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Lab testing is an essential part of keeping track of your overall health, from diagnosing medical conditions to monitoring treatments and more. The team at The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, which has locations in Arverne, Far Rockaway, and Jamaica, Queens, and another in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, offers lab testing for individuals of all ages. To learn more about lab testing, call the nearest New York City office or request an appointment online today.
Lab Testing Q & A
What is lab testing?
Laboratory tests, or lab tests, use medical devices to analyze your blood, urine, or other bodily fluids and tissues. Lab tests help the team at The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center diagnose diseases, evaluate the effectiveness of treatments, and keep a record of how your body changes over time.
What are some common lab tests?
There’s a vast array of lab tests that check different aspects of your physical health. Some of the more common lab tests you may need include:
- Complete blood count
- Basic metabolic panel
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- Lipid panel
- Thyroid panel
- Enzyme markers
- Coagulation panel
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) tests
Many lab tests involve blood work, which requires taking a small amount of blood, usually from your arm. Other types of tests include urinalysis, in which you collect a small amount of your own urine in a cup, and cultures, which involve swabbing tissue to collect a cell sample. COVID-19 testing is an example of a culture.
When do I need lab testing?
How often you need lab testing depends on your overall health, medical history, and lifestyle. Generally, most people should get routine lab tests done at least once a year at their annual physicals.
Routine lab testing helps you take control of your health by learning about your personal risk factors for disease, like high cholesterol, so you can address the issue before it becomes a serious problem.
The team at The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center may recommend certain lab tests if you’re experiencing unusual, ongoing symptoms or if you’re at high risk for certain diseases like diabetes.
What does lab testing entail?
The details of a lab testing procedure vary based on the type of test you need. Certain lab tests require fasting or going without food for a period of time. Common tests you may need to fast for include:
- Blood sugar tests
- Cholesterol tests
- Basic metabolic panel
- Kidney function tests
- Liver function tests
Your provider lets you know if you need to fast for a test so you can prepare ahead of time.
The results of many lab tests are available within 24 hours, but some may take a few days or more. Your The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center provider notifies you when they get the results of your lab tests. If the results indicate the need for further testing or follow-up treatment, your provider coordinates with you accordingly.
For convenient lab testing, call The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, or book an appointment online today.