Mater Pathology

Most tests can be taken on-the-spot with no appointment necessary, however some specialist tests do require a scheduled appointment, including:

• Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
• Urea Breath Test
• NIPT
• paediatric collections
• additional tests listed here.

Please contact our team on 07 3163 8500 to make an appointment.

Yes, we accept referral forms for all pathology providers, including QML, Sullivan & Nicolaides, 4Cyte and many others.

You don't need to have received a Mater Pathology form to visit our collection centres.

Mater Pathology offers a broad range of pathology services and specialised tests including:

• blood tests
• respiratory testing*
• Glucose Tolerance Testing
• NIPT

Most tests can be done on-site however some test do require an appointment. If you are unsure if we offer the test you require, or want to know more information about how to prepare for your test, please call 07 3163 8500 or contact your local collection centre.

*Not available at collection centres located within a hospital.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for your test:

• Bring your pathology test request form (we accept all pathology request forms, excluding commercial testing).
• You will be asked about your current medications and doses, so you may find it helpful to bring in a list of your medications and give to the Mater Pathology staff member taking your collection.
• Bring your valid Medicare card.
• Unless advised otherwise, drink plenty of water prior to your test.
• For fasting blood tests, it is recommended you eat your normal evening meal, then fast for preferably 8 to 16 hours (ideally 10-12 hours) before your morning blood test. Only water is permitted during the fasting period.

Some tests require specific preparation and collection. If you've been advised to do a special collection test further information is available below to help you prepare.

It is important to look after your collection site to ensure bruising of the area does not occur. We recommend you avoid lifting any weighted objects for 24 hours. If you experience bruising you can apply ice, however you can also contact us if you need further advice.

Did you know that we also provide an efficient and bulk billed* home collection service for all patients throughout Brisbane, Ipswich and northern Gold Coast? If you are a cancer patient at Mater, or have attended one of our Mater hospitals (pre-op or post-op), we can come to you. If you are elderly and without transport, or are a parent with young children and have difficulty getting to one of our collection centres, we can come to you. Our service exists to support both Mater and St Vincent’s patients in our community to ensure you can access care when you need it.

Utilising a team of fully qualified collectors—specialising in the collection of specimens for general adult, maternity, paediatric and neonatal tests—our home service allows you to access our expertise from the comfort of your own home.

Operating hours

Brisbane North: 
7am to 3pm (Tuesdays and Fridays only)

Brisbane South, Bayside and Ipswich: 
7am to 3pm (Monday - Friday)

Gold Coast (south to Hope Island): 
7am to 3pm (Monday - Friday)

To book a home collection service or for further information please call our team on 07 3163 8500.

*Conditions may apply in some circumstances.

If you would like to learn more about a test you need or to better understand your results, Pathology Tests Explained is a great third-party resource to help you understand your pathology test.

Our tertiary hospital laboratory is accredited to national standards by both the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). Our laboratory also holds Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) accreditation for many of our testing areas.

Mater Pathology can tailor commercial services to suit your needs, including:

• occupation screening
• staff health and wellness
• pre and post vaccination screening
• COVID-19 and respiratory screening
• environmental testing.

Whatever the requirement for your business, our team can meet with you and discuss a tailored approach. To enquire about our commercial testing, please send us an email.

Mater is changing how pathology services are delivered. Over the next 12 to 18 months, Mater will transition its community collection centres and work with experienced pathology providers, including Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology and Pathology Queensland, to support ongoing access to high-quality pathology services at its hospitals.

No. Patients will continue to receive the same high-quality care throughout the transition. Pathology remains an essential part of patient care at Mater, and services will continue to support treatment, diagnosis and clinical decision-making.

No. Patients do not need to take any action at this time. If any changes affect you directly, your healthcare team will let you know and provide any support you need.

Yes. We are working closely with our pathology partners to ensure clinicians continue to have access to the information they need to support patient care.

Yes. Pathology services will continue to be available across Mater hospitals and healthcare services throughout the transition.

Yes. Mater Pathology collection centres remain open for the time being.

Changes to the collection centre network will occur at a later stage of Mater Pathology’s transition. 

We will provide information about any changes to collection centres before they take effect.

For updates or to find a collection centre operating near you, visit: Mater Pathology collection centres - Mater

Continuity of care is a priority throughout the transition. We are carefully managing the process to ensure patients continue to receive the care and support they need.

Most patients will not notice any immediate changes. If changes are required for a particular service or location, patients affected will be advised by their healthcare team.

The transition will occur gradually over the next 12 to 18 months to ensure continuity of care and minimise disruption for patients and clinicians.

If you have questions about your care or pathology services, please speak with your treating healthcare team or contact Mater via marketing@mater.org.au in the first instance. 

There is no immediate change to your care. While the Warfarin care program will close as part of the broader changes to Mater Pathology, it will continue operating for the time being and will close at a later stage of the transition.

Please continue to follow your usual arrangements for your care and testing. Before anything changes, Mater will contact you directly with clear information about what is changing, when it will happen and anything you need to do.

We understand that changes to a service you rely on may be concerning, and we will make sure you have the information you need before any change takes effect.

No. Please continue with your usual Warfarin care program arrangements unless you are contacted directly by Mater and advised otherwise.

Yes. The Warfarin care program will close at a later stage of Mater Pathology’s transition.

The broader transition of Mater Pathology services is expected to occur over 12 to 18 months, with different services transitioning at different times.

Before the Warfarin care program closes, Mater will contact affected patients with information about the new arrangements and any action they need to take.

Mater is working through the future arrangements for the service.

Before anything changes, affected Warfarin care program patients will be contacted directly and provided with information about the new arrangements and anything they need to do.

Doctors and referrers will also receive information about the change.

Until then, please continue with your current Warfarin care program arrangements.

Yes. Mater will contact Warfarin Program patients directly before the service changes, so you understand what is happening and what you need to do.

We have an online payment portal to make it easier to pay your Mater Pathology bill.

Visit the Mater payment portal

Mater Pathology bulk bills all community tests which are eligible for a Medicare rebate. 

To be eligible for a Medicare rebate, the following requirements must be met:

• a valid Medicare number
• tests requested are Medicare rebateable
• the doctor has clearly indicated to bulk bill on the request and all Medicare requirements are clearly stated against the tests requested, and
• you have signed the Medicare Assignment.

If these requirements have not been met, you may receive a bill for out-of-pocket expenses. Your test collector can provide more information to help clarify this.

Mater Pathology has a small number of tests which are requested by physicians that are not eligible for Medicare rebates. We offer market competitive rates for these tests to limit the impact to you. 

View our non-Medicare rebateable test schedule

Where certain tests are not eligible for Medicare funding or covered by your Private Health Insurer, we offer competitive rates to minimise financial impact to you. This may depend on which test you have had and where it was taken

Public patients

i.e. I have recently been admitted to Mater Hospital Brisbane as a public patient and/or have attended a Mater Hospital Brisbane outpatient clinic as a public patient.

• Except for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), public patients of Mater hospitals do not incur out of pocket pathology expenses provided testing is performed by Mater Pathology. In some outpatient circumstances, the cost of eligible testing may be charged directly to Medicare. Public patients that elect to have NIPT will be charged the cost of the test up front to enable testing to proceed.

Private patients 

i.e. I have recently been admitted to a private hospital serviced by Mater Pathology. This includes patients undergoing day procedures. 

Mater Pathology has ‘No-Gaps Agreements’ with private health funds and these arrangements may change over time. If you are insured with these funds, your account for Medicare eligible tests performed while you are in hospital will be sent to your health fund for full payment. Before attending, please check with your insurer for further details.

Uninsured patients will receive an account for their Medicare eligible tests. Once the account is paid, we will forward your receipt to enable you to lodge a claim with Medicare and obtain your rebate for eligible tests.

If you are a self-insured private patient you are responsible for your account. Once the account is paid, we will send you out a receipt to enable you to lodge a claim with Medicare and obtain your rebate for eligible tests.

Private community patient 

i.e. I have recently visited a Mater Pathology collection centre after being referred by my specialist or General Practitioner, or my sample was collected by my specialist or General Practitioner and referred to Mater Pathology for testing.

• A small number of pathology tests are not eligible for a Medicare rebate or may only be eligible for a Medicare rebate when the patient satisfies certain conditions. The Department of Health and Ageing is responsible for administering the Medicare Benefits Schedule that specifies which tests are eligible for a rebate. If you have non-Medicare rebateable tests performed you will receive an account, even if other tests are bulk billed or direct billed to your health fund. 
• Tests requested in any of the following circumstances are not eligible for a Medicare rebate: employment and education health screening, immigration, insurance, overseas patients, superannuation, travel, visa applications. Additionally, please see our current price list for common tests ineligible for a Medicare rebate.
• If the referral is related to a Workcover or Transport Accident Commission claim and a claim number is provided, an account will be forwarded to the organisation for payment. If a claim number is not provided, you will receive an account.
• Additionally, Mater Pathology bulk bills routine Medicare eligible pathology tests for the following patients:
  • Pension (PHB) cardholders
  • Health Care cardholders
  • Veterans Affairs Gold cardholders
  • Commonwealth Seniors cardholders
  • Nursing home residents

International patients and travelers

Overseas patients can access our services—we ask our overseas patients to pay for the services they are utilising upon presentation. Once a receipt for these services is provided to you, you are able to claim from the relevant travel or health insurer.

For all account enquiries please call 07 3163 8636 Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.