Based on information gathered from your medical history, a recent exam, and your current symptoms, your physician will order specific tests that provide additional relevant clinical information to aid in forming a diagnosis.

Many physicians today have medical staff on site who will draw blood or collect urine for analysis at the lab. If this service is unavailable at the facility where you see your doctor, you can go to any of the Intermountain patient service centers.

Your sample will be labeled with your name, date of birth, and one other unique identifier. A courier or tube system will transport it to an Intermountain Health laboratory. Samples are scrutinized for correct patient identification, sample type, and volume. They are then prepared for testing in the appropriate laboratory department by technicians and technologists with specific training for that test type. Results are transmitted electronically to physician and patient portals upon completion.

Many tests are completed within 4 hours. Paps, biopsies, and cultures take longer because of the manual nature of the procedures. Some specialty tests take longer, and your physician can tell you if your tests fall into any of these categories.

A typical range of lab values is established by summarizing many test results from a healthy population of patients. When your test result values fall outside these predictive ranges, you and your physician should discuss the implications of the abnormal value on your present health condition. Your physician may consult with one of Intermountain's many pathologists, who are experts in interpreting lab values and identifying disease in biological specimens.

Intermountain Health is contracted with the majority of insurance plans for laboratory testing. These insurance plans cover the most commonly ordered lab tests. Please get in touch with your insurance carrier if you have questions about specific tests your physician has ordered. Your physician's billing office can also tell you any out-of-pocket expenses, if any.

You can view your recent test results in the patient portal as soon as they are available.

Access the patient portal.

Your provider may also contact you with your results. If you have questions, we recommend you contact your provider or a Laboratory Services client services representative.