LAB RESULTS
Tips about lab results
- Remember: “No news is good news” can be a fatal assumption......so if you don't hear about your results within 4 weeks, PLEASE CALL. It is always best to check on this especially if you are concerned.
- Advice about preparation for having screening blood testing done:
- You should be fasting for 10 hours before blood is drawn to give you "true" readings for cholesterol levels (lipid profile) or if a fasting blood sugar is needed to rule out diabetes. Drink as much water as you want and take your usual medications.
- Avoid heavy exercise for 24 hours before lab work. This can cause elevation in certain muscle and liver enzyme levels and thereby avoiding unnecessary repeating of studies and further work up. The same is suggested for alcohol and excessive Tylenol / acetoaminophen use which can elevate liver enzymes. In men sexual activity can also raise PSA levels.
- If additional testing is needed, never ever accept the phrase, “we’ll only contact you if the results are bad.” What if a doctor never sees the results because of misfiled paperwork or a laboratory mix-up? What if a doctor and/or their office never got the results and never contacted you? You were told not to worry unless someone called. So who pays the ultimate price for this oversight? You do.
- It must be re-emphasized that no news means no news. The news could be good or bad, and you won’t know unless you are contacted with the results. So, if any additional testing is needed, you should always expect to get the results. They can be communicated to you through a simple letter or phone call from the office staff. Call our office if you don’t hear from us in a reasonable amount of time. It is always better to double check and be safe than sorry.
