Service Description

The Pathology Department within Mater Dei Hospital offers the full range of services that are generally required by the clinician. The test menu consists of over 1500 different tests as well as a number of highly specialized tests that are subcontracted to our overseas suppliers.

The turnaround time of these tests varies from a few minutes to longer depending on various factors most of all on urgency. Testing of urgent nature are carried out 24×7.

Procedure

Tests can only be requested by physicians and patients who require testing should see their doctor who will then order the appropriate tests after examining the patient.

Patients can opt to go either through their private General Practitioner, through a Health Centre or through Hospital Out-patients’ Clinic for the necessary requesting to be carried out. The Pathology Department does not accept self-referrals by the patients themselves.

Eligibility

All Maltese citizens or others holding a residency permit can be referred to benefit from Pathology services. Other non-residents are offered the service against payment.

Required Documents

When visiting your doctor, take your ID card with you.

Back Office Process

The necessary test are requested by the doctor after examining the patient. This is done either online if the doctor is in Government service (Government hospitals and Health Centres) or via MyHealth or via a Ticket of Referral if a private General Practitioner.

Phlebotomy (bleeding) of patients is carried out by appointment either at the Health Centres or at Mater Dei Hospital/SAMOC Outpatients Phlebotomy Service. Patients at Mater Dei Hospital wards are bled by the Pathology Department’s phlebotomists.

Data that is collected is kept in the Laboratory’s computer system fully according to the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation. The Pathology Department also offers the clinicians a full consultancy service through its Consultant Pathologists.

Results are viewable directly by the referring doctor either via the Hospital IT systems, MyHealth in exceptional circumstance results are mailed to the doctor’s home or clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: If I think that I require some particular test, can I come directly to Pathology?

Answer: No. Pathology does not accept self-referrals. Tests are requested by doctors after they examine their patients and on the basis of their clinical findings.

Question: Do you mail results to patients?

Answer: No. Pathology sends the results to the requesting doctor or clinic. Most of the results are not even printed as they can be accessed directly anywhere within the Government health system network through the hospital software system.

Question: What can I do to get a printed copy of my result?

Answer: Printed copy of results can be obtained from Mater Dei Hospital’s Customer Care Unit as per provisions of the Data Protection Act. The Pathology Department does not give results directly to patients.

Question: Can I phone to enquire about my test?

Answer: No. You have to go through your doctor or through Mater Dei Hospital Customer Care Unit to get any information about your results. Giving information over the phone to an unknown person goes against the Data Protection Act.

Question: Can I ask that my tests be requested anonymously?

Answer: Yes. You need to ask your doctor and agree on a code that identifies you to your doctor. Certain tests like the HIV test are always done anonymously except in rare cases where the identity of the patients must be known (e.g.: for adoption purposes). Other routine tests can be requested anonymously but this is not advisable as these tests would, by their being anonymous, then not be available to other clinicians as part of your medical history in case of emergency or follow up.

Question: What tests can my General Practitioner request?

Answer: Your General Practitioner can order most of the common tests that are normally needed in general practice. For specialised tests, you need to be referred by your General Practitioner to a specialist in Government service.

Question: Is there a waiting list for Laboratory Testing?

Answer: Except for a few tests, notably histology tests and tests sent to our reference laboratory abroad, tests are carried out within a few days. However, phlebotomy as well as the reading of test results to the patient, requires an appointment. As these are carried out by third parties Pathology has no control over their management.

Question: Is confidentiality guaranteed with Laboratory Testing?

Answer: Yes. This is guaranteed by the strict adherence to the Data Protection Act and its provisions as well as by the professionalism of those who work within the Laboratory.