Pathology pamphlets

Pathology pamphlets



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Newborn Screening

Feb 05, 2024 | Immunology

Newborn Screening

Early screening with the TREC/KREC PCR is the best way to know whether your baby’s immune system is working correctly....

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Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT)

Jan 19, 2024 | Genetics

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

In pregnancy, small amounts of DNA from the placenta of the foetus pass into the bloodstream of the mother. New technology allows us to analyse this DNA directly from the mother’s blood and screen for specific chromosome abnormalities....

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HIV & AIDS

Nov 30, 2023 | Microbiology

Infectious Diseases HIV AIDS

Due to a failing immune system, those infected with HIV may develop infections with certain organisms that usually do not cause disease in people with healthy immune systems. These are known as opportunistic infections. Examples of opportunistic infections include an overgrowth of Candida in the mouth and tuberculosis....

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Pharmacogenomics: What it means for your health

Aug 30, 2023 | Genetics

Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how our genes affect the way we respond to different medications. By looking at unique changes in your genetic code, pharmacogenomic testing can predict your risk of developing drug-related side effects and can guide which medication (and dosage) is best suited to you....

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Male Fertility

Jul 10, 2023 | Andrology

When a couple has the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse, a spermiogram (semen analysis) is recommended. Several male factors can cause or contribute to the inability to conceive....

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The role of Genetic Counselling

Jun 05, 2023 | Genetics

Genetic counselling is an educational and psychosocial process where genetic counsellors collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide information and support to individuals and their families affected by, or at risk of, genetic conditions....

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ALEX2 - Building Allergy Puzzles

May 22, 2023 | Immunology

Allergies Allergy Test

ARE YOU PUZZLED BY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS? • Hives, itchy skin, eczema (rash)? • Red, itchy, watery eyes? • Runny, blocked nose, sneezing? • Tingling, itchy mouth or lips? • Swelling of the lips, face, tongue or other parts of the body? • Wheezing, coughing? • Diarrhoea or vomiting? You could have an underlying allergy....

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ALEX2 - FAST FACTS

May 22, 2023 | Immunology

Allergies Allergy Test

Puzzling out allergies can be life-changing....

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Prostate Cancer

Oct 20, 2022 | Genetics

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among males in South Africa and occurs more often in men older than 50 years....

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Breast Cancer

Oct 12, 2022 | Genetics

Genetics Breast Cancer

Breast cancer represents a cancer that originates within the breast and which then spreads to the lymph nodes in the armpit or in the neck, and may spread to other organs (typically the lungs, bone and brain)....

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HPV PCR Self-collection for Cervical Cancer Screening

Aug 16, 2022 | General

HPV Cervical Cancer

The goal of screening is to identify women who may be at risk of cervical cancer, even in instances where no symptoms are present. HPV PCR testing is recommended for both HPV vaccinated and unvaccinated women....

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Ampath Patient App

Feb 19, 2021 | General

Ampath is proud to offer patients their test results in real time via the Ampath App, downloadable from both Google Play and the App Store. Our step-by-step guide helps navigate the App....

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Anaemia

Jan 24, 2021 | Haematology

Anaemia is a condition where there are insufficient healthy red blood cells in the body. Anaemia may be temporary or long term and can range from mild to severe. Worldwide, the most common cause of anaemia is iron deficiency, an essential nutrient required by the body to make haemoglobin. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin which is the transport molecule for oxygen and carbon dioxide. Without sufficient haemoglobin, the blood stream cannot carry sufficient oxygen to the tissues and organs....

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Bruising

Jan 23, 2021 | Chemical Pathology

A bruise occurs when blood leaks out of the small blood vessels beneath the skin, building up in the surrounding tissue. Bruises can occur in any area of the body and may result from a small superficial injury to the skin itself or may be a sign of a deep trauma to an underlying bone/muscle. Bruises do not blanch under pressure and can be painful to touch....

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Diabetes

Jan 21, 2021 | Chemical Pathology

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterised by a raised level of glucose (or sugar) in the blood. Known as diabetes, it is the result of either insulin deficiency (type 1) or resistance to the actions of insulin (type 2)....

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Cholesterol

Jan 21, 2021 | General

A high cholesterol level in the bloodstream can clog the arteries and lead to a heart attack and/or stroke....

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Fasting Blood Tests

Jan 21, 2021 | Chemical Pathology

There are specific timing requirements for certain fasting blood tests to ensure the most accurate results....

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HPV

Jan 19, 2021 | Microbiology

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus. Approximately three out of four people who have sex will get a genital HPV infection at some point during their lives. HPV is not the same virus as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or HSV (herpes simplex virus) which are other sexually transmitted viral infections....

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Influenza

Jan 17, 2021 | Microbiology

Infectious Diseases

Influenza (“Flu”) is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. It can range from a mild infection to severe life-threatening disease. There are three main types of influenza viruses: influenza A, B and C. In South Africa, influenza infections are usually seen during our winter months, typically between April and October. Two subtypes (strains) of influenza A and one subtype of influenza B typically circulate in a given season. These are referred to as the circulating seasonal influenza strains....

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Lipids - Separating Fat From Fiction

Jan 15, 2021 | Chemical Pathology

Contrary to the widespread belief that lipids are bad for your health, lipids perform essential functions in the body....

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Lung Cancer

Jan 14, 2021 | Histopathology

Oncology

Cancer of the lung is a condition where cells of the lung, usually those lining the airways, divide and multiply uncontrollably to form a growth or tumour. This is called primary lung cancer....

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Malaria

Jan 14, 2021 | Microbiology

Malaria is a serious, and sometimes fatal, disease caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells. Five species of the malaria parasite infect humans. Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes cerebral malaria, is the most dangerous; the other 3 types of parasite (vivax, malariae, and ovale) generally cause less serious disease. The fifth parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi, is presently a rare cause of malaria....

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Obesity, Insulin Resistance and the Metabolic Syndrome

Jan 12, 2021 | Chemical Pathology

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat accumulates to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health. One such effect could be insulin resistance, which, when appearing with other characteristics such as obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels and and high triglycerides (fat-like substances in the blood) are health risks collectively known as the Metabolic Syndrome....

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Osteoporosis

Jan 11, 2021 | Chemical Pathology

Osteoporosis is a disease of bone, therefore understanding bone is important to understand the disease....

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Paternity & Parentage Testing

Jan 10, 2021 | Genetics

Paternity means fatherhood. A paternity test establishes proof as to whether an alleged father is the biological father of a child. Paternity is excluded if it is shown that an alleged father is not the biological father....

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Skin Lesions & Skin Cancer Leaflet

Jan 07, 2021 | Histopathology

Pigmented (coloured) skin lesions are very common, most of them representing benign (non-cancerous) tumours of the pigment-forming cells and skin, namely the melanocytes. However, not all darkly pigmented lesions are derived from the melanocytes— some represent warts of different cell types, blood vessel lesions or some non-melanocytic cutaneous malignancies....

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Stem Cell Transplant Donor Information

Jan 06, 2021 | Immunology

Stem cell transplant is a life-saving procedure used in conditions such as leukaemia (cancer of the white blood cells), lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system), bone marrow failure (severe aplastic anaemia) and some genetic blood and immune system disorders, for example, sickle cell anaemia....

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Tuberculosis

Jan 06, 2021 | Microbiology

Infectious Diseases

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria named Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While TB mainly affects the lungs, it can also affect many other parts of the body such as glands, abdomen, brain, bones and spine....

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Tissue Typing & Cytotoxic Antibody Screening Leaflet

Jan 04, 2021 | Immunology

Finding a compatible donor for an organ or stem cell transplant involves comparing tissue types, called HLA (human leucocyte antigen) molecules between the potential donor and recipient. Tissue types are almost like a person’s blood group, five different types of HLA molecules are tested for solid organ transplants; HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DR and HLA-DQ. A person will have two of these HLA molecules, one from their mother and one from their father. Each individual has their own unique tissue type....

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Understanding Pathology

Jan 03, 2021 | General

It is estimated that laboratory tests influence about 70% of all treatment decisions made by a doctor and thus pathologists and the laboratory form an integral and essential part of delivering timely, high quality medical care. The purpose of this pamphlet is to give you an overview of our role as medical specialists and the value of the medical services we offer, as well as what happens after a specimen has been collected from you for a particular laboratory test....

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Urine Collection

Jan 02, 2021 | Chemical Pathology

This pamphlet has been issued to you because your doctor has requested a specific urine test. Our nursing staff will indicate which method of collection you must use. Please follow the instructions below for correct and safe collection of the sample....

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Viral Hepatitis

Jan 01, 2021 | Microbiology

Dr Irma Ferreira

Infectious Diseases

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause a short-term (acute) infection which may become a long term (chronic) infection. HCV is transmitted mainly through contact with contaminated blood. Sexual transmission of HCV is possible, but it is rare. Hepatitis C can also be transmitted from mother to baby....