Medlab Central in New Zealand: what tests cost, where to find a collection centre and which insurers cover them
Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.
Medlab Central is a pathology laboratory group with four centres across Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Palmerston North and Whanganui, owned by Sonic Healthcare rather than by Awanui Labs, and like every community lab in New Zealand most of its tests are free when a New Zealand-registered doctor refers you for a diagnostic reason (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
What is Medlab Central and who owns it?
Medlab Central Limited is based in the central North Island and operates four laboratories: Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Palmerston North and Whanganui, with the Palmerston North, Gisborne and Whanganui sites located inside their respective local public hospitals, serving both community and hospital patients (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Medlab Central is part of Sonic Healthcare, an international pathology and diagnostic imaging company, and this is the detail that most distinguishes it from Awanui Labs, which is New Zealand-owned by NZ Super Fund, Te Pūia Tāpapa and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and did not absorb Medlab Central in its 2023 regional-brand consolidation (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026; Awanui, About us, retrieved 9 September 2026).
If you were referred to a private hospital or specialist alongside your lab test, QuoteHub's private hospitals directory covers the central North Island, and our health insurance guide and is health insurance worth it cover the wider policy questions that usually sit around a referral.
Medlab Central says it employs more than 350 staff, including seven full-time and part-time pathologists (two histopathologists, two haematologists, one microbiologist and one chemical pathologist) plus four pathology registrars, and that Palmerston North Hospital is the regional referral centre for oncology patients in the lower central North Island (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
| Detail | What is published |
|---|---|
| Trading name | Medlab Central |
| Parent company | Sonic Healthcare (Medlab Central, About Sonic Healthcare, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Laboratories | 4: Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Whanganui (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Staff | 350+ (full-time and part-time) (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Pathologists | 7 full-time/part-time, plus 4 registrars (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Website | https://www.medlabcentral.co.nz/ (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
Is Medlab Central the same company as Awanui Labs?
No. Medlab Central is a separate, still-independent company owned by Sonic Healthcare, distinct from Awanui Labs, which is owned by NZ Super Fund, Te Pūia Tāpapa and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and formed in 2023 from a different set of eight regional brands, none of which was Medlab Central (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026; Awanui, About us, retrieved 9 September 2026). If your paperwork or a search result took you here but you actually need Awanui's national network, see Awanui Labs or Southern Community Laboratories is now Awanui Labs.
What does a blood test cost at Medlab Central?
As with every community lab in New Zealand, most tests at Medlab Central cost nothing when a doctor refers you for a diagnostic reason and you meet Ministry of Health eligibility rules, because Health New Zealand funds this testing directly (Medlab Central, frequently asked questions, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Medlab Central publishes that patients can order certain tests themselves, but the range available for self-request is limited, and the laboratory asks patients to contact it directly for current pricing rather than publishing a standing self-pay price list (Medlab Central, frequently asked questions, retrieved 9 September 2026). Not published means not published: unlike Awanui Labs, which does publish a dated 2026 patient price list, Medlab Central's own FAQ page directs patients to call for pricing rather than listing dollar figures online.
| Question | What is published |
|---|---|
| Standard doctor-referred test | Free if eligible under Ministry of Health funding rules (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Self-requested test | Available for a limited range of tests; contact the laboratory for pricing (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Published online price list | Not published in the source pack for this page |
| Comparable published price list | Awanui Labs 2026 patient price list, for indicative pricing of similar tests elsewhere in New Zealand (Awanui Labs, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
Which insurers cover tests at Medlab Central?
The same funding logic applies here as at any New Zealand community lab: standalone pathology testing is normally a public-funding question, not a private health insurance claim, so the practical position is the same as Awanui Labs' insurer section.
Southern Cross's General Practitioner Services benefit, where included on a plan, can cover a GP-ordered diagnostic test that needs no specialist referral, subject to the plan's GP benefit maximum, while laboratory testing itself does not appear on Southern Cross's Affiliated Provider-only healthcare services list, which instead covers diagnostic imaging, cardiac tests and specialist consultations (Southern Cross, GP and Nurse services factsheet, effective 1 April 2026, retrieved 9 September 2026; Southern Cross, Affiliated Provider-only healthcare services, effective 20 May 2026, retrieved 9 September 2026).
nib's Everyday cover documents list a GP and Prescriptions benefit for consultations and prescriptions, with no separate laboratory or pathology benefit itemised, and nib's Ultimate Health Diagnostic Investigations Benefit lists imaging and endoscopy procedures rather than routine blood tests (nib, Premium Everyday Cover Policy Document, retrieved 9 September 2026; nib, Ultimate Health Base Policy Document, retrieved 9 September 2026).
| Insurer or route | What is published for lab tests |
|---|---|
| Public funding | Free on a New Zealand-registered doctor's referral for a diagnostic reason, subject to Ministry of Health eligibility (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Southern Cross | GP Services benefit (where included) can cover a GP-ordered diagnostic test, subject to benefit maximum; not on the Affiliated Provider-only list (Southern Cross, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| nib | No standalone lab-test benefit line in the policy documents reviewed (nib, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| AIA, Partners Life, UniMed | No named laboratory-specific benefit confirmed in the source pack; tests are typically bundled into a wider hospital, surgical or specialist claim |
QuoteHub's health insurance guide and health insurance companies comparison cover the GP-visit and diagnostic-test benefits that actually govern whether a test gets reimbursed, and Southern Cross, nib, AIA, Partners Life and UniMed each carry their own plan pages. QuoteHub's specialist consultation cost page and treatment costs and waiting times research cover what a lab result often leads to next.
How do you get tested at Medlab Central?
Medlab Central's own patient guidance says you need a pathology request form signed by your doctor, and for tests requiring fasting, such as cholesterol, lipids or fasting glucose, you should fast for 10 to 16 hours beforehand while continuing to drink water and take regular medication unless your doctor advises otherwise (Medlab Central, frequently asked questions, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Sample types are not limited to blood: Medlab Central also processes tissue, urine, stool and other body fluid samples, collected by trained collection staff (Medlab Central, frequently asked questions, retrieved 9 September 2026).
| Step | What is published |
|---|---|
| Get a referral | A pathology request form signed by your doctor, midwife or specialist (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Fasting tests | Fast 10 to 16 hours for cholesterol, lipids and fasting glucose; water and regular medication are fine unless told otherwise (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Self-requested testing | Limited test range, contact the laboratory for pricing and availability (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Sample types | Blood, tissue, urine, stool and other body fluids (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
Common questions about Medlab Central
Is Medlab Central the same company as Awanui Labs?
No, Medlab Central is a separate company owned by Sonic Healthcare, covering Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Palmerston North and Whanganui, and it was not part of the 2023 rebrand that created Awanui Labs from eight other regional lab brands (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
What does a blood test cost at Medlab Central?
Most standard doctor-referred blood tests are free under public funding, while a limited range of self-requested tests is available; Medlab Central does not publish a standing online price list and asks patients to contact the laboratory directly for current self-pay pricing (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Where are Medlab Central collection centres located?
Medlab Central operates four laboratories, in Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Palmerston North and Whanganui, with the Palmerston North, Gisborne and Whanganui sites located within their local public hospitals (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Do I need a referral for tests at Medlab Central?
Yes for the standard, publicly funded pathway: you need a pathology request form signed by a doctor, midwife or specialist. A limited range of tests is available for self-request without a referral (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Does health insurance cover tests at Medlab Central?
Mostly no, for the same reason it mostly does not at any New Zealand community lab: standalone pathology testing is normally publicly funded on referral rather than claimed on a private health insurance policy, and where an insurer does contribute, it is typically bundled into a GP-visit benefit with its own annual limit (see the insurer table above).
Who owns Medlab Central?
Medlab Central Limited is owned by Sonic Healthcare, an international pathology and diagnostic imaging company; this is the key difference from Awanui Labs, which is New Zealand-owned by NZ Super Fund, Te Pūia Tāpapa and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (Medlab Central, About Sonic Healthcare, retrieved 9 September 2026).
How many pathologists work at Medlab Central?
Medlab Central publishes seven full-time and part-time pathologists across histopathology, haematology, microbiology and chemical pathology, plus four pathology registrars, among a total staff of more than 350 (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Is Palmerston North Hospital's laboratory part of Medlab Central?
Yes, Medlab Central's Palmerston North laboratory is located inside Palmerston North Hospital and serves both community and hospital patients, and Medlab Central says it is also the regional referral centre for oncology patients in the lower central North Island (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Can I order my own tests at Medlab Central without a doctor?
Yes, for a limited range of tests, but you should contact the laboratory directly for guidance, availability and pricing before ordering (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
What should I bring to a Medlab Central appointment?
Bring the pathology request form signed by your doctor. If your test requires fasting, fast for 10 to 16 hours beforehand, drink water as needed, and keep taking your regular medication unless your doctor has told you otherwise (Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Does Medlab Central serve public hospital patients as well as community patients?
Yes. Medlab Central's Palmerston North, Gisborne and Whanganui laboratories are located inside their respective local public hospitals and provide laboratory services to both community and hospital patients from the same facility (Medlab Central, About Medlab Central, retrieved 9 September 2026).
What if I need imaging as well as a blood test in the central North Island?
Blood tests and imaging are ordered and billed separately in New Zealand. For scans in the wider region, see QuoteHub's coverage of Pacific Radiology, Auckland Radiology and TRG Imaging, or the providers hub for the full list of provider comparisons.
What if my test is for a health insurance medical, not a diagnosis?
Awanui Labs' published funding table, which reflects the same national eligibility rules Medlab Central works under, excludes tests requested for a medical certificate, insurance policy or superannuation application from public funding, so check with your insurer's claims or prior approval process, or nib claims, before booking (Awanui Labs, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Verdict
QuoteHub's read is that Medlab Central is easy to place correctly, a genuinely separate, Sonic Healthcare-owned pathology company serving Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Palmerston North and Whanganui, and easy to place incorrectly if you assume it is part of Awanui Labs. On cost, it is less transparent than Awanui, since it does not publish a standing price list and asks patients to call. On insurance, the position is the same as everywhere else: most community pathology sits outside a private policy, governed by public funding and a GP referral instead. See Awanui Labs, Southern Community Laboratories is now Awanui Labs, the private hospitals directory for the region's hospitals, and the providers hub for the full comparison set.
Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.
Adviser's view
QuoteHub's read is that Medlab Central is a genuinely separate company from Awanui Labs, smaller and more regional, with the same publicly funded pathway that governs almost every community lab test in New Zealand. As with Awanui, the insurer question mostly does not apply here, because standalone pathology is a public-funding question first and an insurance-benefit question only when it is bundled into a wider claim.
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Cite this page QuoteHub NZ (2026). Medlab Central NZ: Cost, Locations, Insurer Cover. www.quotehub.co.nz/providers/medlab-central. Updated 2026-09-09.
References
- Medlab Central, About Medlab Central
- Medlab Central, About Sonic Healthcare
- Medlab Central, Frequently asked questions
- Awanui, About us
- Awanui Labs, Do I have to pay for my tests? (Wellington)
- Awanui Labs, Patient paid price list (Auckland), PDF effective 1 January 2026
- Southern Cross Health Society, GP and Nurse services factsheet, PDF effective 1 April 2026
- Southern Cross Health Society, Affiliated Provider-only healthcare services, effective 20 May 2026
- nib, Premium Everyday Cover Policy Document
- nib, Ultimate Health Base Policy Document
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