Decision Support Unit |
Level 8, 259 Queen St, Brisbane — 1st Floor Blackburn House, 199 Grenfell St, Adelaide
Intranet site: http://intranet/nat/comp/dp/Nop/dsu/dsudefault.htm
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NOTE: The Diabetes Mellitus SOPs were revoked and redetermined in July 2011, as RMA instruments 89 and 90.
As a result of this change, no further serum dioxin level testing in diabetes claims should be arranged. Please refer to SoP Bulletin 152 (July 2011) for guidance.
procedures for arranging serum dioxin analysis
Purpose
This bulletin outlines modified procedures for the return of serum dioxin analysis reports from AgriQuality Australia (formerly ESR) to DVA.
Background
In November 1999 SoP Bulletin 29 was issued outlining the procedures for arranging dioxin analysis. Since then a number of changes have been made and the procedures are not working as well as they should. Furthermore the relevant CCPS Standard Letters are not up to date. The main problem has been getting the report from AgriQuality Australia to the correct person in DVA. AgriQuality have a customer database which contains distribution details; however this database is not flexible enough to deal with contact details that change with every individual request. Consequently reports have not always been forwarded correctly.
Current Arrangements
The current arrangements as outlined in SoP Bulletin 29 are unchanged in respect of:
- advising the veteran what is involved in having the blood sampling done,
- making appointments with the local pathology service provider,
- the pathology service forwarding the sample to AgriQuality, and
- the claims assessor paying any invoice from the pathology service for a collection fee.
Modified Arrangements
From now AgriQuality will have 2 contacts for DVA – Maureen Anderson, DSU Adelaide, and Dr Keith Horsley, NO. All reports will be sent to Maureen Anderson by e-mail from the AgriQuality laboratory in Wellington, New Zealand.
Claims Assessors should let Maureen know by e-mail when an appointment has been arranged for a veteran so that the ensuing report can be forward promptly. Details should include the appointment date, veteran's name and file number.
An invoice for the analysis service and a copy of the report will be sent to Dr Horsley for payment.
CCPS Standard Letters
There are 3 letters in Standard Letters under Serum Dioxin. The covering letter to AgriQuality will be removed as it is no longer required. The initial contact and procedural advice to the veteran, and the appointment letter both require minor changes and will be updated as soon as possible.
Remember! If you are having any problems with SOPs, or SOPs in CCPS, talk to us!
B101 Serum dioxin analysis procedures — Page 1 of 2
Decision Support Unit
Business Development, Monitoring and Support Section
Veterans' Compensation Branch
Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs