Laboratory Services at Richmond Hospital

How to access Laboratory Services at RH

• Get a lab requisition form

  Open get a lab requisition form Close get a lab requisition form

  You will need a laboratory requisition for any test at a VCH laboratory. Have your primary health care provider complete a lab requisition form.

  Note for referring health professionals: 

  Referrals are accepted by fax or patient walk-in. Urgent referrals are accepted by phone. Many offices do not accept direct calls from patients after referral to book their own appointments.

  Required information/investigations for all referrals:

  • LM labs approved requisition
  • Ordering practitioner's full name, contact information and MSP number.
  • Laboratory requisitions must be filled out with all MoH-required information, or patients will not be accepted.

  For full details on Laboratory Services for referring health professionals, visit https://one.vch.ca/dept-project/VCH-Regional-Laboratory-Medicine (VCH, PHC or PHSA staff login required). 

• Book an appointment online

  Open book an appointment online Close book an appointment online

  Sign up or log into the Outpatient Laboratory Online Booking System and pick this location or your preferred laboratory location and appointment date and time. You can use your online account from any device to book, change or cancel any appointment. 

  If you're a first time user of the booking system, you'll be asked to create an account. You only have to create an account once.

  Questions about the online system? Review the Laboratory Online Booking FAQs for support.

  Not all tests are available at all laboratory sites at all times; some tests require an appointment or fasting before specimen collection.

• Prepare for your test

  Open prepare for your test Close prepare for your test

  You will need to prepare for the test differently depending on the type of test you're receiving. Review instructions on how to prepare for a test before your visit. Instructions available include: 

  • How to prepare for a urine test
  • How to collect a stool sample
  • How to collect a urine sample

  Check with your doctor or the laboratory you're visiting with any specific questions about sample collection.  

• At the Laboratory

  Open at the laboratory Close at the laboratory

  Double-check your demographic information on the laboratory requisition to ensure it is correct. If the information is not correct, please contact your health care provider.

  On the day of your appointment, bring the laboratory requisition, along with a piece of government-issued identification, such as the BC Services Card, to the laboratory.

  Read the At the Laboratory FAQs for full details on what to expect at the laboratory.

• Get your test results

  Open get your test results Close get your test results

  There are multiple ways to get your test results, depending on the type of test you have. Turnaround times for results depend on the type of test you have. 

  Get results online with MyCareCompass 

  Many results for outpatient tests performed at VCH laboratories are available online through the fast and secure MyCareCompass system. Patients who are registered at MyCareCompass can get results electronically.

  MyCareCompass 

  Self-monitoring

  You may be authorized to self-monitor for specific results, such as INR. Self-monitoring requires that your doctor authorize the laboratory to release your results to you by phone. Please speak to the staff at your laboratory about how to arrange this. 

  Getting results by mail

  Please speak to the staff at your laboratory for instructions on how to receive your results by mail.

  Request to access patient's file

  If you are a caregiver, to request information from your child's medical file, print the release of information form.  Once complete, fax or mail the form to the Hospital where you are making the request (instructions and a contact list are included with the release of information form).

  Please note that due to the volume of requests received, it may take four weeks or more to process release of information.  For privacy reasons, DO NOT send personal medical information by email.