Online Blood Tests Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why Should I Use Private MD Labs™

• Are these test results accurate? Yes. All lab tests offered by Private MD Labs are fulfilled by an accredited medical diagnostic laboratory.
• Are the results confidential? Although Private MD Labs does not share your results with your physician, insurance companies or any other party, unless required by law for reportable diseases, we do not have control over the laboratories and their practices. If you have concerns with your results being shared with your physician or other providers, do not authorize the lab to share your results. You may also ask the lab how to keep your results from being shared, if you do not see any type of consent when having your specimens collected.
• Do you accept other forms of payment besides credit cards? If you do not wish to pay via credit card, you can purchase gift cards like American Express to cover the amount of the purchase. Many times gift cards will require you to call our office to place your order and normally takes at least one hour from the time of purchase for the card to become active. Click here to learn more.
• Can I get a refund for tests ordered?

  Refunds are only permitted prior to submission of urine or blood specimens to a Patient Service Center for testing. Refund amounts will be 75% of the original purchase price. No refund after 21 days from receipt of payment. Refunds are only issued for payments made using a credit card, any form of alternate payments method used are not eligible for refunds.

  Your order never expires. Because of some regulations that we can't avoid, your requisition (prescription) automatically expires after 6 months, at which point we will issue you a new one at no cost when you're ready to take your tests. Because there is a cost involved in re-issuing your requisition, we ask that you refrain from requesting a re-issue until you're sure you will be going to the lab for your blood draw. We retain the right to not re-issue requisition orders at our own discretion without reason if we feel this policy is being abused. Reissued requisitions may not be transferred to another name. If the requisition associated with your order has expired and the tests ordered have increased in price, we reserve the right to issue a house credit to you for the amount of purchase to enable you to reorder and pay the difference in cost. We reserve the right to charge an administrative fee of $15 for re-issues under certain circumstances, like abuse, too many re-issues or unforeseen circumstances.

• Can I test anonymously? No, due to mandated regulations, Private MD Labs cannot provide anonymous testing. You will be asked for an ID at the Patient Service Center.
• Can I use Private MD Labs if I am a resident of the state of NY, NJ or RI? No, due to state laws we cannot provide services to residents of the states of NY, NJ or RI. The staff members at the Patient Service Centers are required to ask for ID. If you have recently moved from one of the states where we cannot provide services, please be sure you have proof of residence for the current state in which you reside.

Questions About Preparing for Your Lab Test

• Are there any special instructions I need to follow to prepare for my lab test? If any special instructions are required you will be informed in the communication accompanying your requisition. This information can also be found by clicking on "More Info" to the right of the test. If any special instructions are required, this will be listed in the Patient Instructions section. Blood tests require that you wear sleeves that will roll up easily while urine tests require that you should be prepared to provide a urine specimen.
• Should I continue to take my medicine before getting my test? You should always consult the physician prescribing your medication before you stop taking the medication for any reason, including taking lab tests.
• How will I receive my requisition papers for testing? You will receive a notification email informing you that your requisition papers are available. This email will contain a link to the secure communications area where your requisition papers will be available. Please read the email for important information associated with the login process. Once you have successfully logged into the secure communication area, additional instructions will be available to guide you to the appropriate area to print out your requisition papers. Please read the communication that accompanies your requisition papers.
• Does "fasting" mean nothing at all to eat or drink for a specific amount of time? When instructed to "fast" for a specific amount of time, you should have no food or beverages other than water. You should drink plenty of water prior to all blood draws in order to be completely hydrated.

Questions About Taking the Tests

• Where are my laboratory tests performed? All specimens are analyzed at a CLIA Certified laboratory with the same state-of-the-art technology and attention to quality that thousands of doctors and hospitals within the U.S. trust and use for their own patients and family.
• How do I find a collection center near me? Use our Lab Location page to find a location, get a map and obtain driving directions.
• Do I need an appointment?

  Many locations are now requiring appointments in order to reduce the number of patients at the lab, however, some are still taking walk-ins. Each location differs in their requirements, it would be best you check with the location in which you are planning to go to in order to verify if they require appointments.

  Appointments must be scheduled through the laboratory's website:

  • Labcorp appointment scheduling: https://www.labcorp.com/labs-and-appointments
  • Quest Diagnostics appointment scheduling: https://appointment-beta.questdiagnostics.com/schedule-appointment/as-reason-for-visit

• Will I be required to show ID? The staff members at the Patient Service Centers are required to ask for ID. We are not able to request that you not show ID.
• Will you file an insurance claim for me? No. Services provided through PrivateMD Labs are strictly self pay and are not eligible for submission as a claim to your health insurance provider. However, you can submit the receipt to many Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts for reimbursement.
• How long do I have to take my tests? Your order never expires. Because of some regulations that we can't avoid, your requisition (prescription) automatically expires after 6 months, at which point we will issue you a new one at no cost when you're ready to take your tests. Because there is a cost involved in re-issuing your requisition, we ask that you refrain from requesting a re-issue until you're sure you will be going to the lab for your blood draw. We retain the right to not re-issue requisition orders at our own discretion without reason if we feel this policy is being abused. Reissued requisitions may not be transferred to another name. If the requisition associated with your order has expired and the tests ordered have increased in price, we reserve the right to issue a house credit to you for the amount of purchase to enable you to reorder and pay the difference in cost. We reserve the right to charge an administrative fee of $15 for re-issues under certain circumstances, like abuse, too many re-issues or unforeseen circumstances.

Questions About Lab Test Results

• How will I receive my results? You will receive a notification email informing you that your results are available. This email will contain a link to the secure communications area where your results will be available. Please read the email for important information associated with the login process. Once you have successfully logged into the secure communication area, additional instructions will be available to guide you to the appropriate area to view and print/save out your results.
• When will I get my test result information?

  Test results are usually available online within 2-3 business days. However, some tests will require additional time for processing.

  You will be informed of the additional time needed in the communication accompanying your requisition for tests that require more than 3 business days.

  You may also find this information on the website in the "Patient instructions" section of the test details. Some tests can take up to 14 days for results to become available. Unfortunately, we do not have control over the amount of time it takes for the labs to process your specimens and provide the results to us.

  Results are posted in the order they are received from the lab.

• Can my doctor view my results directly? No. While you can review your results online, we have restricted the online access to you personally; however, you have the opportunity to print a report that you can share with your doctor.
• How can I get copies of my old results? All results from 2009 and forward can be obtained by logging into your secure account using the email address and password associated with the order. Results prior to 2009 have been archived and are no longer available. To ensure you always have your previous test results, we do suggest you save a copy in your personal files.
• If treatment or medication is needed, will Private MD Labs write me a prescription? No, Private MD Labs only provides the requisition for testing and the results to you for the testing. We cannot provide you with a prescription for medication.
• Will you fax my results to my doctor? Results are only provided by being uploaded to our secure patient portal to be accessed by the individual being tested. If results need to be shared with another party, this is something that has to be done by the individual.