September is National Cholesterol Education Month. Learn more about cholesterol and other lipids, and when testing may be appropriate.
Learn MoreTo learn more about laboratory medicine in general and gain a greater understanding of how laboratory testing can impact your health care, read the following in-depth articles. These patient resources are intended to help you navigate the testing process, provide context for the lab tests you may need or have already completed, and give you a better understanding of your test results.
Did You Know? Excess biotin in the blood from supplements can cause some, but not all, lab test results to be either falsely increased or falsely decreased, causing healthcare practitioners to misdiagnose and mistreat their patients. Find out what supplements contain biotin, about common tests affected by biotin and how health care professionals can prepare you for testing […]
Forensic testing is the gathering of data for analysis and for use in legal proceedings, depending on the laws of particular jurisdictions. Learn how forensic testing differs from clinical laboratory testing, including the special training required for lab personnel and unique procedures employed.
Many routine diagnostic tests require a blood sample. Common as it is, this brief procedure is the thing that causes the greatest apprehension among people getting lab tests performed. This article contains tips on making your blood tests more comfortable and less stressful.
Sometimes, undergoing an unfamiliar medical procedure can turn out to be a tense, upsetting, or even frightening experience. If undergoing medical tests makes you or someone you care for anxious, embarrassed, or fearful, read this article for some general tips on how to make the sample collection experience less stressful.
Many of the decisions you and your healthcare provider make about your health status are based on laboratory data. Learn why you and your provider can trust the results coming from the laboratory and why that trust is well-placed.
Today's technologies allow testing on an impressively wide variety of samples collected from the human body. Learn about these samples and how they are collected to ensure accurate and reliable testing.
This form enables patients to ask specific questions about lab tests. Your questions will be answered by a laboratory scientist as part of a voluntary service provided by one of our partners, American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. Please allow 2-3 business days for an email response from one of the volunteers on the Consumer Information Response Team.
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