Patient Lab Education

Patient Lab Education

Fasting Instructions: Some tests require fasting, Fasting only needs to be for 12 hours prior to collection. Please check with your healthcare provider or refer to the specific test requirements provided by your physician during your lab order visit. Fasting means no food or drinks, except for water, during the specified fasting period. Avoid any beverages, including coffee, tea, juice, and soda, as they can affect test results.

Medication Compliance:If you deviate  from your provider's medication orders since your last appointment or had labs drawn but were not following exactly what was prescribed by your provider for 6-8 weeks prior to drawing your labs, your lab results can be inaccurate. Please ensure you inform us of any compliance issues with what we prescribe/plan so we can adjust labs and treatment plan accordingly

Take your regular medications as prescribed; I.E. If you are having hormones tested, it is imperative that you are on your dose consistently for at least 6-8 weeks; if you are on injections, you are having your labs drawn mid week injection schedule;etc..).If you deviate  from your provider's medication orders since your last appointment or had labs drawn but were not following exactly what was prescribed by your provider for 6-8 weeks prior to drawing your labs, your lab results can be inaccurate. Please ensure you inform us of any compliance issues with what we prescribe/plan so we can adjust labs and treatment plan accordingly

*For our Hormone Patients**Recommended Lab collection timing for best results:6-8 weeks post initiation or dose changes and : 

- Creams- 12-24 hrs post dosing

- Oral-12-24 hrs post dosing

- Patches- 1 -2 days post dosing

- Pellets-no specific timing 

- Injections: Midpoint between injections (i.e. If on IM Testosterone every 7 days, specimen should be collected on day 3-4

Lab Assay Interferences:

Some medications can affect lab results.  It is imperative that you refrain from the following: 

-No biotin for 48 hours (if greater than 5000 mg/day)

- High Dose Vitamin C (anything greater than 15 g;hold for 1 wk)

- Any vitamin testing should be done after being off of supplements for at least 3 days, preferably  1 week

*If receiving a prostate lab; it should be drawn prior to receiving a digital rectal exam.

Results and Follow-up:

Your provider will discuss the results of your labs once they receive them and have the chance to review them in combination with the symptomatology form that you will fill out to give you appropriate guidance and recommendations based on these findings.

Note: It is crucial to follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or the laboratory staff accurately. Deviations from the instructions may affect the reliability and accuracy of the test results. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our laboratory or consult your healthcare provider for clarification.