Laboratories — South Canterbury
A medical or clinical laboratory is where tests are performed on samples and specimens, to help get information about your health or to assist with a diagnosis. Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora South Canterbury has contracted community collection centres in Timaru and Temuka and a laboratory at Timaru Hospital.
Contact us
To contact laboratory services in South Canterbury:
- Dee Street Clinic, Timaru — phone 03 688 6206
- Temuka Clinic — phone 03 615 6579
- Timaru Hospital Laboratory — phone 03 687 2253
Where to find us
Laboratory services for South Canterbury are at:
Dee Street Clinic
4 Dee Street
Timaru
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:15pm
Temuka Clinic
104 King Street
Temuka
Monday to Friday, 8am to 1pm
Timaru Hospital Laboratory
Timaru Hospital
Queen Street
Timaru
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 5:15pm
Hospital map — Timaru Hospital
Services we provide
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora South Canterbury contracts its laboratory services from Awanui Labs, which operates 2 collection centres and Timaru Hospital Laboratory. The laboratory provides an extensive range of diagnostic testing on site.
Specialist testing is provided by Southern Community Laboratories (the parent company of Awanui Labs) and by Canterbury Health Laboratories.
Canterbury Health Laboratories (external link)
The hospital laboratory provides 24 hour, 7 day support to the emergency department and hospital wards, with community and outpatient laboratory services available Monday to Friday.
Commonly ordered tests are for:
- biochemistry
- haematology
- microbiology
- histopathology
- cytology
- blood banking.
There are also general practice and home collection services.
- Rural medical centres may offer a laboratory collection service — ask your healthcare provider.
- Home collection is available for eligible patients — speak with your healthcare provider.
Laboratory staff
Medical laboratory staff includes:
- phlebotomists who draw blood samples
- technicians who collect, process and analyse samples and specimens
- scientists who are like technicians but also conduct more advanced testing — and provide evaluation, interpretation, problem solving and advice to healthcare providers
- pathologists who are specialist doctors and provide a diagnosis for some patients, to assist in their care.
Referral information
You can be referred for a laboratory test by healthcare providers including general practitioners, midwives, nurse practitioners and specialist doctors.