You’ve probably gotten labs done before, and if you haven’t, we highly encourage you to get them done as soon as possible. However, our team at Crescent Beach Care understands that you may have questions when they order labs. While we’re happy to answer questions, we don’t want to take valuable time away from your personalized care.
Here, we’ll talk about the most common questions we hear about blood testing in St. Augustine, and provide answers to help you better understand your care.
Do I need to fast before my test?
There are some blood tests that require fasting, and others that don’t. Your provider will let you know when they request you to get the blood test, but here are the most common blood tests that require you to fast beforehand:
- Glucose test
- Lipid panel
- Basic metabolic panel
- Iron tests
- B12 tests
- Hormone tests
If you need to fast before your blood test, we recommend getting your blood work done in the morning, so you do not have to fast throughout the majority of the day.
Can I get labs done in-office?
We do not offer lab services in the office, but we can help you find a clinic near you where we can send the labs. Then you can easily get them done and have the results sent to your provider to better understand your health.
How long will it take to get results?
Typically, it takes about 1 to 2 business days to see results from your blood test. Your provider will contact you as soon as they have the results from your blood testing in St. Augustine. Then you can talk to your provider in person or virtually to discuss your results.
How do I read my results?
Your results will depend on the type of test done. Some tests will have a negative or positive result, while others will have a number that is typically shown with a reference range.
A positive result will show that you do have the illness that you tested for, while a negative result shows that you do not have that illness. And for results that are numbers, if that number falls within the reference range, that typically means that your results fall within a normal range. If your results are more than the uppermost value in the reference range, then your levels are too high. If your results are lower than the lowermost value within the range, then your levels are too low. Your provider will also help you interpret your results and what they mean for your overall health.
Are range references the same between clinics?
Actually, clinics will have different reference ranges. Each one calculates the “healthy” ranges of various nutrients differently, but their results will not vary dramatically. This is why having a provider interpret your results is important—they can help you determine if your results make sense for your health and lifestyle.
Feel Confident in Your Health
Getting labs can seem tedious, but they are the key to understanding what’s happening in your body. You can make getting blood work done easier by requesting an in-person or virtual appointment today or using our complementary treatment planning tool. Get the key to understanding your health!
