Men health pathology test referral

Pathology testing may help detect and monitor a range of health conditions that commonly affect Australian men, including:

• Cardiovascular disease risk
• Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes
• Testosterone deficiency
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Thyroid disorders
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Liver disease
• Anaemia and iron deficiency
• Haemochromatosis (iron overload)

Call 000 or attend your nearest Emergency Department immediately if you or someone else experiences:

• Chest pain or pressure — this may indicate a cardiac emergency
• Severe difficulty breathing or breathlessness at rest
• Blood in urine with severe pain, or inability to urinate — may indicate a urological emergency
• A testicular lump with sudden severe pain — may indicate testicular torsion, which requires emergency surgery within hours
• Sudden unexplained severe weight loss with other serious symptoms — seek urgent in-person assessment
• Severe abdominal or back pain — may indicate an aortic or renal emergency

Do not book a telehealth referral for these presentations.

A men’s health pathology referral via Hola Health is appropriate for routine screening, monitoring of known conditions, or investigation of non-emergency symptoms. If you are unsure whether your symptoms require emergency care, call 000 — it is always safer to seek immediate help than to delay.

The specific tests included in the pathology referral depend on symptoms, age, medical history, and overall health concerns.

• Full blood count (FBC)
• Liver function tests (LFTs)
• Cholesterol and lipid profile
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
• Kidney function tests
• Thyroid function tests
• Vitamin D or iron studies
• Urine tests
• Blood sugar test
• STI screening

Results will indicate whether each health marker falls within the expected reference range.

• Risk factors for chronic diseases
• Blood glucose and cholesterol levels
• Signs of infection or inflammation
• Potential nutrient deficiencies
• Indicators of prostate or reproductive health issues
• Whether organs like the liver or the kidney are functioning well
• Whether hormone levels are within the normal range

Pathology testing is a powerful tool, but it has some limitations, including:

• Results can vary based on recent activity, diet, illness, stress, or time of day.
• Some conditions may not appear in the early stages
• Blood tests may not be enough to diagnose every condition
• A result within range does not always mean there is no problem, and vice versa. 
• Further tests, such as advanced imaging, may still be required.
• Blood and urine tests cannot replace physical examination when symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, blood in urine, testicular lumps, severe pain or unexplained weight loss are present. In these instances, seek immediate care at an Emergency Department or call 000