PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA

01/09/2026

🩸 Blood Cancer Awareness Month | Supporting Better Outcomes for Western Australians

This September, PathWest is recognising Blood Cancer Awareness Month by highlighting the essential role pathology and haematology services play in the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of people affected by blood cancer.

As Western Australia’s public pathology provider, PathWest delivers specialist services that support patients with conditions such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, helping clinicians make informed decisions through accurate and timely diagnostic testing.

Our services include:
• Advanced laboratory testing and diagnostics
• Specialist haematology interpretation and clinical support
• Transfusion medicine, biobanking and cellular therapy services
• Statewide access to specialised pathology services
• Participation in clinical trials and research programs

Together, these services help ensure Western Australians have access to high-quality blood cancer care, wherever they live.

31/07/2026

Celebrating a National Award for Excellence

PathWest's Forensic Biology team has been awarded the 2026 National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) Excellence Award, a prestigious national recognition of excellence in accreditation, quality and continuous improvement.

The award coincides with the team's 25-year accreditation milestone and acknowledges their outstanding contribution to forensic science and justice outcomes in Western Australia.

Working closely with Western Australia Police Force, the team delivers trusted forensic science that supports investigations, helps bring answers to victims and families, and contributes to safer communities.

Watch the video to meet the people behind the award and learn more about their commitment to excellence.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

13/07/2026

Congratulations to the Forensic Biology team on receiving the 2026 National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) Excellence Award.

Announced at the NATA Accreditation Matters Conference in Melbourne on 7 July 2026, this prestigious national award recognises outstanding achievement in accreditation, quality and continuous improvement

Selected from a highly competitive field, this achievement comes at a time when our Forensic Biology Department has just celebrated a significant milestone of 25 years of NATA accreditation.

The national award acknowledges the team's exceptional contribution to supporting the WA Police Force through the analysis of more than 100,000 forensic samples and the delivery of over 20,000 reports annually. It also recognises the department's leadership in scientific innovation and quality, including becoming Australia's first forensic agency accredited to the international forensic sciences standard, ISO 21043.

I would like to thank and congratulate Dr Gavin Turbett, Anna Heavey, and all members of the Forensic Biology team for their dedication, expertise and commitment to excellence. This national recognition is a significant achievement for the team and for PathWest, reflecting the outstanding work undertaken every day to support justice outcomes and serve the Western Australian community.

Congratulations to the Forensic Biology team on this remarkable and well-deserved achievement!

13/07/2026

PathWest Haematology Cytogenetics Laboratory at Fiona Stanley Hospital has ranked seventh worldwide among 105 participating laboratories in the international APEC14B1 paediatric cancer study.

In 2025, the laboratory achieved an outstanding 94.1 per cent abnormality detection rate (ADR) for childhood leukaemia and lymphoma cases. This result improves on the 92.9 per cent achieved in 2024 and is well above both the required 55 per cent benchmark and the global average of 74.5 per cent.

Identifying subtle chromosomal abnormalities in childhood cancers is highly complex and requires specialised expertise. This world-leading result reflects the laboratory's commitment to excellence in diagnostic testing and its contribution to international childhood cancer research.

Congratulations to the PathWest Haematology Cytogenetics Laboratory team on this remarkable achievement.

13/07/2026

07/07/2026

PathWest is proud of the clinicians and scientists who recently participated in the Bravehearts 777 Marathon at Burswood Park, raising approximately $2,500 in support of Bravehearts’ work to educate, empower and protect Australia’s children.

As part of our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children, staff extended their contribution beyond the laboratory by raising awareness of the importance of child safeguarding and supporting a safer future for children.

Congratulations and thank you to Adam Prior, Krist Ewe, Stefan Zalstrovs, Doug Bowen, Azalea Jolly-Byrne and Jovana Dedovic, and everyone who supported this effort.

15/06/2026

❗️From 1 July, most pathology results will appear in your My Health Record as soon as testing has been completed.

For more information please visit https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/my-health-record or https://www.pathwest.health.wa.gov.au/For-Patients/Your-Results

29/04/2026

PathWest recently celebrated the retirement of Dr Andrew Barr after a long career at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH).

Dr Barr developed the service at KEMH from the very basics and introduced the out-of-hours shift. For decades, he served as Chair of the Hospital Transfusion Committee (now the Blood Management Committee).

His academic and professional legacy is extensive, including 25 publications (1977–2010), 34 society presentations in journals and articles, and attendance at 64 overseas and interstate meetings between 1976 and 2022.

Dr Barr is remembered as a true gentleman who cared passionately about the service provided to the hospital. He was always very supportive, especially of the shift scientists who worked out-of-hours.

We thank Dr Barr for his significant contributions and the legacy he leaves at PathWest. We wish him the very best for his retirement.

18/04/2026

Our expert pathologists and scientists have worked tirelessly to bring rapid respiratory point of care testing to participating public emergency departments across the State.

This technology, delivered in partnership between PathWest and Health Service Providers, can detect up to 15 viral and bacterial pathogens within minutes at the bedside.

This allows for faster results without waiting for samples to be transported to the laboratory for routine testing.

This significant step in diagnostic capability will help manage patient flow in our emergency departments in readiness for the approaching winter flu season.

You can read the Minister’s official media statement here: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Faster-diagnosis-with-expanded-rapid-respiratory-testing-20260413

17/04/2026

PathWest recently co-hosted the Group B Strep (GBS) Symposium in collaboration with the The University of Western Australia, bringing together local, national and international experts to drive progress against GBS infection. GBS is a common bacterium that is usually harmless in healthy adults, but it can cause life-threatening infections in newborns, such as sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis.

From vaccine development and genomics to the powerful lived experiences of families, the day focused on fostering the collaborative efforts needed for better prevention and management. A huge thank you to all our speakers and attendees for making the event a success.

Group B Strep International Miracle Babies Foundation