Lab

Welcome to Mountain View Hospital’s Clinical Laboratory. Our goal is to provide you the safest, most comfortable, and easiest experience, and to give your physician the most accurate results so he or she can make the necessary treatment decisions for your optimal health.

We offer a wide range of the most up-to-date laboratory services for outpatients, as well as inpatients, in a patient-oriented, accessible setting. Located immediately off our main lobby, our lab is easy to find and use. Lab services are also available at Mountain View’s REDICARE facilities at Taylor Crossing and on Channing Way.

What does a lab do?

A clinical laboratory collects and tests various bodily products, such as blood, urine, or stool. Many types of problems within the body will show up in these samples. Infections from bacteria or viruses can be isolated so doctors know which medicines are most effective in eliminating them. The lab can also detect environmentally induced problems within the body. If a person has too much of a certain mineral in his or her body, for example, it can be measured to give the doctor a clearer idea of a patient’s health.

The most important aspect of laboratory care for Mountain View’s Clinical Lab is your comfort and safety. We encourage you to ask questions about your care, about what is happening to you, about concerns you may have regarding your tests. You have a right to know who’s doing what and why. It’s important to remember, though, that the lab personnel cannot interpret your results for you. Your physician will do that.

Mountain View’s Clinical Lab maintains a current blood supply in our Blood Bank so that if patients need blood for any reason, we can cross-match the blood to be sure it is compatible with the patient’s blood and transfuse it as needed.

What do I need to do?

The Clinical Laboratory is easy to reach. Simply come in the main entrance of Mountain View Hospital or to either of our REDICARE offices with your doctor’s order. Tell the admissions clerk you are here for a lab test, and the clerk will take care of the paperwork. Then a lab person will process your paperwork and proceed with your test.

Do I need to take any special steps to prepare?

Some tests will require that you take certain steps, such as fasting for 12 hours before the test, or avoiding certain kinds of foods or drinks. Most tests do not call for any special precautions. Your physician can explain what you have to do to get ready for any test. If you have any questions, always feel free to call the Lab at 557-2576 for help or advice. If a lab tech is not able to speak to you when you call, please leave a message and we will return your call promptly. We are here for you.

How soon will my doctor receive results?

Some lab tests can be done within a couple of minutes to a couple of hours. Those results will be in your physician’s hands usually the same day. Other tests may require growing out a culture, which usually take 48 to 72 hours. In those cases your physician will receive the results on the business day immediately following the test completion. For tests that have to be sent to off-campus specialty labs in another city, test results may take a week. Again, your physician will have results on the day following our receiving them.

Our lab turn-around times are consistent with other labs in our area. We employ two couriers, whose job it is to shuttle results to physicians as quickly as those results are available.

If your doctor orders tests and requires immediate results, and the test can be done that quickly, he or she will receive the results as soon as they are available.

How much will my lab tests cost?

Laboratory test costs depend on the complexity of the test. These costs can vary greatly. We can tell you the cost of most tests. Some tests, if they result in a positive finding, may require an additional test, which can raise the estimated cost. If extra testing is needed, a decision a doctor will make, not the lab, extra expense will result. We can give you a reasonable estimate on costs, provided no unexpected results occur.

Does insurance cover my tests?

Insurance plans vary greatly. You should call your insurance carrier and inquire about coverage for the test. Mountain View Hospital accepts most insurances, and we will be happy to work with you in determining the extent of your coverage.

What is the range of testing offered?

We offer a full-range of laboratory testing. From simple blood cell counts to complex panels, Mountain View Hospital Clinical Laboratory can make your visit as quick and easy, and as comfortable as possible.