Laboratory Services
Related topics: Diagnostics Medical tests and imaging
Laboratory services provide a full range of services such as blood collection, colon cancer screening tests and more to people living in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region as well as to patients within Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and other health-care facilities across the province.
Services available
VCH offers various lab services such as
- blood collection,
- colon screening tests (FIT tests),
- STAT, routine, and specialized testing in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Chemistry, Hematopathology, Microbiology, Transfusion Medicine, Cytogenetics, and Transplant Immunology.
The types of tests vary depending on location.
Other tests are offered at other VCH locations, such as electrocardiograms (ECG), Holter monitoring and Endoscopy.
VCH's specialty services have been developed with emphasis on bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, oncology, neurosciences and trauma. The laboratories are also major teaching centres, working with educational institutions for the training of medical personnel, including physicians, technologists, and laboratory assistants.
Appointments
You can book your Laboratory appointment online. Walk-ins are still accepted at many locations. However, booking an appointment is strongly recommended to reduce your wait time. See a full list of VCH Laboratory Service locations at the bottom of this page to learn hours of operation and how to prepare for your appointment.
If you are picking up a stool FIT kit or urine container for urine tests, you need an appointment for this pickup.
A doctor's referral and requisition form is required for laboratory tests.
Preparing for a test
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Laboratory common questions
Check with your doctor or laboratory for any specific questions about sample collection.
Laboratory Common Questions: English / Français (PDF)
Also available in these languages:
- 中文(繁體) - Laboratory Common Questions (PDF)
- 中文(简体) - Laboratory Common Questions (PDF)
- ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ - Laboratory Common Questions (PDF)
- 한국어 - Laboratory Common Questions (PDF)
- tiếng Việt - Laboratory Common Questions (PDF)
- العَرَبِيَّة - Laboratory Common Questions (PDF)
- فارسی - Laboratory Common Questions (PDF)
Visit the Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services website for more information and common questions and collection instructions available in multiple languages.
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How to collect a sputum sample
How to collect a sputum sample: English (PDF)
- Also available in these languages:
- Français - How to collect a sputum sample (PDF)
- 中文(繁體) - How to collect a sputum sample (PDF)
- 中文(简体) - How to collect a sputum sample (PDF)
- ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ - How to collect a sputum sample (PDF)
- 한국어 - How to collect a sputum sample (PDF)
- tiếng Việt - How to collect a sputum sample (PDF)
- العربية - How to collect a sputum sample (PDF)
- فارسی - How to collect a sputum sample (PDF)
Visit the Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services website for more information and common questions and collection instructions available in multiple languages.
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How to collect a midstream urine sample
How to collect a midstream urine sample for men
- How to collect midstream urine sample for men: English (PDF)
- Also available in these languages:
- Français - How to collect midstream urine sample for men (PDF)
- 中文(繁體) - How to collect midstream urine sample for men (PDF)
- 中文(简体) - How to collect midstream urine sample for men (PDF)
- ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ - How to collect midstream urine sample for men (PDF)
- 한국어 - How to collect midstream urine sample for men (PDF)
- tiếng Việt - How to collect midstream urine sample for men (PDF)
- العربية - How to collect midstream urine sample for men (PDF)
- فارسی - How to collect midstream urine sample for men (PDF)
How to collect a midstream urine sample for women- How to collect midstream urine sample for women: English (PDF)
- Also available in these languages:
- Français - How to collect midstream urine sample for women (PDF)
- 中文(繁體) - How to collect midstream urine sample for women (PDF)
- 中文(简体) - How to collect midstream urine sample for women (PDF)
- ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ - How to collect midstream urine sample for women (PDF)
- 한국어 - How to collect midstream urine sample for women (PDF)
- tiếng Việt - How to collect midstream urine sample for women (PDF)
- العربية - How to collect midstream urine sample for women (PDF)
- فارسی - How to collect midstream urine sample for women (PDF)
Visit the Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services website for more information and common questions and collection instructions available in multiple languages.
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How to collect infant urine bag
- How to collect infant urine bag: English (PDF)
- Also available in these languages:
- Français - How to collect infant urine bag (PDF)
- 中文(繁體) - How to collect infant urine bag (PDF)
- 中文(简体) - How to collect infant urine bag (PDF)
- ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ - How to collect infant urine bag (PDF)
- 한국어 - How to collect infant urine bag (PDF)
- tiếng Việt - How to collect infant urine bag (PDF)
- العربية - How to collect infant urine bag (PDF)
- فارسی - How to collect infant urine bag (PDF)
Visit the Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services website for more information and common questions and collection instructions available in multiple languages.
Physician resources
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Notice: New method for urine catecholamines/metanephrines testing
Notice August 2, 2023
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Notice: New chemistry analyzer implementation
Notice September 5, 2023
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Clinical decision values
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Chemistry testing information
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Hematology testing information
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Microbiology testing information
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Anatomical pathology testing information
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Transfusion testing information
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HistoCompatibility testing information
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Cytogenomics testing general information
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Find this service near you
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Laboratory Services at Bella Coola General Hospital
1025 Elcho Street Bella Coola -
Laboratory Services at Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
2775 Laurel Street Vancouver -
Laboratory Services at Koerner Pavilion (UBC Hospital)
2211 Wesbrook Mall Vancouver -
Laboratory Services at Lions Gate Hospital
240 East 13th Street North Vancouver -
Laboratory Services at Pemberton Health Centre
1403 Portage Road, PO Box 8 Pemberton -
Laboratory Services at qathet General Hospital
5000 Joyce Avenue Powell River -
Laboratory Services at Richmond Hospital
7000 Westminster Hwy, Room 2552 (2nd floor, South Tower) Richmond -
Laboratory Services at Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital
5544 Sunshine Coast Highway Sechelt -
Laboratory Services at Squamish General Hospital
38140 Behrner Drive Squamish -
Laboratory Services at Whistler Health Care Centre
4380 Lorimer Road Whistler -
Laboratory Services at ƛ̓uxválásu̓ilas Heiltsuk Hospital
88 Waglisla Street Bella Bella