Laboratory Services

Comprehensive Chemistry Panel:

• Kidney function (creatinine, BUN, SDMA)
• Liver enzymes and function
• Blood sugar (glucose)
• Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride)
• Total protein and albumin
• Pancreatic enzymes

Complete Blood Count:

• Red blood cell levels (detecting anaemia)
• White blood cell counts (detecting infection or immune disorders)
• Platelet numbers (assessing clotting ability)

Urinalysis:

• Kidney function assessment
• Bladder infection detection
• Diabetes screening
• Protein loss detection

Additional Testing:

• Blood clotting times
• Thyroid hormone levels
• Cortisol testing for adrenal disease
• Emergency electrolyte testing
• Cytology (microscopic examination of masses, fluids, or tissue samples)

For Sick Pets:

Hours matter when pets are critically ill. Same-day results enable us to begin appropriate treatment immediately, correcting dehydration, addressing infection, and managing organ dysfunction, rather than waiting overnight or longer for external laboratory reports.

For Pre-Surgical Screening:

We assess organ function before anaesthesia, identifying concerns that might require adjustments to the anaesthetic protocol or procedure postponement. Same-day results enable us to proceed with scheduled procedures without delay when screening is regular or make informed decisions about timing if abnormalities are detected.

For Monitoring Chronic Disease:

Pets on long-term medications or with conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism need regular monitoring. Same-visit results enable immediate medication adjustments, when necessary, rather than waiting days and then attempting to reach you with recommendations that require additional visits.

Our laboratory features equipment comparable to that used in human hospital settings – the same analysers used to process human samples in medical laboratories. We perform internal quality control, participate in external quality assurance programmes, and calibrate equipment regularly to ensure accuracy.

Results are interpreted in the context of each pet’s history, symptoms, and physical examination findings. Numbers alone don’t tell complete stories – experienced clinical judgment combined with accurate testing creates diagnoses you can trust.

Some tests require external reference laboratories, including specific hormone panels, advanced infectious disease testing, genetic tests, histopathology (microscopic tissue examination), and other advanced diagnostics. Results typically return within 24–48 hours, though some tests may take longer.

We explain which tests are processed in-house versus externally when recommending diagnostics, so you understand result timeframes.

Laboratory testing isn’t just for sick pets. Annual blood work for adult pets and twice-yearly for seniors detects disease before symptoms appear, when treatment is most effective and affordable.

We catch kidney disease, liver dysfunction, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and other conditions early, often years before clinical signs develop. Early intervention consistently delivers better outcomes, lower treatment costs, and more years of good health together.

For more information on Laboratory Services, contact Vet HQ Darlinghurst or Double Bay.