Lab News
COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) TESTS

PathLab is a HKSARG-recognised accredited laboratory for COVID-19 testing. We perform the following COVID-19 tests in-house with professional and compliant reports for worldwide travel, testing on asymptomatic persons such as compulsory testing for specified building orders, Return 2HK, and post quarantine testing with data upload to the government EVT system. A doctor’s referral is required if you have symptoms or have a positive rapid antigen test.

  • COVID-19 RT-PCR (CNTS, NPS, DTS, or Stool test)
  • COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), Nasal Swab test
  • COVID-19 IgG Spike (S) Antibody (Quantitative), Blood test
  • COVID-19 Nucleocapsid IgG Antibody (Qualitative), Blood test
  • COVID-19 IgM Antibody (Qualitative), Blood test

HKSARG latest news: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html

PRENATAL TESTS
PanoramaTM Prenatal NIPT test
PanoramaTM NIPT performed by Natera International Inc., USA. Panorama is a market-leading non-invasive prenatal screening test (NIPT) that reveals your baby’s risk for genetic disorders as early as nine weeks. Panorama analyzes the baby’s (placental) DNA through a simple blood draw from the mother’s arm. Panorama can now perform the test for twin pregnancies.
https://www.natera.com/panorama-test
Horizon™ Prenatal Carrier Screening test for pre or during pregnancy
HorizonTM test looks at your genes to see if you’re a carrier for up to 274 autosomal-recessive and X-linked genetic conditions. Carriers usually do not have any symptoms. Since most individuals do not know if they have a gene for a disorder, they can pass the gene to their children. If both parents are carriers of the same recessive gene for a condition, there is a 50% chance that the children are the same as the carrier parents and a 25% chance that the children will get the gene from each parent and have the disorder. You can find a comprehensive list of the genes tested at:
https://www.natera.com/horizon-carrier-screen/what-it-screens
VistaraTM Single-Gene NIPT test
VistaraTM is the most comprehensive prenatal single-gene screening test for serious genetic conditions that affect quality of life and that could benefit from early intervention. It identifies probability for 25 conditions that may have otherwise gone undetected until after birth or into childhood. All conditions are inherited in an autosomal or X-linked dominant fashion, which means that if the mutation is present, the child will be affected by the condition and experience related symptoms. Most results will be returned to your clinician within 2-3 weeks. Conditions screened by Vistara have a combined incidence of 1 in 600 – higher than that of Down syndrome for pregnancies in women under 32.

Conditions and more information can be found here:
https://www.natera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Womens-Health-Patient-Vistara-non-invasive-prenatal-screen.pdf
https://www.natera.com/womens-health/vistara-nipt-single-gene-test/
Reproductive medicine
Reproductive medicine tests, both routine and esoteric, are offered. For some esoteric tests* PathLab has made arrangements with specialized testing laboratories in the USA to provide a complete range of tests. These include:
  • Anti-mullerian Hormone (AMH)
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
  • β-hCG
  • Progesterone
  • Prolactin
  • Estradiol (E2)
  • Testosterone
  • Anti-phospholipids*
  • Gene mutations for thrombophilia*
  • Natural Killer Cell & Cytokine assays*
  • Immunophenotypic assays*
  • Comprehensive semen analysis
ALLERGY TESTS
3gAllergy TM
3gAllergy TM test is available using Siemen’s IMMULITE 2000 system. This method is an FDA-cleared third-generation allergy test with high sensitivity. There is a broad range of allergy tests available. PathLab has created four profiles appropriate for this area. We offer our South China Allergy, Environmental, Food, and Pediatric Profiles:
https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/laboratory-diagnostics/assays-by-diseases-conditions/allergy/allergy-patients
CAAM-FABER IgE ALLERGY TEST
CAAM-FABER IgE ALLERGY TEST is a third-generation allergenic molecular Faber Multiplex IgE test adjunct to our traditional IgE allergy tests. The Faber test is comprehensive and combines the advantages of “traditional IgE” (122 protein extracts) with those of “modernity” (122 isolated molecules). 150 types of food or inhalant allergens are tested using traditional and molecular testing methods. The Faber test is performed and interpreted at the CAAM reference laboratory in Italy. Reports are bilingual, in English and Chinese.
https://www.caam-allergy.com/en/faber
YORKTEST® IgG Allergy Food Intolerance Test
PathLab has been selected by YORKTEST Laboratories Ltd (UK) as the only testing lab in Southeast Asia for performing the YORKTEST in-house. We offer the FoodScan IgG 113 Food Intolerance Test. The YORKTEST may be useful for persons suffering from chronic medical conditions of unknown cause who respond poorly to conventional medical intervention.
http://www.pathlabhk.com/LabNews/YorkList.pdf
CANCER MARKER TESTS
Cancer (Tumour Marker) Tests
Cancer marker blood tests are of most use in determining the effectiveness of cancer treatment and detecting recurrent cancer. They are often used in health screens in asymptomatic individuals for earlier detection. However, cancer markers in the blood are not specific, nor are they diagnostic alone, and doctors must interpret them with other tests and clinical history. Examples of tests available are:
  • AFP (Liver)
  • CA 15.3 (Breast)
  • CA125 (Ovary)
  • CA 72.4 (Ovary, pancreatic, stomach)
  • CA 19.9 (Pancreatic)
  • CEA (Colorectal)
  • β-hCG (Testicular, ovarian – e.g., germ cell tumors, choriocarcinoma)
  • PSA (Prostate)
  • Thyroglobulin (Thyroid)
FIT Stool test for Occult Blood
The FIT (Fecal Immunoassay Test) is a quantitative automated high-sensitive test for “hidden blood” in stool, an early indicator of colon cancer in asymptomatic individuals. The FIT test picks up minute amounts of blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye. It has proven to be an effective screening tool for detecting several gastrointestinal disorders such as colitis, polyps, early-stage cancers, and advanced adenomas. FIT collected on two days is an alternative cancer detection test if colonoscopy is not a screening option.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE TESTS
Film Array® Gastrointestinal PCR Panel
Film Array® Gastrointestinal PCR Panel on a stool sample is a multiplexed nucleic acid test for the simultaneous qualitative detection and identification of 22 of the most common gastrointestinal pathogens that cause diarrhea and other symptoms. It will pick up most cases of diarrhea from local or travel and is an excellent aid to doctors and patients throughout the year. The test has an overall sensitivity of 95-100% and 97-100% specificity.
Film Array® Respiratory PCR Panel
Film Array® Respiratory PCR Panel on respiratory samples in viral transport medium, is a multiplexed nucleic acid test for the simultaneous qualitative detection and identification of 17 viruses (including COVID-19) and 3 bacteria (Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae). This test has an overall sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 99%.
Infectious Disease Tests
Tests for infectious diseases cover a very large range and include viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi. Tests can be performed for example, on blood for antigens (Ag) and antibodies (Ab), cultures, smears or DNA/RNA testing using PCR methods.

Examples of common tests:
  • Bacterial & fungal cultures
  • Covid-19
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Dengue
  • Epstein Barr
  • H. pylori
  • Hepatitis
  • Measles
  • Mycoplasma
  • Mumps
  • Parasites
  • Parvovirus
  • Tuberculosis
  • Rubella
  • Varicella-zoster
  • Sexual health tests
Sexual Health PCR Profiles
Tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have come a long way. In addition to blood tests, we perform many tests using PCR methods. One of our STD profiles is listed below:
  • RPR
  • Syphilis TP Ab (TPA)
  • HSV 2 type-specific IgG Ab
  • HIV 1 & 2 Ab/p24 Ag Combo
  • Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) DNA
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) DNA
  • Trichomonas vaginalis DNA
  • Herpes simplex virus 1 DNA
  • Herpes simplex virus 2 DNA
  • Mycoplasma genitalium DNA
  • Mycoplasma hominis DNA
  • Ureaplasma parvum DNA
  • Ureaplasma urealyticum DNA
Xpert MTB/RIF® DNA Test
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a publication on the Global Tuberculosis Screening Program. WHO encourages high TB prevalent SE Asian countries to use the Xpert MTB/RIF® method as part of the plan for global screening to eradicate TB by the year 2030. This method is one of the best initial diagnostic tests used for detecting TB and Rifampicin resistance for people with signs and symptoms of pulmonary TB. The Xpert MTB/RIF® test has minimized the need for culture for diagnosis to a great extent. However, the AFB Smear and Culture still have an important role, e.g., for atypical TB, resistant strains, etc. So, we encourage ordering the AFB Smear and Culture together for high-risk cases.

https://www.cepheid.com/en_US/tests/Critical-Infectious-Diseases/Xpert-MTB-RIF
QuantiFERON® TB Gold Plus
The WHO acknowledges that to fight TB effectively, the accurate identification and treatment of Latent TB infection (LTBI) and active TB disease are vital. The Quantiferon® TB Gold test, an alternative to the TB Skin Test, identifies truly infected individuals (active and latent, although it cannot distinguish between them) for antibiotic therapy. This test is unaffected by the BCG vaccine and most non-TB mycobacteria, reducing unnecessary antibiotic treatments. TB Gold uses specific antigens that elicit CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to TB infection.

http://www.quantiferon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/PROM-7540-003_1099497_BRO_QFT_0914_WW.pdf
ANTI-AGING TESTS
Common Anti-Aging tests include:
  • DHEA-S
  • Estradiol
  • IGF-1
  • IGFBP-3
  • Insulin
  • SHBG
  • Testosterone, Bioavailable
  • Testosterone, Total & Free

Note:
If you require testing, please ask your doctor for a referral. In Hong Kong, tests for the purpose of medical diagnosis and / or treatment require a doctor's referral.