A running consistency through our whole health journey has been blood tests. Before every appointment with our standard doctors, we’ll always have a whole set of lab work done so the doctor will be able to review it with us via Zoom or in person. This is something we’re all for as we always choose to have every bit of information possible. Give us all the clues to what’s going on inside our bodies!
Although we educate ourselves as best we can both through medical professionals and through our own research, we have an ongoing love/hate relationship with googling health info. On one hand it is VERY easy to take a deep dive into a dark hole of all the overwhelming health information found online, but on the other hand, patients can now take it upon themselves to be more informed than ever. It’s a fine line to walk. We’re all about self advocacy when it comes to doctors and appointments so it’s not uncommon for us to bring up to our doctors certain tests or ideas that we have read about. We’ve had these doctors for 10+ years and lucked out that they take what we say seriously (and of course, we always defer to them), but we are very much aware that this is not the case for everyone.
In the past, we’ve had doctors who have been incredibly dismissive and we could tell that they didn’t really put much weight in what we had to say (the WORST). If you find yourself in this situation we suggest you change your doctor but, meanwhile, there is something you can do that might give yourself some answers more control. We recently found out about a company called Request- A-Test and it is an amazing option to turn to when you want to find out more about your body and health but your insurance won’t cover a specific test – or you don’t (or can’t) rely on a doctor to order the test for you. It is also a good idea if you are between insurances.
Potential clients of Request-a-Test:
- People who are in need of laboratory testing because they lack insurance.
- Someone’s whose insurance won’t cover certain lab tests they need.
- Someone who needs results very quickly and can’t wait for a doctor’s appointment.
- Added benefits: It’s discrete and convenient with low costs.
How to order your own lab work?
View lists of possible blood work tests here. Their test menu includes over 600 comprehensive lab test offerings from general health, drug, immunity and many others. Select your testing location, purchase the blood and or urine tests that you’re interested in, then Request-A-Test will provide you with the order confirmation and information for their lab collection. Take your order confirmation to your chosen lab with your ID (you will not have to pay anything at the lab), and that’s it! Request-a-Test is partnered with two of the largest lab facilities, LabCorp and Quest, so there’s testing sites nationwide.
How do you obtain your results once using Request-a-Test
Results are available online through your private profile.
You can call Request A Test to have your results read over the phone.
*Estimated turnaround time for each test can be found in the descriptions on the site.
Definitely always try to have your doctor order the blood tests you’re interested in – it’s easy and likely to be covered by insurance this way. But if you can’t get the tests you need ordered for some reason, or if you don’t have insurance and need to get tests done, then this is a really great option.
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