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Health testing

ESR experts protect our communities by testing for the presence of bacteria and viruses that cause human disease. These organisms can be spread person-to-person, through contact with animals or within health care facilities.

As New Zealand’s national reference laboratory, we build on the diagnostic and reference testing performed in hospital and community laboratories by confirming the diagnosis of communicable diseases (e.g. whooping cough, listeriosis, meningitis, salmonellosis, influenza and many others) and taking the diagnosis a step further by characterising the bacteria or virus using molecular tools (molecular biology), phenotypic characteristics of the micro-organisms or serological techniques.

Other testing, such as influenza surveillance, is done directly by screening specimens collected from patients, without referral from community laboratories.

Search our database for a specialist test or complete a referral form to submit a sample. We expect submitted samples to be packaged in IATA UN3373 compliant packaging. See the following link for details: DGR-64-EN-RGB (iata.org)(external link).

Our Kenepuru and Wallaceville laboratories are open 8am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.

Can’t find what you're looking for? Contact us at esr.enquiries@esr.cri.nz 

Laboratory