Laboratory Services

Acute care (hospital) anatomic and clinical (tissue and body fluid) testing for a wide range of diseases, toxicology (drug), and blood products (blood bank).

Yes, all laboratory requests require a EMR documented or written order for all testing required.

Test results can take anywhere from 4 hours to 7 days to complete depending on the type of test and any additional testing ordered by your provider based on initial results.  If you have any questions related to how long testing will take, reach out to your provider.

Your test results will be seen by you and your provider.

Immediately after testing is completed, results will be available in MyChart or with you can ask you healthcare provider if you do not have access to MyChart.

No, each facility has a different test menu depending on the type and level of testing that best fits the patients who receive care in that facility. Any testing not performed on-site will be sent to a Novant Health facility that performs the testing or to an outside reference laboratory for completion.

Supplies

• 24-hour urine specimen container
• Collection hat

Instructions

1. Urinate into toilet. Empty bladder completely. Write down time (this is the start time). Do not collect the first urine.
2. Collect all urine in the specimen container for the next 24 hours.
3. Label the container with the following information:
   1. Patient:
      1. First and last name
      2. Date of birth
   2. Start date and time
   3. End date and time
4. Deliver the container to one of our patient service centers (listed in the following section) as soon as possible.

Urine must be kept cold. Keep your specimen container on ice or refrigerated during the 24-hour collection period. Keep the container out of reach of children.

Tell your doctor if you have had castor oil, mineral oil, or barium dye (from X-rays). If you have, you may need to wait at least 48 hours after ingesting these materials to provide your sample.

Supplies

• Sterile specimen cup, provided by the lab
• Plastic bag with zip top closure
• Brown paper bag

Instructions

1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
2. Remove the lid from the specimen cup. Do not touch the inside of the lid or cup.
3. Hold the cup firmly and collect your bowel movement. Do not allow any paper or urine into the cup. Do not collect stool directly from the toilet.
4. Screw the lid on tightly. Make sure the outside of the cup is not soiled. If soiled, wipe the cup clean with tissue.
5. On the specimen cup, write the:
   1. Patient’s full name and date of birth
   2. Date and time of stool collection
6. Place the specimen cup into the plastic bag.
7. Place the plastic bag into the brown paper bag.
8. Deliver the container to one of our patient service center locations (listed in the following section) as soon as possible.

Keep the specimen on ice or refrigerated until you are able to deliver it. Keep the container out of reach of children.

Before dropping off your sample, make sure you have everything you need:

• Signed lab order from your provider. You can bring a paper copy with you, or the order could be:
  • In MyChart
  • Faxed to our location by your provider’s office
• Properly labeled collection container. The following should be written on the container, not on the lid.
  • Your full name and date of birth written on the collection container
  • Collection date and time written on the collection container