives,’ he says.
Can Twitter prevent heart disease?
Twitter may help prevent heart disease, according to a new Australian study.
The fast and far-reaching way that information spreads through the social network has the potential to save lives by providing education about the illness, which the Heart Foundation says kills one Australian every 12 minutes.
A group of researchers from the University of Sydney reached that conclusion after studying 15 health-focused Twitter accounts with more than one million followers, nine professional organisations and six medical journals.
‘The study showed that, through its inherent networking, social media sites like Twitter have the potential to enhance education, awareness and overall management of cardiovascular disease,’ the university said in a statement.
The findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on Tuesday.
‘The popularity and rise of Twitter has made it a readily available, free, and user-friendly tool to disseminate information rapidly to a diverse audience, for example, to engage health professionals and heart attack survivors,’ said lead author, Associate Professor Julie Redfern.
‘In recent years, a growing number of health professionals have been using social media to share information.
‘In a survey of 485 oncologists and physicians, 24 per cent used social media at least daily to scan or explore medical information.’
Senior author Professor Chris Semsarian pointed to recent studies which suggested Twitter also spreads key information about quitting smoking and managing epileptic seizures.
11th Annual Women’s Health Conference
Women’s Health Conference
We are pleased to invite you to our 11th Annual Womens Health Conference for General Practitioners on Saturday 13th October 2012 in ‘The Scientia Building’, University of New South Wales, Barker St, Randwick.
Please click on the following links for more information and registration.
Milestones in Pathology Workshop
A workshop for anatomical pathology registrars, presented by Dr Esther Myint will be held in Laverty Pathology in North Ryde from 24th to 25th November 2012. Space for 50 participants only.
Please click on the following links to download information and registration forms.
Milestones in Pathology- Information
Milestones in Pathology- Registration Form
For more information or enquiries please email on: melissa.theocharous@laverty.com.au
Australians vaccine rates low for at-risk pneumonia
Almost two-in-three at-risk Australians aged 15-to-64 are failing to protect against an often fatal lung infection, according to new Australian-first research released today.
Spearheaded by the University of Sydney’s Family Medicine Research Centre and based on GP data involving 2,500 patients nation-wide, the research reveals poor vaccination rates among younger Australians, many of whom are at increased risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia – a severe form of pneumonia caused by bacteria – compared with those aged 65 years and over.
Doctors are joining forces with patients this Pneumonia Awareness Week (July 2 – 8), to call for preventative action to curb pneumococcal infection rates this winter.
According to Professor Robert Booy, Head of Clinical Research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), Sydney, this research reinforces the dangers associated with pneumococcal pneumonia, particularly during the colder months.
“Pneumonia-like illness is one of the top 10 contributing causes of deaths in Australia. The most recent statistics reveal that in one year, more females died from pneumonia than males, with 1,303 female deaths compared to 1,019 male deaths.
“Worryingly, this research reveals vaccination coverage is low among people aged 15-to-64 years who are at-risk of pneumococcal pneumonia, including people living with diabetes, chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and tobacco smokers,” said Prof Booy. “In addition, one of the most commonly cited factors associated with low vaccination rates among high-risk groups is patient objection, particularly among those aged 65 years and older. But if only these people recognised the fact that they are at such high risk, they would get vaccinated. “This finding is also particularly concerning, given the number of new cases of pneumococcal pneumonia each year rises exponentially between the ages of 50 and 80 years,” Prof Booy said.
The bacteria that causes pneumococcal pneumonia, known as Streptococcus pneumoniae, is responsible for approximately 1.6 million deaths per year world-wide, claiming more lives than any other single bacteria. “Streptococcus pneumoniae is a very cunning organism, which can be spread by touching an infected person and through infected droplets in the air from a cough or sneeze,” said Prof Booy.
“There are ways to protect yourself against pneumococcal pneumonia, including vaccination,” according to Adelaide GP and Director of the Influenza Specialist Group, Dr Rod Pearce AM. “To avoid the spread of infection practising good hygiene is vital – regular hand-washing, keeping household surfaces clean, and learning to recognise the symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia, including rapid or difficulty breathing, cough, fever, chills or loss of appetite.”
Entertainer and presenter, Patti Newton, was unaware of the severity of pneumonia until the illness struck her husband of 38 years, Bert, last winter. “At first Bert was displaying flu-like symptoms, including a persistent cough. Then he began struggling to breathe.” After observing her husband’s declining health, Patti convinced him to see their local doctor. “I kept urging Bert to visit the doctor because I knew something wasn’t right. “Our local GP sent Bert directly to hospital emergency, where specialists diagnosed pneumonia in both lungs. The pneumonia was obstructing Bert’s airways. He was sent straight to intensive care and hooked up to all sorts of equipment. It was incredibly frightening,” Patti said. Patti is now committed to heightening community awareness and understanding of pneumonia. “Many people incorrectly liken pneumonia to the flu. But once pneumonia takes hold of you, it’s very hard to shake. It’s a serious and often life-threatening infection that requires certain preventative measures. “People at increased risk of pneumonia should speak to their doctor about ways to protect themselves against pneumococcal pneumonia. Bert has been vaccinated, to reduce his risk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia, and I’m about to have one too,” said Patti.
According to Dr Pearce, while pneumococcal pneumonia can affect anyone, some people are at heightened risk of contracting the infection. “Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended in Australia for infants, patients aged 65 years and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, tobacco smokers and high-risk people aged 10–64 years, including those with impaired immunity, and those with diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease and chronic kidney disease. “GPs can diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia with a variety of tests, including a physical examination, chest X-ray, phlegm test, blood test and a urine test,” Dr Pearce said. During normal respiration, air travels through the lungs to the alveoli or air sacs. Pneumococcal pneumonia is the result of the air sacs filling with fluids, most commonly caused by bacteria obstructing normal air flow.
Single mother, Melody, 38, from Melbourne, recently contracted pneumonia from her eight-year-old daughter. “I’m young, fit and healthy with no underlying medical conditions, so I never considered myself to be a candidate for pneumonia, and I had no idea of its severity.” In March 2012, Melody’s daughter, Rowdy, was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia after presenting to her doctor with a thick, phlegm-like cough and fever. After undergoing a chest X-ray, Rowdy was prescribed medication, fluids and lots of rest. To monitor her wellbeing over night, Rowdy slept next to her mother. Following Rowdy’s recovery, Melody returned to her normal routine, soon after which she collapsed, marking the start of her personal fight against bacterial pneumonia. “I was freezing cold and aching all over. My temperature was fluctuating between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius for five days straight. It’s the worst I’ve ever physically felt,” Melody said. “I was admitted to hospital for a series of intravenous antibiotics after a chest X-ray revealed a bacterial pneumonia infection. “Since the ordeal, I’ve been running on 70 per cent energy and am taking a minimum six-to-12 month road to full recovery,” said Melody.
Laverty pathology 