As a Health Practitioner, you are responsible for ensuring that your patient is eligible for free Labtests testing. Not all patients are eligible for Health PAC funded laboratory tests (the tests that Labtests are contracted to provide). When patients are not eligible they will generally have to pay (see Test Pricing).

Payment is always required by New Zealand and Non-New Zealand citizens when they:

are applying for a visa or immigration permit;
require an insurance or pre-employment health check, for example, hepatitis status or MRSA screen;
are getting non-diagnostic testing done eg: checking immune status related to vaccination or travel, clearance for sporting clubs, blood grouping unrelated to transfusion, anti-aging clinics, health checks, slimming programs;
employment related checks eg: lead or mercury levels, drug testing;
have been referred by a dentist or an alternative health provider;
are self - requesting tests.

All Non-New Zealand citizens are also charged for all tests unless:

they are a resident of The United Kingdom or Australia having urgent care (reciprocal arrangements exist);
they have a current work permit valid at least 2 years, or renewed continuous work permits totaling at least 2 years;
they have refugee status, or are in the process of applying for refugee status;
they are having maternity care (includes pre and post natal) and their partner is a NZ resident;
the testing relates to an accident, in which case it is covered by the ACC;
they are a student funded under NZAID, an ODA scholar or a Commonwealth Scholarship holder;
they are the spouse or dependent child aged 19 or under of an ODA scholar.

For more information on test funding eligibility, please visit http://www.moh.govt.nz/eligibility. Our customer service representatives may also be able to assist you: call 0508 LABTESTS (0508 522 837).