Lab Tests During Your Stay
Laboratory tests give your healthcare team important information about your health and help them make decisions about your care.
Why do I need laboratory tests?
Laboratory tests can help your healthcare team:
- Check your health and how your body is working
- Help diagnose a medical condition
- See how you are responding to treatment
- Decide if medications or treatments need to be changed
Your doctor or nurse can explain what tests have been ordered and why.
What types of samples might I need to provide?
Not all laboratory tests require blood.
Depending on your care, we may also need other samples, such as:
- Urine
- Swabs from your nose, throat, a wound or another area
- Stool
- Sputum (phlegm)
- Other samples needed for specific tests
Sometimes you may be asked to collect the sample yourself. Your healthcare team will give you instructions and a container if needed.
Why are my blood tests collected so early?
Routine blood collection may begin as early as 6:00 a.m. for inpatients.
Collecting your blood early helps make sure your results are ready when your healthcare team reviews your condition and plans your care for the day.
Some blood tests need to be collected at a specific time because of your medications, the type of test being performed or urgency.
Why do you need more than one tube of blood?
Different blood tests may need different types of tubes.
The number of tubes collected depends on the tests your healthcare team has ordered. It is normal to have several tubes collected at one time.
Most tubes contain only about 1 teaspoon (4–5 mL) of blood.
Why do you keep asking my name and date of birth?
It’s for your safety.
Before collecting a sample, we will ask you to tell us your full name and date of birth.
We compare this information with your hospital identification bracelet and the label for your sample.
Even if we already know you, we will check every time.
When will I get my results?
Your samples are sent to the laboratory for testing. Some results are available quickly, while others may take longer.
Your doctor or nurse can review your results with you, explain what they mean and discuss any next steps in your care.
Have questions or concerns? Please ask!
Your healthcare team can explain what samples are needed, why they have been ordered and how they should be collected.
If you have concerns about your laboratory experience, please speak with your nurse or another member of your healthcare team.