Sonic Pathology Results Explained
How to download, read and understand a Sonic Healthcare blood test report — covering Douglass Hanly Moir, Sullivan Nicolaides, Melbourne Pathology, Laverty and the rest.
The Quick Answer
Sonic Healthcare is the largest pathology network in Australia, operating around 2,500 collection centres under multiple state-specific brand names including Douglass Hanly Moir, Sullivan Nicolaides, Melbourne Pathology, Laverty, Capital Pathology, Clinpath, Barratt & Smith and TasPath.
You can download your own results as a PDF from MyPathology (the mypathology.com.au website or the MyPathology mobile app), which works across every Sonic brand. Routine results usually appear within 24-48 hours of your blood being collected.
How a Sonic Pathology Report Is Laid Out
Every Sonic Healthcare brand uses a broadly similar layout, even though the colour scheme and logo on the cover sheet differ. Knowing where to look on the page makes any Sonic report much easier to read.
Page header
Top of every page: the Sonic brand name and logo (DHM, SNP, Melbourne Pathology, etc.), the analysing laboratory address, and a phone number. This identifies which Sonic brand processed the sample even if the collection centre was different.
Patient demographics block
Just below the header: full name, date of birth, sex, Medicare number, and the episode (or accession) number. Always check this matches you — mismatched identifiers are the most common reason a result is reported under the wrong file.
Request details
The requesting doctor's name, practice and provider number, the date of collection and the date and time of reporting. The clinical notes your GP supplied are usually shown here too — useful context for the pathologist.
Marker columns
The main body of the report. Each row is a single marker (for example haemoglobin), with columns for the measured value, the unit (g/L, mmol/L, etc.), the reference range applicable to your age and sex, and a flag column (blank, H or L) on the far right.
Narrative / comments
Below each panel, a short paragraph from the reporting pathologist may explain unusual findings, suggest follow-up tests, or flag a result the GP should action urgently. These narrative comments are part of the medical record.
Footer
Pathologist signature line, accreditation details (NATA-accredited number), page number out of total pages and a reminder to contact the laboratory for any queries. Multi-page reports always carry the patient identifiers on each page footer.
Sonic Healthcare Brands in Australia
Sonic operates several state-specific brands. They share a common back-end, but the report header you see tells you which lab actually processed the sample.
Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology (DHM)
One of the largest networks in NSW. Reports use DHM branding but data flows into the same MyPathology portal as other Sonic brands.
Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP)
Major Queensland provider. Distinct report header with the SNP logo, but underlying lab data and patient portal are shared with the rest of Sonic.
Melbourne Pathology
Sonic Victorian brand. Easy to identify by the Melbourne Pathology header and Melbourne contact details.
Laverty Pathology
Operates alongside DHM in NSW. Different brand name but identical analysers and reference ranges in most cases.
Capital Pathology
Canberra-focused Sonic brand. Reports often show a Capital Pathology header for collections in the ACT.
Clinpath Pathology
Sonic South Australian and Northern Territory brand. Same Sonic backend, distinct report cover sheet.
Barratt and Smith Pathology
Smaller Sonic-owned brand servicing parts of western and northern Sydney.
TasPath (Tasmanian)
Long-standing Tasmanian provider, owned by Sonic. Reports follow the Sonic format with Tasmanian collection details.
Common Panels Sonic Healthcare Reports
Most GP-ordered blood tests fall into one of these panels. Each row covers what the panel usually includes — the exact list can vary slightly between Sonic brands.
FBE / FBC
Full Blood ExaminationHaemoglobin, white cells, platelets, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, differential white cell count.
U and E
Urea and ElectrolytesSodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea, creatinine and eGFR. Sometimes calcium and phosphate are bundled in.
LFT
Liver Function TestsBilirubin (total), ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, total protein and albumin. Some Sonic brands also report globulin.
Lipids
Lipid StudiesTotal cholesterol, HDL, LDL (calculated or measured), triglycerides, non-HDL and total/HDL ratio.
HbA1c
Glycated HaemoglobinReported in mmol/mol (IFCC) and a derived % value. Used for diabetes diagnosis and monitoring.
TFTs
Thyroid Function TestsTSH first, with free T4 and free T3 added reflexively if TSH is outside range. Sometimes thyroid antibodies.
Iron studies
Iron StudiesSerum iron, transferrin (or TIBC), transferrin saturation and ferritin. Used to investigate anaemia and iron overload.
Vitamin D
25-Hydroxy Vitamin DSingle value in nmol/L. Medicare-rebated only with specific indications such as osteoporosis or chronic kidney disease.
CRP
C-Reactive ProteinMarker of acute inflammation. Reported in mg/L. High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) is a separate cardiovascular test.
Reading Sonic Reference Ranges and Flags
Sonic uses SI units (g/L for haemoglobin, mmol/L for glucose, etc.) and ranges aligned with the RCPA common reference intervals project. Each result line carries its own range so you do not need to memorise normal values — just look at the right-hand side of each line.
Ranges are age-specific and sex-specific where it matters. For example a man's haemoglobin range is 130-180 g/L, a woman's is roughly 115-165 g/L; testosterone, ferritin, eGFR and creatinine all also have sex-specific ranges. Sonic prints the range that applies to you, calculated from your age and sex.
H or HIGH
Value is above the upper limit of the reference range printed on the right-hand side of each result line.
L or LOW
Value is below the lower limit of the reference range. Often appears next to ferritin, iron, B12 or sodium.
Asterisk or bold text
Used by some Sonic brands for a critical or action-level result (e.g. potassium below 3.0 mmol/L). The lab phones the requesting GP for genuinely critical values.
Up or down arrow
Some Sonic brand layouts use a small triangle arrow in place of H/L. Same meaning — above or below the reference range.
Trend or delta indicator
For repeat patients, some reports show a small comparison column with the previous result. Useful for following trends like ferritin, HbA1c or eGFR.
Comment narrative
A short paragraph from the reporting pathologist explaining unusual patterns, suggesting follow-up tests or flagging a recall.
How to Download Your Sonic Results Yourself
Sonic Healthcare runs the MyPathology patient portal, which covers every Sonic-owned brand in Australia. You can use the same login regardless of whether the collection was at DHM, Melbourne Pathology, SNP, Laverty or Capital Pathology.
Go to mypathology.com.au
Open mypathology.com.au in any browser, or install the MyPathology app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. The same login works for the website and the app and covers all Sonic-owned brands.
Register or sign in
First-time users register with their Medicare number, date of birth, and a recent episode number from a collection slip, blood test request form, or a mobile number Sonic has on file. Returning users sign in with their email and password.
Identify the report
Reports are listed by collection date with the requesting GP name. Each entry shows the brand that processed the sample (for example DHM, Melbourne Pathology, SNP) which is helpful if your samples have been sent across multiple Sonic labs.
Open and review
Tap a report to view it in the app or browser. The web view shows results in a tidy column layout, while the PDF download preserves the original lab formatting your GP sees.
Download or email the PDF
Use the download or share button to save the PDF to your phone or send a copy by email. This is the file SmarterBlood and similar tools expect when you upload your results.
Trouble logging in
If registration fails, your Medicare details or mobile number may not match the lab record. Call the relevant Sonic brand on the number shown on your last collection slip (DHM 1800 624 191, SNP 07 3377 8666, Melbourne Pathology 03 9287 7700) and ask them to update your contact details.
Common Questions About Sonic Healthcare Results
Why does my report show a different Sonic brand than the collection centre I went to?
Sonic Healthcare often routes samples between sister labs (for example a DHM collection in regional NSW can be analysed at a central Sydney lab). The report header reflects the analysing lab, not the collection centre. Your GP and the MyPathology portal still link the result to your file regardless of which Sonic brand performed the test.
My GP got the result but I cannot see it in MyPathology — why?
Reports are typically released to MyPathology at the same time as the GP, but Sonic allows a short hold period (often a few days) so the GP can review and add a comment before the result becomes patient-visible. If a result is still not visible a week after collection, contact the lab to confirm the release status.
Can I transfer my Sonic results to a different pathology provider?
You cannot transfer the raw lab data, but you can download the PDF and provide it to a new GP or to another lab. SmarterBlood is designed for exactly this: upload PDFs from Sonic and any other provider so all your markers sit in one trend graph.
What happens to my Sonic results in My Health Record?
If you have a My Health Record (and have not opted out), most Sonic pathology results are uploaded automatically within a few days, with a seven-day default delay so the GP sees the result first. You can change the delay or hide individual reports inside My Health Record.
Are tests bulk billed at every Sonic collection centre?
Yes for the majority of Medicare-rebatable tests when ordered by a GP with a valid request form. A handful of non-Medicare tests (AMH, food allergy IgG, some genetic tests) carry a private fee — the collection centre staff are required to tell you the cost in advance and obtain consent.
How SmarterBlood Helps With Sonic Healthcare Results
SmarterBlood reads PDFs from every major Australian pathology provider, including all the Sonic Healthcare brands. The workflow is the same regardless of which Sonic lab generated your report:
1. Upload your PDF
Drag the PDF you downloaded from MyPathology straight into SmarterBlood. We recognise DHM, SNP, Melbourne Pathology, Laverty, Capital, Clinpath and Barratt and Smith formats automatically.
2. AI extracts every marker
A multi-model AI pipeline reads the report row by row, captures the value, unit and reference range, and stores the result against the collection date.
3. Plain-English explanations
Every marker is paired with a clear, non-jargon explanation of what it measures, what high or low values can mean, and what your GP may want to check next.
4. Trend tracking
Add reports from multiple visits — even across different Sonic brands or other labs — to see each marker over time. Useful for following ferritin, HbA1c, eGFR or cholesterol.
5. Doctor-ready summary
Generate a one-page summary PDF you can hand to your GP at your next appointment — useful when you have multiple Sonic reports across years.
6. Independent and private
SmarterBlood is not affiliated with Sonic Healthcare or any pathology provider. Your data is yours and you can delete every record at any time.
Related Reading
Got a Sonic Pathology PDF?
Upload your Douglass Hanly Moir, Sullivan Nicolaides, Melbourne Pathology, Laverty or other Sonic Healthcare report and SmarterBlood's AI will explain every marker in plain English — with Australian reference ranges, flags and trend tracking.
SmarterBlood is an independent health tech service and is not affiliated with Sonic Healthcare, Douglass Hanly Moir, Sullivan Nicolaides, Melbourne Pathology, Laverty, Capital Pathology, Clinpath, Barratt & Smith or any other pathology provider. This page provides general educational information about reading pathology reports and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your GP about abnormal blood test results — they have access to your full medical history and can interpret your results in context.