Quest Labs

[racingmind]

So I go to my ID doctor to get my latest results and he tells me that the VL test was not done.  They took 9 vials of blood and apparently there was not enough to run the test.  Has this happened to anyone else?  If so, does it happen a lot?  I hate having blood taken.  I guess I should just suck it up because I'm doing very well on Atripla.  It's just annoying to have to get stuck again because someone at the lab screwed up.

[J.R.E.]

Hello,

There's been at least two times, when I didn't receive results for my viral load, over the past four and a half years. Never because of not having enough blood, but because of either misread or bad results. Each time I scheduled a retest, and everything was ok again.

Tell your doctor, you would like to be rescheduled, for a viral load test, as soon as possible. My blood tests also go through Quest diagnostics.


Good luck----Ray

[Miss Philicia]

I've had a couple of lab screw ups during my 15 years of treatment, but not many, so I'd say "no" about it happening a lot.

Also, you may have no way to know if the error happened before your doctor's office passed the vials off to the lab or if it happened at the lab.

ps:  you might as well get used to having blood work done.  It's not going to change

[aliveinla]

I think mine is with Quest also. Instead of VL test, they redid my western blot last month, so for the 4th time, I was confirmed to be poz. (previously I went to 2 different clinics other than my PCP and re-confirmed) I hate to have my blood drawn again so I suggested to the doc let's do it next time. Doc was OK since my CD4 number and % all look OK.

[aztecan]

I think mine is with Quest also. Instead of VL test, they redid my western blot last month, so for the 4th time, I was confirmed to be poz. (previously I went to 2 different clinics other than my PCP and re-confirmed) I hate to have my blood drawn again so I suggested to the doc let's do it next time. Doc was OK since my CD4 number and % all look OK.

We have to have our labs drawn at the local hospital. Whenever I see a new face coming toward me with tubes and a syringe, warning bells go off.

Twice they have tried to test me again. I catch them because they try to get you to sign a release for the test, which they don't do for the regular viral load/CD4 draws.

All in all, it depends on the experience of the phlebotomist here. There is one older Navajo lady who is just a delight. No muss, no fuss, no mistakes, no bruises and we always end up laughing about something.

Make the most of the chances to laugh, I always say.

HUGS,

Mark