Prepare for blood work or lab testing
Prepare for blood work or lab testing
Blood work and lab testing help your care team check your health, monitor a condition, confirm a diagnosis, or make sure a treatment is working as expected. Some lab tests can be completed as walk-ins, while others may need an appointment, a specific time of day, fasting, or special instructions from your provider.
Before you go to an Alchemilla Hospital lab, Brookhaven Hospital lab, or another Silent Hill Health testing location, review your lab order, check whether fasting is required, bring the right identification, and ask your care team before changing any medication routine.
Quick summary
- Check that your lab order is active before going to the lab.
- Follow fasting instructions exactly if your test requires fasting.
- Drink water unless your care team told you not to.
- Do not stop or skip medications unless your provider tells you to.
- Bring photo ID, insurance information, and any lab paperwork you were given.
- Call before arriving if you are sick, running late, or unable to complete the test.
Check your lab order before you go
Most lab testing requires an order from a Silent Hill Health provider or an outside clinician. Your order tells the lab what samples to collect, which tests to run, and where the results should be sent.
You may be able to see active lab orders in your Silent Hill Health portal under Tests, Upcoming Tests, Orders, or Visit Follow-Up. If you do not see the order, contact the ordering provider before going to the lab.
| Before you go, confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The order is active | The lab may not be able to collect your sample without an active order. |
| The correct test is listed | Some tests sound similar but require different samples or preparation. |
| The location accepts your test type | Not every Silent Hill Health lab performs every type of collection. |
| The timing is correct | Some tests must be done at a certain time of day or before a medication dose. |
If your provider ordered blood work after a visit or hospital stay, you may also want to review your after-visit summary or discharge follow-up instructions in the portal.
Fasting instructions
Some blood tests require fasting. Fasting usually means not eating or drinking anything except water for a set number of hours before your test. Your provider or lab instructions should tell you whether fasting is needed and how long to fast.
Common fasting windows may be overnight or several hours before testing, but the exact instructions depend on the test. Do not guess. If your instructions are unclear, contact the ordering provider or the testing location before you arrive.
Important: Do not skip medication, insulin, food required for a medical condition, or prescribed nutrition instructions unless your provider specifically tells you to. If fasting is unsafe for you, ask for alternate instructions.
| If your test requires fasting | What to do |
|---|---|
| Water | Usually allowed, and often helpful, unless your care team says otherwise. |
| Coffee, tea, juice, soda, or alcohol | Avoid unless your instructions say it is allowed. |
| Gum, candy, mints, or lozenges | Ask first. Some fasting instructions treat these as food. |
| If you accidentally eat or drink | Call the lab or ordering office. Your test may need to be delayed or rescheduled. |
Hydration and food
Being well hydrated can make a blood draw easier. Unless your provider gave you fluid restrictions, drink water before your visit. This can help staff find a vein and may reduce dizziness or discomfort during collection.
If your test does not require fasting, eat normally unless your care team gave you different instructions. If you tend to feel lightheaded during blood draws, ask whether you should bring a small snack for after your test.
Helpful tips
- Drink water before your appointment unless you were told to limit fluids.
- Wear sleeves that can be rolled up easily.
- Tell the phlebotomist if you have fainted during blood draws before.
- Bring a snack for after the test if fasting makes you feel weak or shaky.
Medication questions
Most patients should continue taking medications as directed, but some lab tests need special timing. For example, your provider may want a blood level checked before your next dose, after a dose change, or at a specific time of day.
Ask the ordering provider before changing your medication schedule. This is especially important for insulin, diabetes medication, blood thinners, seizure medication, heart medication, lithium or other mood-stabilizing medication, antibiotics, steroids, and any medication where timing matters.
| Ask your provider if | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| You take medication with food | Whether you should still fast or use alternate timing. |
| The test checks a medication level | Whether the blood draw should happen before or after your dose. |
| You take diabetes medication or insulin | How to manage fasting, food, and medication safely. |
| You recently started or stopped a medication | Whether the test timing should change. |
Do not guess: If your lab instructions and medication instructions seem to conflict, contact your care team before the test.
When to arrive
Plan to arrive early enough to check in, confirm your identity, update insurance information, and review any collection instructions. If your test has a scheduled time, late arrival may affect whether the lab can complete the test that day.
Walk-in lab locations may still have wait times. If you need to fast, consider going earlier in the day so you can eat afterward. If your provider told you to complete the test at a specific time, follow that timing even if another time is more convenient.
Arrival checklist
- Check the lab location and parking or drop-off entrance.
- Arrive early if you need registration or updated insurance.
- Tell staff if you are fasting, dizzy, anxious, dehydrated, or hard to draw.
- Ask whether you should wait onsite after the draw if you feel faint.
What to bring
Bring items that help the lab confirm your identity, bill the correct insurance, and match the collection to the correct order. If another provider outside Silent Hill Health ordered the test, bring any paperwork or instructions they gave you.
Bring with you
- Photo ID.
- Insurance card or insurance information.
- Lab order or printed paperwork, if provided.
- List of current medications and supplements.
- Payment method if your plan requires a copay or balance payment.
Consider bringing
- A snack for after fasting labs.
- Water bottle, if allowed.
- A support person, if you need help.
- Interpreter, communication, or accessibility notes.
- A copy of outside lab instructions, if the order came from another clinic.
During your blood draw
At check-in, staff will confirm your name, date of birth, lab order, and any preparation instructions. During the blood draw, tell the phlebotomist if you have a preferred arm, have fainted before, are difficult to draw, have a port or access restriction, or have been told not to use one side.
You may feel a quick pinch, pressure, or mild discomfort. After the draw, staff may ask you to hold pressure on the site. Keep the bandage on as directed and avoid heavy lifting with that arm for a short time if staff recommends it.
Tell the lab team: If you feel faint, sweaty, nauseated, unusually anxious, or lightheaded. You can ask to lie down for the blood draw.
If you are sick before lab testing
If you have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, a new respiratory illness, a contagious rash, or symptoms that make travel unsafe, call the testing location or your care team before coming in. Some labs may ask you to reschedule, use a different entrance, wear a mask, or complete testing in a specific area.
Do not delay urgent testing without asking your provider. Some tests are time-sensitive, especially after an emergency visit, hospital discharge, medication change, pregnancy-related concern, infection concern, or abnormal previous result.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You have mild cold symptoms | Call or check location rules before arriving. You may be asked to mask. |
| You have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea | Call first. The team can advise whether to reschedule or proceed. |
| You are too weak, dizzy, or unsafe to travel | Contact your care team. If symptoms are urgent, seek urgent or emergency care. |
| Your test was marked urgent | Do not cancel without speaking with the ordering provider or testing location. |
If symptoms feel urgent: Do not wait for a portal message response. Call your clinic, use urgent care, or seek emergency help based on the severity of your symptoms.
If the test cannot be completed
Sometimes a lab test cannot be completed on the first attempt. This may happen if the order is missing, the sample cannot be collected, the patient becomes faint or unwell, the wrong preparation was followed, or the lab needs a different collection time or location.
If this happens, ask what the next step is before you leave. Depending on the reason, staff may contact the ordering provider, ask you to return another day, send you to a different testing location, or explain how to reschedule.
Before leaving, ask:
- Was the test canceled, delayed, or partially completed?
- Do I need a new order?
- Do I need to fast again?
- Should I return to the same lab or a different location?
- Who should I contact if the order still does not appear in my portal?
[[sh:If the collection room number changes while you are seated, stay with the staff member who called your name. The lab does not use Room 302 for routine blood draws.]]
After lab testing
After your blood draw, you can usually return to normal activity unless staff gave you different instructions. If you were fasting, eat and drink as soon as it is safe for you to do so. If you feel lightheaded, tell staff before leaving the lab.
Results may appear in your Silent Hill Health portal before your provider contacts you. Some results return quickly, while others take longer because the sample must be processed, reviewed, repeated, or sent to a specialty lab.
If a result looks abnormal, missing, delayed, or confusing, contact your care team for interpretation. A flagged result does not always mean there is an emergency, but your provider can explain what the result means for you.
FAQ
How do I know if I need to fast?
Check your lab order, after-visit summary, portal instructions, or message from your care team. If the instructions do not clearly say whether fasting is required, contact the ordering provider or lab before your visit.
Can I drink water before fasting blood work?
Usually, yes. Water is often allowed and may make the blood draw easier. Follow any fluid restrictions from your provider, especially if you have been told to limit fluids.
Should I take my medications before lab testing?
Do not stop, skip, or delay medication unless your provider tells you to. Some tests require specific medication timing, so ask the ordering provider if you are unsure.
What if I accidentally ate before a fasting test?
Call the lab or ordering provider before the test if possible. The test may still be usable, or it may need to be rescheduled depending on what was ordered.
What if I feel faint during blood draws?
Tell the lab team before the draw starts. You may be able to lie down, take extra time, or wait after the draw until you feel steady enough to leave.
Can I still go to the lab if I am sick?
Call first if you have fever, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory symptoms, a contagious rash, or symptoms that make travel unsafe. The lab or your care team can tell you whether to come in, mask, use a different process, or reschedule.
When will my results appear?
Timing depends on the test. Some results appear quickly, while others take longer or need specialty processing. Results may appear in your portal before your provider has reviewed them with you.
Was this article helpful?
0 out of 0 found this helpful
Comments