Originally Posted by
Mr&MrsExcited
Hi!
Booked into have my medical tomorrow, and have only just received paper work today from the doctors telling me that due to health requirements introduced in the summer 2005 all NZ applicants require a more comprehensive blood screening - at a cost of £124???!!!
I will be applying for a 2 year work visa/permit - is this really necessary and is this an average cost for a blood test?
The cost for the Australian blood test is £20 - £50 - why the big difference?
What is it that they test for and do you get to know the results?
Thanks in advance for any guidance!
For all applicants 15 years of age and older or where clinically indicated the following blood tests are required:
> HIV 1 and 2
> Hepatitis B surface antigen test
> Syphilis
> Venereal Disease Research Laboratory Test (VDRL)
> Rapid Plasma Reagin Test (RPR)
> Automated Reagin Test (ART)
> Toluidine Red Unheated Serum Test (TRUST)
> Reagin Screening Test (RST)
> Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA).
> Liver function tests
> total bilirubin
> alkaline phosphatase
> AST – aspartate aminotransferase
> ALT – alanine aminotransferase
> GGT – gamma glutamyltransferase
> albumin
> total protein.
> Full blood count
> RCC - red cell count
> PCW - packed cell volume (haematocrit)
> MCV - mean cell volume
> RDW – Red Cell Distribution Width
> MCHC - mean cell haemoglobin concentration
> Hb - haemoglobin
> MCH - mean cell haemoglobin
> WCC - total white cell count
> differential white cell count
> PLATS - platelet count
> MPV - mean platelet volume.
> Serum Creatinine.
And depending on the medical / results from these tests they may require additional tests also.
The new tests were introduced in November 2005 and are the same tests that are required for any visa over 12 months.
When you are given the results they may well be sealed by the doctor but it is Ok to open them and read the results i.e. the requirement for sealed results is for Oz and not NZ.
Ian