Diagnostics and laboratory

Patients may be familiar with imaging services, sometimes referred to as radiology, but diagnostics and laboratory services are slightly different. These services focus on collecting specimens and analyzing or testing them for diagnosis, treatment or monitoring of a condition or symptom. Pathologists are scientists trained in interpreting lab results and providing that information to the primary care physician.

Hospitals in the Medical City Healthcare network provide inpatient and outpatient lab services. A doctor's order is required for most lab tests, which means your referring doctor must provide authorization for you to be scheduled for a test.

Select labs are accredited by these professional organizations:

• College of American Pathologists (CAP)
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Program
• American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
• American Board of Accreditation of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET)

Any preparation required for a lab test will be discussed with you before the test. You may be asked to fast for a period of time, usually eight hours, before a test to ensure clear results. You may also be given instructions to avoid certain foods, vitamins or other things that may affect results.

Samples may be collected a number of ways, such as blood drawn or an imaging-guided biopsy and are analyzed in the lab. Many tests do not take very long to complete, although for any that require sedation, you should make appropriate arrangements to have someone else drive you to and from the hospital.

Results are provided to your referring doctor usually within 24-48 hours, although some more complex tests may take longer. With these lab results your doctor can make more informed decisions about your symptoms and treatment, or potentially prevent an illness from worsening.

Many of our diagnostic labs house a blood bank for transfusions or therapeutic phlebotomy and treatment for Rh-negative mothers. We also have a microbiology section that performs sensitivity testing against a variety of antibiotics.

The lab test ordered is dependent on a patient's symptoms or condition and may need to be performed on a regular basis for monitoring certain disorders or illnesses.

Some of the most common lab tests we provide are:

• Complete blood count (CBC)—used as a measure of health and to screen for potential disorders or deficiencies
• Lipid panels—measuring cholesterol and triglyceride levels for cardiac care
• Cultures—for illness caused by potential infection, microorganisms are tested to determine what foreign body is present for antibiotic treatment