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Laboratory Services

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine provides state-of-the-art anatomic pathology and clinical laboratory services for our patients in both the hospital and outpatient settings. Our purpose is to provide accurate and timely for our patients, utilizing a wide range of specimens, including:

  • Blood
  • Urine and other body fluids
  • Biopsies
  • Surgical specimens
  • Cells (cytology)

Laboratory medicine

Our laboratories provide superior customer service focused on meeting the needs of our patients and providers. Our laboratory services include:

  • Phlebotomy
  • Laboratory specimen processing
  • Microbiology and molecular diagnostics
  • Chemistry
  • Hematology/coagulation/urinalysis
  • Flow cytometry
  • Point-of-care testing
  • Transfusion support services

Learn more about laboratory medicine.

Pathology specialties

Our board-certified pathologists are trained in all areas of anatomic pathology, including:

  • Breast pathology
  • Cytopathology
  • Dermatopathology (skin)
  • Gastrointestinal and liver pathology
  • Genitourinary pathology
  • Gynecologic pathology
  • Head and neck pathology
  • Hematopathology
  • Pulmonary pathology
  • Renal pathology

Learn more about our pathology specialties.

Preparing for your lab visit

Our team is committed to providing prompt, personalized service for your laboratory testing needs. See our laboratory FAQs for more information.

Hospital labs and patient service centers

Find lab/blood draw location, and patient service center information. Learn more.

Fasting

To prepare for your visit to the lab, some providers may ask you to fast for a test. Fasting requires no food or drink consumption, except for water for 12 hours before the blood test. Medication generally doesn’t affect fasting tests. If you have concerns about a medication you’re taking interfering with a test, please contact your provider. If you would like to know if your blood tests require fasting, check with your provider before coming in.

Day of laboratory visit

All Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospitals and medical centers offer walk-in service, as we don’t schedule appointments. When you visit us, you can proceed directly to the laboratory. For laboratory testing, you don’t have to check in at the front desk in the lobby, but you may need to check in if you’re having other services performed during your visit. When planning your lab visit, please be advised our busiest hours are from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Take-home tests

Some tests may need specimens to be collected at home. Please contact us with any questions about collecting a sample at home.

  • Urine
    • 24-hour collection
    • Random collection
    • Urinalysis
  • Stool
    • 24-, 48- or 72-hour collection
  • Sputum

Test results

Your test results will be sent to your doctor once they’ve all been completed. Your provider will then notify you of your results. You can also view lab results on MyVirginiaMason or MyChart. For questions about how to interpret your results, we refer you to your provider. 

Billing

The Patient Account Services Department is here to answer questions about Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s billing process. If you have a question about how your insurance company will process charges, please contact your insurance company or review your benefits handbook.

Convenient laboratory services

Find a location near you for laboratory testing with high-quality service you can trust.