The voluntary attendance of the patient at the laboratory for the initial collection of a sample and the presentation of the initial sample by the patient himself will automatically constitute the patient’s consent to the laboratory for the collection of the initial sample and the performance of the requested tests.
In cases where the patient or donor of the sample cannot attend the laboratory (and laboratory personnel are called to perform the sampling), or is unable to give consent for the collection of a sample, then the laboratory requests that written consent can be given by the patient's husband/wife or from a first degree relative.
For patient samples that are provided or carried by a third party (e.g., from a hospital), consent is not required, as the responsibility for the collection and the identification (i.e., labelling) of the sample lies with the bearer or the sender.