What Are Emergency Room Laboratory Services

Did you know you could visit your neighborhood emergency room for just laboratory services only? 

There is no denying the vital component laboratory services play in an emergency room. Emergency rooms provide a wide range of medical services and treat various illnesses with different levels of severity. Although the ER is equipped to handle most conditions that patients present, strictly diagnosing based on symptoms is no longer effective. Many of today’s most common illnesses present their self in similar ways. ERs with on-site laboratory services provide invaluable information and an accurate diagnosis, especially in situations where every minute counts. 

However, the emergency room laboratory is not solely for emergency use. The misconception that emergency rooms have limited capabilities no longer reigns true. If you want to avoid the hassle of scheduling appointments with your primary physician, being sent to a third-party laboratory for testing, or needing fast results, our local emergency room laboratory is the place for you. 

You do not have to be in an emergency situation to visit our ER for laboratory testing. 

Benefits of an On-site Lab in the ER

• Timeliness: Some ER visits are the difference between life and death. An on-site laboratory is mandatory for patients to be diagnosed precisely and expeditiously in an emergency. 
• Increased Efficiency: Access to an on-site lab provides faster diagnoses, the implementation of accurate courses of treatment, and quicker pain relief. Also, with increased efficiency within hospital operations, patients’ stress and anxiety about what may be wrong with them, and the possible outcome or diagnoses is reduced. 
• Convenience: An ER with an on-site laboratory provides the convenience of visiting one facility for all your needs. Also, our ER is open and available 24/7, 365 days a year, unlike the doctor’s office, where appointments and long wait times are expected. 

What are the different Laboratory Services in the ER? 

Here are a few laboratory services that you might find at your neighborhood emergency room: 

• Cardiac Enzymes: An enzyme marker test is used to measure heart damage. This test is ordered when a patient presents signs of a heart attack or stroke. 
• Complete Blood Cell Counts: A blood test that measures a patient’s red and white blood cells count and plasma in proportion to evaluate a patient’s overall health. This blood test is used to diagnose various blood diseases, from anemia to leukemia. 
• Urine Drug Screens: A urine test allows for screening a variety of drugs – illegal and prescription – in a patient’s urine. Employers usually order this test. 
• Urinalysis: This analysis examines the physical and chemical elements of urine. The test is usually ordered during a wellness exam or when specific symptoms are present to look for abnormal levels to diagnose diseases, like elevated levels of sugar could mean diabetes.
• Liver Panels: This screening is used to assess the health and function of the liver – damage, infection, or inflation. This panel is mainly ordered for those already diagnosed with liver disease or those taking medication known to have side effects that affect the liver. 
• Complete Metabolic Profiles: This is one of the most common lab tests – ordered during health and wellness screenings. This group of 14 tests measures chemical balance and metabolism in the blood. 
• Pregnancy Tests: A pregnancy test measures the level of hCG hormones in the urine or blood to determine if a woman is with child. 
• Strep Testing: To determine the cause of a sore throat, bacteria samples are taken from the back of a patient’s throat by swabbing. 
• Mononucleosis Testing: Specific antibodies in a blood test are looked for to diagnose a mono-infection, or more commonly known as the kissing disease. 
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) testing: During this testing, fluid samples are taken from the patient’s nasal secretions to determine if the present infection is RSV. 
• Influenza Testing: Many physicians diagnose the flu without laboratory testing. However, in severe situations, like hospitalization, to rule out any other causes, a nasal or throat swab test is performed. 

For a complete list of West Plano Emergency Room laboratory services, click here. 

Visit Our Lab Today 

Our expert physicians and radiology technicians are skilled in providing our patients with 24/7 laboratory service with low wait times, no matter the severity of the illness. To find out if we offer the testing you need, call, or come on in to West Plano Emergency Room for quick and accurate results. 

Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, West Plano Emergency Room and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.