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 What do I need to bring when I come for Laboratory testing? You will need to bring an order from your physician, (if the physician office has not faxed one to us). You will also need your insurance card. Note: you may have to prepare for a test, such as fasting. Please call (740)333-2805 if you have any questions. Do I need an appointment? Only for Glucose Tolerance Testing with duration of 2 or more hours. You will be given a date and time for testing. My paperwork says to be fasting, what does this mean? In most cases, fasting is no eating or drinking for 8 to 12 hours prior to testing. Patients may have water. Please contact your physician for questions concerning fasting duration or medications you may be taking. I want to have a blood test but I do not have a physicians order? We will not draw blood without an physician order. However, if we may contact your physician, we can use a verbal order for testing. May I get a copy of my results? Yes, you will need to go to Medical Records. Medical Records will have you sign a release. There is a charge, please call Medical Records (333-2826) for current pricing. How long will it take before my physician has results? The answer to this question can vary depending on the nature of the testing. Testing performed in house will be completed same day. However some testing performed by reference labs will take longer. All results will be forwarded to your physician in a timely manner. How do I collect a specimen? Specimen requirements vary, please follow this link to the Home Specimen page . If it only takes a small amount of blood for the test, why draw a whole tube? The specimen is collected in a tube that is a standard size designed to fit into analyzers. The quantity of blood taken is somewhat more than needed to ensure there is a sufficient amount for repeat testing if needed. This helps to prevent your return for another blood draw. How much blood is in the tube? Blood tubes come in different sizes. The size of a tube can be as much as 10 ml (2 teaspoons) or as small as .25 ml (1/20 th of a teaspoon). The tube type depends on the type of testing. How much blood is in my body? For the average adult weighing in at 154 pounds, the total volume of blood is around 5 liters, or 5.3 quarts. Does having my blood drawn hurt? Usually it feels like a pinch. (Stubbing your toe is worse). Holding still is very important. If you move, injury could occur resulting in more pain. Why do some people faint from having their blood drawn? An involuntary reaction occurs in the brain causes the blood pressure to drop temporarily. Outpatients are more likely to faint than inpatients because they are sitting up for the procedure. If you tend to get lightheaded from blood testing or you are week from fasting or illness you should request to have your blood drawn while in a reclining position. Our staff will appreciate the communication. About specimen types and testingFasting Specimens Fasting specimens are collected in the early morning after no food or drink has been consumed during the previous 12 hours. Some lab tests may also require that smoking, exercise or medication be eliminated prior to testing. Your physician will inform you of special requirements needed for your testing. Blood Specimens Blood specimens are collected by venipuncture or finger stick. Venipuncture is performed by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm (or hand). Blood is collected in a tube(s). For some testing, a finger stick specimen may be adequate. This procedure is performed by pricking the finger. Very little pain is associated with a venipuncture or a finger stick procedure. The amount of blood collected is dependent on the type and number of tests ordered. Urine Specimens Urine is the second most common type of specimen analyzed. There are various methods of collection based on your sex and the tests ordered. ( See below ) Your physician or other medical professional will instruct you how to properly collect a urine specimen. Other Specimens Additional specimens may be tested include stool, sputum, throat swabs and many others as directed by your physician. Multiple Specimens More than one specimen is frequently needed for complete testing. One test that requires multiple specimens is the glucose tolerance test. This test is used to detect possible blood sugar problems. It is performed on a fasting patient. A special drink is consumed with a known amount of glucose. Blood is then drawn at designated intervals over an extended period. Urine specimens may be part of the Glucose Tolerance testing. Questions not answered? If your questions have not been answered, please contact us for further assistance (740) 333-2805 |
