There are four steps involved in completing each send-out test kit. Collecting the sample (blood, urine, stool, or hair), processing the sample according to the exact instructions inside the test kit, packaging the sample, and then shipping it. Urine, stool and hair are collected, processed, packaged and shipped from home by you. Blood send-out test kits have to be brought to a lab to be drawn by a phlebotomist experienced in test kit processing.

Patients may get their blood test kits drawn from us with an appointment, or if you live too far away, usually a hospital outpatient laboratory can get the blood drawn, processed, and shipped. Free-standing outpatient labs like Smith-Kline Beecham or Quest usually won’t do these kinds of send-out kits, because it is too time-consuming for their staff.

For test kits, you will pay the labs directly for the tests that they perform. The cost of the test kit itself is included in the cost, with a few exceptions. However, there is always an additional cost to be paid to the clinic or hospital that draws, processes, packages, and ships blood samples.

Each test kit comes with a requisition form. Each form will have a “Patient Information” section, and a “Payment Information” section. Under patient information, fill out all the pertinent details about you or your child. Under payment information, it is recommended that you fill in a credit card number. They will bill your card for the cost of the test and then send you a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. If you prefer, our office can give you an exact cost for each test so that you can write a check for the exact amount of each test.

If you fill in the section for insurance billing and ask the lab to bill your insurance company for you, they will charge a higher fee for the test (to cover their costs in billing). If the insurance company does not pay, then you will be stuck paying the higher cost.

Please always read completely the patient instruction sheet inside each test. It details exactly what you need to do to successfully complete the test. Follow the instructions to the letter. It is recommended that you also read the instructions for the lab personnel if you are going somewhere else for the blood draw, so that you will know if they are processing the blood properly. If the lab tech messes up the sample in the processing, then you will have to re-draw it.

If you follow these steps, you will have a successful experience completing your test kits, and we will get valuable information about your health to help us treat you appropriately. Thank you.