Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology — usually shortened to SNP — is one of the largest pathology providers in Queensland and northern New South Wales, with collection centres across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, regional Queensland and parts of NSW. If your GP has referred you for blood tests in QLD, there is a good chance the report came back from SNP.
This guide explains exactly how to access your SNP results online, how to read each section of the report, what the abbreviations mean, and how to track every biomarker over time using a free online tool.
How to access your Sullivan Nicolaides results online
You have three options for getting your SNP results:
- SNP Patient Portal at snp.com.au/patient-portal — register with your name, date of birth and Medicare number. Results are typically available within 1-3 business days of collection. You can also download a PDF copy of your report.
- My Health Record — if you have My Health Record activated, SNP uploads your results automatically. Access through myhealthrecord.gov.au or the My Health Record mobile app.
- Through your GP — your doctor receives results electronically as soon as they are available, usually before they appear in patient portals.
Tip: do not wait for your follow-up GP appointment to look at your results. Reading your own report a few days before lets you arrive informed and ask better questions.
The structure of an SNP pathology report
SNP reports follow the standard RCPA (Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia) format used by all major Australian pathology providers. Each report contains:
- Header: your name, date of birth, Medicare number, the requesting doctor, the SNP collection centre, the collection date and time, and the unique accession number.
- Tests grouped by panel: Full Blood Count (FBC), Liver Function Test (LFT), Iron Studies, Lipid Panel, Hormone Profile, Thyroid Function, etc.
- For each marker: the abbreviated name (e.g. ALT), your numeric value, the unit (e.g. U/L), and SNP''s reference range.
- Flags: SNP uses an H or L marker for results above or below the reference range. Some reports include comparator results from your previous SNP tests at the same lab — useful for spotting trends.
- Pathologist comments: SNP pathologists add interpretive notes for unusual or markedly abnormal results.
Common abbreviations on an SNP report
| Abbreviation | Full name | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| FBC | Full Blood Count | Red cells, white cells, platelets and indices |
| Hb | Haemoglobin | Oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells |
| HCT or PCV | Haematocrit / Packed Cell Volume | Proportion of blood made up of red cells |
| MCH | Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin | Average haemoglobin per red cell |
| MCV | Mean Corpuscular Volume | Average size of red blood cells |
| MCHC | Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration | Haemoglobin concentration in red cells |
| RDW | Red cell Distribution Width | Variation in red cell size |
| LFT | Liver Function Test | ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin, albumin |
| ALT | Alanine Transaminase | Liver enzyme — most liver-specific |
| AST | Aspartate Transaminase | Liver / muscle enzyme |
| GGT | Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase | Liver / biliary enzyme; alcohol-sensitive |
| ALP | Alkaline Phosphatase | Liver / bone enzyme |
| U+E or EUC | Urea, Electrolytes & Creatinine | Kidney function panel |
| eGFR | Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate | Kidney filtration rate |
| TSH | Thyroid Stimulating Hormone | Pituitary signal to the thyroid |
| FT4 / FT3 | Free Thyroxine / Triiodothyronine | Active thyroid hormones |
| Ferritin | Ferritin | Iron storage protein |
| TIBC | Total Iron Binding Capacity | Indirect measure of transferrin |
| Trans Sat | Transferrin Saturation | Percentage of transferrin carrying iron |
| HbA1c | Glycated Haemoglobin | 3-month average glucose |
| SHBG | Sex Hormone Binding Globulin | Hormone-binding protein |
| FAI | Free Androgen Index | Calculated free testosterone marker |
| LH / FSH | Luteinising / Follicle Stimulating Hormone | Pituitary reproductive hormones |
| AMH | Anti-Müllerian Hormone | Ovarian reserve marker |
| CRP | C-Reactive Protein | Inflammation marker |
| UA | Uric Acid | Purine metabolism / gout marker |
Reference ranges on SNP reports
SNP uses RCPA-aligned reference ranges with sex- and age-adjustments where appropriate. A few worth knowing:
- ALT: men <40 U/L, women <35 U/L (slight variation by individual lab)
- Ferritin: men 30-300 µg/L, women 15-200 µg/L (RACGP defines iron deficiency as <30 µg/L)
- TSH: 0.4-4.0 mIU/L (some specialists use a tighter 1.0-2.5 mIU/L "optimal" range, especially during pregnancy planning)
- HbA1c: <5.7% normal · 5.7-6.4% prediabetes · >6.4% diabetes
- Total testosterone: men 8-29 nmol/L (declines ~1-2%/year after 30) · women 0.5-2.5 nmol/L
- 25-OH Vitamin D: 50-150 nmol/L sufficient · 30-49 mild deficiency · <30 moderate-severe deficiency
Note: "normal" is not the same as "optimal". Reference ranges describe statistical population norms, not the level associated with the lowest disease risk. A TSH of 3.8 is "normal" but many specialists target 1.0-2.5. Ferritin of 25 is "normal" at some labs but often symptomatic.
The H and L flags on SNP reports
SNP flags out-of-range results with H (high) or L (low). Some markedly abnormal values get HH or LL. A few principles:
- An isolated mild flag (just outside the reference) is often non-significant. Recent infection raises ferritin and CRP. Recent intense exercise raises CK and AST. Dehydration raises urea and haematocrit. Repeat in 4-8 weeks if your GP agrees.
- Multiple flagged markers in the same panel usually tell a coherent story. Low ferritin + low haemoglobin + low MCV + low MCH = iron deficiency anaemia. High ALT + high AST + high GGT = liver injury (cause depends on the ratio).
- HH/LL flags (markedly out of range or critical values) — the SNP pathologist will usually call your GP directly. Take these seriously and schedule a prompt review.
How to track your SNP results over time
Most pathology providers in Australia, including SNP, will show your previous result alongside the current one on the report — but only for the most recent test at the same lab. They do not aggregate across labs, do not chart visually, and do not let you compare against optimal ranges or condition-specific patterns.
BloodTrack solves this. Upload your SNP PDF and BloodTrack:
- Extracts every biomarker from the SNP format automatically
- Maps each result to RCPA-aligned reference ranges
- Charts every marker over time across any Australian pathology provider — useful if you have moved between providers or interstate
- Flags out-of-range and near-boundary results
- Surfaces condition-specific patterns (PCOS, TRT, fatty liver, iron deficiency, thyroid)
It works entirely in your browser — no download, no app store. Try uploading your SNP PDF, no account needed for your first analysis.
What if there is something wrong with my SNP report?
Pathology reports occasionally have errors — wrong sample, mis-labelled test, transposed results. If something on your report looks clearly inconsistent (e.g. men''s reference ranges applied to a female patient, or a test you did not have appearing on the report), contact SNP at 1300 SNP LAB (1300 767 522) or your referring GP. Most issues are resolved quickly with a re-issue or correction.
Common SNP report patterns
For interpretation of common patterns — iron deficiency, fatty liver, thyroid dysfunction, PCOS, insulin resistance — see our companion guide: Free Online Blood Test Analysis: How to Interpret Australian Pathology Reports.
For deeper context on individual markers, browse the BloodTrack biomarker glossary — over 200 markers explained with Australian-specific reference ranges, what high and low results mean, and how often to retest.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always discuss your blood test results with a qualified healthcare professional. BloodTrack is not affiliated with Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology.