Laboratory Services Q&A
Question: What lab will my blood tests go to?
Answer: Our laboratory interface system identifies the appropriate laboratory that participates with your insurance company resulting in reimbursement for the respective blood testing. It is imperative that you update your insurance information before medical visits, as this can result in inappropriate billing and charges to you for testing.
Question: What is the “turn-around” time on lab results for tests done in our lab?
Answer: If tests are performed in our laboratory, the expected “turn-around” time is 24-48 hours. If the testing is performed at an outside facility, the expected “turn-around” time is 48-72 hours. Any specialized tests may take up to 7 days.
Question: Does urine need to be kept at room temperature or refrigerated for drop-off? How about stool samples?
Answer: Urine should be dropped off at our laboratory as soon as it is collected and should not be refrigerated. Overnight specimens will not be collected for urine culture testing. Stool Kit Collections: 4 containers in total have different requirements. The sterile green top container should be refrigerated, or frozen if being dropped off the next day. The remaining three containers have preservatives and can remain at room temperature.
Question: How long should I fast prior to blood work?
Answer: Recommended fasting time is 8-10 hours prior to the blood draw. Water is permitted. If you feel you must have coffee; it must be black with no milk or sugar.
Question: Why do I have to sign the labels on my specimens?
Answer: This helps us avoid mislabeling a specimen and reporting erroneous results to a patient’s chart.
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