Most lab tests require a physician's order.
Nearly all laboratory tests require a physician's order for them to be performed. Most outpatient laboratories will not perform any tests, whether it be blood, urine or other samples, without an order from a physician or healthcare provider. Yearly lab work, diagnostic lab work and sexually-transmitted disease (STD) testing are a few of the lab tests that require a physician's order.
Regular Lab Tests
There are a variety of lab tests that most physicians recommend the patient complete each year or on a regular basis. All of these tests require a physician's order to be performed. WebMD states that a complete blood count (CBC), complete metabolic panel (CMP) and urinalysis (UA) are usually performed each year. In addition to those tests, a lipid panel, thyroid test (T4,TSH) and urine culture are sometimes ordered. All of these tests require a physician's order as the results must be interpreted by your physician.
Diagnostic Lab Tests
There are hundreds of lab tests that can be performed but require a physician's order. Most of these tests are specialized testing in an effort to diagnose or monitor a specific disease or disorder. Labs that test for enzymes or proteins include alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Blood sugar levels include fasting blood sugar (FBS); hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), and blood coagulation include prothrombin time (PT). These tests are all commonly ordered by physicians in order to monitor a patient's condition or blood levels on certain medications.
STD Testing
Just as with any other lab test, sexually-transmitted disease testing requires a physician's order in most cases. STD testing includes, but is not limited to, testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis A, B and C, chlamydia and gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and bacterial vaginosis (BV). There are rare occasions when local health departments or clinics will provide free or discounted STD testing as community outreach. In these situations, having a physician order the test is not necessary to have it performed.
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