Lab work, designed for real life

Lab Services FAQs

1. How do laboratory services work at One Medical?

   Once you have established care with One Medical (i.e. you’ve had at least one appointment), you may leverage our lab services. We offer our members on-site laboratory services on a drop-in basis, with no need for an appointment. Our staff will put you at ease, draw your blood and collect other specimens in an anxiety-free environment, and get you on your way quickly. We partner with third-party labs who run a majority of the tests. After we receive and review your results, we will promptly email you with a copy of the report.

2. Why do I need to have at least one appointment before I can use lab services?

   We require you to have at least one appointment at our clinic before you can leverage any of our lab services. The purpose of this appointment is to establish your medical care with us. During this visit we collect your health history, take your vitals, and discuss any health concerns or goals you may have. This visit enables our team to better identify lab services you may need (and those you do not need) to deliver you the best care possible.

3. How often do I need laboratory services?

   This really depends! Your health care provider will order the specific tests you need based on your age, your medications, your overall health status and the amount of time since your last set of blood tests. Young, healthy individuals may only need blood tests every five years, while patients with active medical issues may need tests annually or even more frequently. If you are interested in having specific tests performed, you can discuss them with your provider in the office or via email before coming in to have your blood drawn.

4. Do I need to fast before my lab tests?

   Many tests don’t require fasting (not eating before a lab test), but some are accurate only if you have been fasting before having your blood drawn. If your provider tells you that you need to fast before your tests, then you should not eat food or drink anything besides water for a minimum of 12 hours prior to the test. You may take medications during this time, and you should drink plenty of water in order to stay hydrated and help make your blood draw easier.

5. Do I need to have an appointment for lab tests?

   No, no appointment is necessary. As long as you have established care at One Medical (i.e. had at least one appointment), and your provider has ordered your test(s), you can simply drop into any One Medical office during lab hours (or after your appointment) to have our phlebotomists draw blood and collect samples as needed. If you have questions about which tests are covered by your insurance plan, we recommend checking with your insurance company prior to having your test(s) done.

6. Where do I go for a blood draw?

   One Medical provides on-site lab services on a drop-in basis at all of our offices across the country. This means that you can have your blood drawn directly following a visit (if during drop-in hours), or at your convenience throughout the week. Our lab hours are updated everyday on each individual office’s page (See an example here under “Office Hours” and in the app). We recommend checking your office’s page to ensure the lab is open when you plan on arriving.

7. What if I want to go to an off-site lab for testing?

   If you prefer, you can go to an off-site lab such as LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics, or any local medical center for your tests. Please contact them directly for their respective locations/hours.

8. How long does it take to get my lab test results?

   Typically, it takes 3 - 5 business days* for us to receive your lab results, although sometimes they may be ready sooner or later. As soon as we receive your results, we will send them to you via a One Medical app message along with our interpretation if applicable. If you don’t receive your results after 10 days, please contact us and we’ll work on getting them to you as soon as possible.

   *results may be delayed in the event of an influx of labs, e.g. in an endemic, pandemic or similar

9. How does insurance coverage work with lab tests?

   Insurance plans vary, and your coverage depends on your specific policy. While most preventative tests are covered by insurance, you may want to contact your insurance carrier to ensure coverage before having your test done. One Medical partners with third-party labs (like Labcorp and Quest) who run your tests and bill you and/or your insurance. While One Medical may be able to answer questions, most billing concerns are best handled with the lab directly.

10. Can I get STI testing at One Medical?

    Yes. Like all medical tests, STI tests are strictly confidential. If you know you were exposed to HIV or viral Hepatitis, you should speak with your physician immediately to discuss early preventive treatment options. For general screening, you may consider utilizing the “Treat Me Now” function through the One Medical app.

11. What should I expect during the blood draw?

    No one looks forward to getting their blood drawn, but the procedure is usually brief and uneventful. Most people are in and out of the lab room in under 15 minutes. The phlebotomist will begin by gently pressing their fingers against your skin to locate the best vein. Then they will put on gloves, clean the area with an alcohol pad, tie a tourniquet around your upper arm to increase blood flow, ask you to make a fist, and insert the needle. Tip: Chatting helps. One Medical phlebotomists make it a point to engage you in conversation to help you relax and make the needle prick a little less painful. Chat up your phlebotomist and distract yourself from the draw.

12. What can I do to prepare for my lab visit?

    The best thing patients can do is hydrate! Drinking plenty of water before your lab visit will make your veins more visible. Also, keep in mind that there are requirements for some tests — you may need to fast for certain tests, and STI testing often requires not urinating for an hour beforehand. Not sure if these apply to you? Reach out to your provider to confirm.

    Also make sure you allow enough time for your lab visit — it’s helpful for both you and the phlebotomist. If you’re curious how long your lab visit will be, we’ll do our best to give you an accurate estimate.

13. Is there anything I can do to make a blood test less painful?

    Blood draws can be scary, but our well trained and caring phlebotomists are here to help. If you have any fears about the blood drawing process, or had a bad experience in the past, please talk to your phlebotomist beforehand. They will work with you to make the process as pleasant and pain free as possible.

    One trick to make the blood draw easier is to drink plenty of water before the draw. Being well-hydrated means your veins are full and easier for the phlebotomist to find, which could mean a quicker, less painful draw for you.

14. I usually faint from blood draws. Is there anything I can do to avoid this?

    Feeling lightheaded or faint from blood draws is a completely normal and common physiological reaction known as a vasovagal response. Although we may not be able to eliminate this response entirely, there are a few things we can do to reduce the intensity of the reaction and any unpleasant symptoms.

    All of our labs are equipped with chairs that recline. We also keep apple juice, water, snacks, and ice packs on hand. If you’re prone to vasovagal reactions, please tell your phlebotomist beforehand so we can use these resources to help you have the best possible lab experience.

15. Is bruising after a blood draw normal?

    Yes, bruising is normal after a blood draw. Applying pressure directly following a blood draw mitigates the common side effect of bruising. Because every person’s veins are different, minor bruising and swelling around the puncture site can occur even with the most experienced phlebotomist. If you do bruise, it should go away within a few days.

16. How come some test kits have to be collected at home (e.g., stool kits and saliva kits)?

    Although phlebotomists provide our patients with materials and collection instructions for stool kits, those samples cannot be collected in office due to the risk of exposure for patients and employees.

    Other kits such as saliva test kits or 24-hour urine tests also need to be completed at home because the collection process is often spread over an extended time period. While these are completed at home, we provide print-out instructions with each kit and verbally review them with you in the office before you leave.

17. I have a provider outside of One Medical who ordered lab work for me. Can I get these tests done at One Medical?

    Yes! Typically, we can prepare and draw most “outside lab orders” without any issues as long as you have established care (i.e. had at least one appointment with us).

    There are some cases in which we may not be able to prepare and draw the requested lab orders. We suggest that patients message in a copy of their order so that our lab services team can confirm that we stock the necessary supplies. We will inform you if any of the labs you are looking to get completed will need to be done at another facility or if they require an appointment.

18. What information does One Medical need to fulfill an outside lab order?

    We will need the following information:

    • Patient Full Name (First and Last)
    • Patient DOB
    • Ordering Provider Name and/or NPI / lab account #*
    • Ordering Provider Fax, and/or Phone number
    • ICD-10 Codes*
    • Tests names requested by the provider (with or without test codes)

    *These items enable the lab to bill your insurance provider accurately. We ask for these to limit any confusing/costly bills later.

    If this is a one-time order, we’ll also need a valid order date (i.e. your order must not be expired). All orders are valid for 1 year unless otherwise specified.

19. What is the process for fulfilling an outside lab order?

    In order to use our lab services, you need to establish care with us by having at least one appointment at One Medical. Once that’s done, the process works as follows:

    1. The provider (outside of One Medical) places your lab order
    2. You send a picture of your order to our admin team via the Messaging tab in the One Medical app, or bring your order to a local office so our team can scan it into your chart.
    3. Our office will review your order and make sure it includes the information listed above. If anything is missing, we’ll reach out to the ordering provider for an updated order.
    4. Our team reviews the order and confirms whether or not One Medical can fulfill your request. If we can’t prepare and draw your lab order, we’ll provide third-party lab options and help coordinate your order with whichever lab you choose.
    5. If we can fulfill your order, you may visit any One Medical office during drop-in lab hours to complete your lab services / blood work. If we can’t fulfill your order, you will visit the third-party lab to complete your lab services / blood work.
    6. If you have your lab order prepared and drawn at One Medical, our team will send your order to a third-party lab (i.e. LabCorp) for processing.
    7. After we receive and review your results (typically 3 - 5 business days), we promptly email you a copy of the report. We do not interpret outside lab orders.
    8. You contact your provider (outside of One Medical) for results interpretation and any questions related to your results (if they do not contact you first).