Laboratory Services
Hospital and clinical laboratory
The UK laboratory offers adult and pediatric blood draw and urine testing services through UK HealthCare. A written doctor's order or lab requisition is required for testing to be performed. Results are available through your provider's office or by accessing the MyChart patient portal. For quicker service, contact your provider to schedule an appointment at any location.
Patient Instructions
Scheduling a lab appointment
- All patients referred for specimen collection to any UK HealthCare outpatient lab should schedule a lab appointment prior to arrival.
- To make an appointment, contact your UK HealthCare ordering provider. All non-UK HealthCare patients may call 859-562-0150. Appointments may be booked as early as same day.
- Patients may arrive up to 10 minutes before their appointment time. Patients who are dropping off specimens do not need an appointment unless they are directed to collect their specimens for a certain day. If that is the case, please book an appointment.
Arriving for blood work
- Check in at your scheduled lab location.
- Present insurance information and verify your identity.
- Present a lab requisition or written provider's order if required.*
*Most UK Healthcare provider locations send orders to the lab electronically; written orders are not required for these locations.
Fasting
Fasting is often required for lab test accuracy. This generally means you should not eat or drink anything but water after midnight the day of the test. Check with your provider for specific instructions.
Sweat chloride testing
If your provider has ordered sweat chloride testing (a test for cystic fibrosis), it will be scheduled by your provider's office. This testing is performed Monday through Thursday. Please call 859-257-3521 for more information.
Urine test collection instructions
If your provider orders urine testing, please follow these procedures to ensure accurate results:
- Clean Catch Urine Instructions
- Clean Catch Urine Instructions (Spanish)
- 24-hour Urine Collection Instructions
Care after blood has been drawn
Blood draw frequently asked questions
Why do I need to register every time I have my blood drawn; Don't you already have my information on file?
UK HealthCare wants to ensure that we have your current insurance information so that you are not billed unnecessarily.
Why do you need to copy my insurance card?
UK HealthCare needs this information in order to bill your current insurance company.
Why do you ask for my date of birth?
Your name and date of birth are compared with the information on your lab requisition and are used to verify your identity.
Will insurance cover my lab tests?
If UK HealthCare is a participating provider with your health plan, your out-of-pocket costs are usually limited to co-payments, co-insurances and/or other deductibles. We recommend that you contact your insurance company/health plan if you have questions regarding your benefit coverage or how your services will be covered.
Whom should I call with billing questions?
You may receive separate bills for services received at UK HealthCare: one for professional fees (services provided by a pathologist) and one for hospital fees (lab tests). Each billing area has a separate customer service phone number:
- Professional fees (physician billing): Kentucky Medical Services Foundation, Inc.
859-257-8618
1-800-967-2131 (toll free) - Lab Tests: UK HealthCare Patient Accounts
859-257-8111
1-800-288-2779 (toll free)
Can you send my test results to more than one provider?
We will send your test results to the provider who ordered the test. We can send the results to another provider if requested at the time of collection and the following information is provided; name, address, phone number, fax number.
Can I come by to pick up my test results? Can I have them faxed to my home?
The blood draw stations cannot release results directly to patients. The laboratory can release test results only to the ordering provider or to another provider if requested by the ordering provider.
Where can I get my test results?
Laboratory or pathology test results are available in your MyChart account (sign-up instructions at https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/mychart), or from the office of the provider who ordered the test.
Laboratory Positions
Interested in laboratory opportunities at UK HealthCare?
Complete and submit this form to request an interview with a laboratory services recruiter.