Radha Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 i was wondering if any of you know of labs that do blood tests without a doctor's prescription, and if they come to home to draw the blood, how do i go about finding one? thanksradha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacquie802 Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 Im not sure about that one. I think that visiting nurses can draw blood, but you have to have a visiting nurse . Sorry I couldn't be much help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan617 Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 I can't imagine any lab drawing blood without an order. They have to have a certain code that comes from a doctor to get paid by insurance, and it's probably illegal. There are visiting nurses that will come draw your blood, but only with a doctor's order...morgan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattiL Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 Assuming you have insurance and want them to pay, I'd call the customer service # on your insurance card and see what they say.But, I would think Morgan's probably right--they might/can't do it w/o a script.Patti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 believe it or not, there are labs in SOME states (depending on state law/regulations) that draw blood without an order from the doc. i don't have personal experience but noticed it on a website when i was looking up info re: some test results once. the one i'm aware of isn't a fly-by-night as it's the same company where i had most all of my blood work done for years (with doc orders) when i was on the east coast.insurance though will NOT pay for it without a doctor's order & i hightly doubt there is any availability for at-home services. they also do not do all the tests that a full-service lab does.here's the link though: http://www.questest.com/ch/minihome/Home.jsphope this helps, melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan617 Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 I'm not sure I'd want a lab that does tests without an order doing mine....morgan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dianaD Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 Hi,My lab does tests without an order (but if you want it without a doc's order, you have to pay for it). I believe it is "Quest". You have to go to their offices, I think. They advertise it and encourage people to have "thyroid panels" and "heart-healthy" tests, etc. They are a trusted, reputable lab and I see nothing wrong with requesting your own blood work whenever you think you need it. You can always see your doc if something turns up abnormal. I think it is a help because I feel like docs already think us chronically ill people are a bit hypchondriac-al, without us asking them every 2 months to PLEASE check something else! Kind of empowering...Diana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 the link i posted above is the exact lab diana is referring to. for better or worse, i honestly don't think it's any more than a venture in capitalism. melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan617 Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 I totally agree Melissa, let's face it, the lab makes more from out of pocket than insurance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogini Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Quest is also the main lab in NYC. I have gone to several doctors and hospitals, but all my blood work has still been through Quest. I think they are pretty reputable. I would still prefer to have a doc in charge of my bloods, tho, to read them and make sure I am getting the right tests in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 i don't doubt that quest is a quality lab and don't doubt the reliability of results...i wouldn't have been using them for years otherwise nor would most all of my docs/hospitals/insurances (when i lived in maryland). i've never had bad experiences at the several quest labs i frequented for blood tests as well as some other testing along the way and the self-ordered testing appears to be done at the same locales. i just think that - like many other parts of the health care field - their particular motivation re: allowing patients to order some of their own tests is likely $$$. that doesn't negate that it may be helpful for some but ultimately for me i'd rather make my insurance pay for it melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingLight Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 I didn't know about Quest doing tests without doc orders...But, I just saw a Lyme doc on NY and he really trusted Quest to do the standard 'non-Lyme' bloodwork...so I trusted him on it. Hmmmm.....Emily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan617 Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 I think as far as testing itself goes, they are fine. My point is the same as Melissa's. (Sweet Melissa, I can't see your name without thinking of that song ) I don't question the quality of their testing, just their motives in doing them without an order.We have a doctor in this town, who has branched out on her own into some interesting things. She does 800 dollars worth of labs, but insurance doesn't cover these labs, so she sends it to quest and they do it and you pay upfront for it. I am not saying they are not doing the testing incorrectly, just I find it odd.I have had labs sent to quest as has my son and my insurance does cover those, so I just don't know. That's a whole lotta money out of pocket for people. Once in awhile I think it would be nice to walk into a lab and say, please do a K+ level on me I'm not feeling well. But then I think whoa nellie, this could get out of hand...that's all. morgan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radha Posted January 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 i know it is always better to go thru a doctor, but my doctor isnt openminded, and sometimes i have to do things on my own, anyway, i would privately pay for it, the problem is also getting someone to come to home to draw the blood without a doctor's order, i know all of this happening isnt very likely, still if any of you can offer any help, i would greatly appreciate it, thanksradha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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