Welcome to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Laboratory Department. Our goal is to make your visit with us as pleasant as possible. No appointment is necessary for your lab test.

However, if you are not required to fast, it may be more convenient for you to come during the early afternoon, between 12:30 and 2 p.m., when we are not quite as busy.

We are a Sutter Health Affiliate Laboratory, licensed by the California Department of Health Services, and certified by the federal government. Our highly qualified staff uses state-of-the-art equipment and computer systems to ensure that your lab tests are performed accurately and economically.

Contents:

• Why does your doctor order laboratory tests?
• Laboratory Services
• Taking Your Prescribed Medications
• Safety of Having Blood Drawn
• Children and Lab Tests
• Medicare Changes and Laboratory Tests

Why does your doctor order laboratory tests?

You and your doctor learn a great deal about your health by testing your blood. Laboratory tests extend the range of your doctor's senses, providing information which cannot be seen, heard or touched by the doctor.

A normal test result can be just as important as an abnormal result. It helps rule out disease as well as establish a baseline "normal" for you. A person's own result is the best baseline for monitoring any change that takes place in the future.

An abnormal result may show up even when you feel fine. For this reason laboratory tests are often used by physicians as part of your physical exam.

Tests support the findings of a physical exam and enable your doctor to make a diagnosis that may otherwise be missed.
Back to top

Laboratory Services

In order to provide the highest quality of service, there are certain procedures that we follow:

• You will be asked to verify your name and birthdate before your blood is drawn. This is necessary because there may be more than one person with the same name in our computer system.
  
  
• If information on the requisition is incomplete or missing, we may have to call the doctor's office to obtain the necessary information. This may result in a delay in processing your orders.
  
  
• We usually serve people in the order they arrive at the laboratory. However if a "STAT" (immediate) test or a specific time-interval test is ordered by a physician, this person will be taken out of order.
  
  
• Prothrombin Times may be drawn anytime during the day between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
  
  
• To assure accurate test results, some tests require that you do not eat or drink anything for 12 hours prior to having your blood drawn. This is important when checking a full lipid profile (triglyceride, cholesterol, cholesterol "types" or glucose levels). You may drink a small amount (1 cup or less) of water, tea or coffee. Do NOT use sugar or milk/cream of any kind when fasting blood work is ordered. Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol do not require fasting and my be drawn any time of the day.
  
  
• Each test requires a certain amount of blood for the test results to be accurate. We only draw the amount needed for the tests ordered by your doctor.
  
  
• Some tests, such as glucose tolerance, will require that you remain in the laboratory area for an extended period of time. Special patient instructions are available in the laboratory.
  
  
• By federal mandate, we may perform only those tests your physician has ordered and that are medically necessary. If you have questions about your tests, please ask your doctor.
  
  
• You will be asked to apply pressure to the puncture site and stay in the waiting area until the phlebotomist makes sure all signs of bleeding have stopped and a bandage has been applied.
  
  
• Most test results are available to you from your physician within three to five working days. If you have questions about your lab results, please call your doctor.

Taking Your Prescribed Medications

You should take your prescribed medications on the schedule your doctor has ordered for you. If the lab test is a measurement of your medication, we will ask you the time of your last dose.
Back to top

Safety of Having Blood Drawn

You are at no risk of catching a disease, such as AIDS or hepatitis, or getting an infection from having your blood drawn. The lab personnel who draw your blood always wear gloves and use one-time-use, disposable needles.

The most common complication from having blood drawn is minor bruising at the puncture site. Care should be taken to assure bleeding has stopped prior to leaving the lab area. If you experience slight bruising, an ice pack, applied briefly to the site, may relieve the discomfort. For patients on blood thinners such as Coumadin a pressure bandage may be applied. Some people feel dizzy or light-headed when having blood drawn. Let the lab personnel know you have experienced this feeling in the past, and we will provide the needed support.

Back to top

Children and Lab Tests

Your child's experience in having blood drawn is important to us. Parents are encouraged to talk to their child before blood is drawn to calm their fears. We also suggest a reward be given to the child after blood has been drawn.

Our laboratories have phlebotomists and technologists who are highly skilled with children and will ensure that your child has the least amount of discomfort possible. Since it is important that we obtain the best sample of blood for accurate results, we usually draw blood from the vein. Occasionally we may need to help your child hold his or her arm still. Discuss your concerns with the phlebotomist so we can make the experience as comfortable as possible.
Back to top

Medicare Changes and Laboratory Tests

Sometimes, because of payment policies established by Medicare that are beyond our control, Medicare will not pay for some of your tests even though your doctor considers them important to your continued good health.

Medicare may not pay for your tests in the following situations:

• The tests are part of a routine physical exam and are used to screen for early signs of disease.
  
  
• The test is performed more frequently than recommended by Medicare.
  
  
• The test is considered by Medicare rules to be medically unnecessary, based on the diagnosis reported by your doctor.
  
  
• The test is considered experimental or investigational because it has not yet been approved by the FDA.
  
• For some tests Medicare will only pay a portion of the costs after you have met your annual deductible.