Tracey Wilson Hundreds of blood samples from Auckland patients have been lost or rendered unusable after being mislaid by a courier company, sparking concerns about patient safety, cost-cutting in the health system, and the future of laboratory services in New Zealand. The incidents, confirmed this week by both union representatives and laboratory management, highlight the risks of centralising diagnostic services and relying on long-distance transport for critical medical specimens.
How Did the Blood Samples Go Missing?
The issue began in February when Auckland’s only community laboratory, Awanui Labs, experienced a breakdown of its immunology testing machinery. To maintain service, Awanui started sending daily shipments of around 250 blood samples from Auckland to Wellington for processing. This workaround, intended as a temporary measure, has now exposed vulnerabilities in the system.
According to Awanui Labs and the APEX union representing laboratory workers, there have been at least two major incidents where hundreds of blood samples were mislaid by couriers. In early April, one shipment was delayed by several hours but was eventually located and processed, with results delivered on time. However, a second incident over the Anzac long weekend had more serious consequences: the shipment was lost for a longer period, and by the time it was found, the samples were no longer suitable for testing. Fortunately, backup samples retained in Auckland allowed for re-testing, so patients did not have to return for another blood draw.
Why Are Blood Samples Being Sent to Wellington?
The transfer of blood samples from Auckland to Wellington is a direct result of equipment failure and ongoing cost pressures in the laboratory sector. Awanui Labs, which contracts to Health NZ, has proposed making this arrangement permanent. This would mean all community immunology samples from Auckland would be sent to Wellington for processing, potentially resulting in the loss of 11 laboratory jobs in Auckland.
Union representatives say this is part of a broader trend of consolidating laboratory services from smaller or regional labs into major centres. The motivation, they argue, is cost-cutting-fewer staff are needed when services are centralised, but this comes at a time when laboratory worker wages lag behind those in Health NZ-owned labs by as much as 30 percent. The union warns that the ability to recruit and retain skilled staff is already stretched to the limit, and further cuts could put patient safety at risk.
Impact on Patients and the Health System
While Awanui Labs and Health NZ insist that no patients have had to be re-bled as a result of the lost samples, the incidents have raised alarms about the reliability of the current system. Delays in processing, the risk of samples becoming unusable, and the potential for more serious errors all increase when specimens are transported over long distances.
Union associate advocate Sam Heimsath said the recent incidents are not isolated and reflect a systemic problem with relying on couriers and centralised testing. He warned that patients ultimately bear the risk, whether through delayed results, lost samples, or reduced access to local laboratory services.
Industrial Action and Ongoing Disputes
The blood sample losses come amid a backdrop of industrial unrest. APEX, which represents Awanui’s laboratory workers, has announced rolling strikes from May 24 to June 4, involving more than 500 workers nationwide. The dispute centres on pay equity and job security, with lab scientists and technicians seeking to close the wage gap with their counterparts in the public sector.
Awanui Labs has argued that funding from Health NZ is insufficient to match the pay increases agreed to in the public sector, which were driven by last year’s pay equity settlements. The company says it is engaged in ongoing discussions with Health NZ to address funding and sustainability concerns.
Is This Common Practice?
Awanui Labs’ chief operations officer, Nick Champness, maintains that transferring non-urgent samples between laboratories is standard practice in New Zealand and internationally. He emphasises that strict protocols are followed for the safe and timely transfer of specimens, and that all processes are independently audited for compliance. Champness also noted that if the Wellington arrangement becomes permanent, staff numbers and automation in the Wellington lab would be increased to handle the extra workload.
Health NZ has said it is monitoring the situation and expects to be consulted on any permanent changes to laboratory services. The agency insists that the transfer of samples to Wellington has not affected turnaround times for patient results and that contingency plans are in place to minimise the impact of any courier delays.
The Bigger Picture: Cost-Cutting and Patient Risk
The loss of hundreds of blood samples has reignited debate over the centralisation of laboratory services and the risks of prioritising cost savings over patient care. Critics argue that while consolidating services may save money, it introduces new risks-especially when equipment failures, courier delays, or staffing shortages occur. The union says patients are the ones who pay the price when things go wrong.
As the dispute over pay and job security continues, and with further strike action planned, the reliability of New Zealand’s laboratory services remains under scrutiny. For now, both Awanui Labs and Health NZ say patient care has not been compromised, but the recent incidents have left many questioning whether the system is as robust as it needs to be.
What Happens Next?
- Consultation is ongoing about whether to make Wellington the permanent processing centre for Auckland’s immunology samples.
- Health NZ and Awanui Labs are discussing funding and staffing to ensure service quality.
- Rolling strikes by laboratory workers are set to begin later this month, with essential services maintained but some delays expected.
The health sector, patients, and workers will be watching closely to see how these issues are resolved and whether lessons are learned from the loss of hundreds of vital blood samples in transit.
