Blood Work Requisitions

Ask when results will be reviewed.

Keep the requisition until the clinic confirms the result has been reviewed.

Prepare for a smoother collection

The laboratory may have instructions about location, appointment timing, fasting, identification, or medication that are separate from the clinic visit. Read the requisition and laboratory guidance carefully, and ask before you go if something is unclear. Take the requisition and health card or other requested identification with you. If blood draws make you anxious or you have fainted previously, tell the laboratory staff when you arrive.

Once the test is completed, do not assume that no news is the same as a full discussion of the result. Follow the plan you made with the clinician, and contact the clinic if your health changes while you are waiting. Testing is most useful when it leads into a clear conversation about what the information means for you.

Blood work can be part of investigating a new concern, monitoring an ongoing condition, reviewing medication, or keeping preventive care up to date. At HealthSmart Medical Clinic, a blood work requisition begins with a clinical conversation about why testing may be helpful for you. The clinic serves Stouffville patients with planned, non-emergency assessment and can explain the next steps when laboratory testing is appropriate.

Start with the reason for testing

Bring a list of symptoms, recent health changes, medication questions, and any results you already have from another provider. Tell the clinician about fatigue, pain, appetite changes, dizziness, bleeding, mood changes, sleep changes, or another concern that has led you to consider testing. If you are monitoring a known condition, bring home readings, previous laboratory reports, specialist notes, and an up-to-date medication list. This gives the clinician the context needed to decide whether blood work fits the question.

Mention pregnancy, allergies, chronic conditions, recent hospital care, new prescriptions, supplements, and any difficulty you have had with blood draws. If you have a history of fainting, anxiety around needles, or problems with fasting, tell the clinic. Those details can help you prepare for the laboratory visit and ask the right questions before you go.

Understand the requisition and next step

If blood work is appropriate, the clinician can explain the purpose of the requisition, whether there are preparation instructions, and where the test can be completed. Ask if fasting, timing of medication, hydration, or a particular appointment time matters. Do not stop or change a prescribed medication unless a clinician specifically tells you to do so. Keep the requisition in a safe place and confirm whether you need to book with the laboratory.

Ask how results will be reviewed. Some results may be communicated through a planned follow-up, while others may require a separate conversation or next test. It is useful to know when the clinic expects the result and what you should do if you have not heard back. If the test was requested by another provider, clarify who is responsible for reviewing it.

Keep your care connected

Bring laboratory results from a hospital, specialist, walk-in clinic, or workplace examination to your next visit when possible. Comparing information over time can give a clinician a more useful picture than one isolated result. Let the clinic know about new symptoms while you are waiting for results. A change may affect whether the original plan remains appropriate.

Blood work requisitions are for planned care, not emergencies. Severe symptoms, fainting, serious bleeding, severe chest pain, serious breathing difficulty, signs of stroke, or another immediate emergency requires urgent assessment. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For a non-emergency health concern, a clinic visit can help determine whether testing is the right next step.

Leave with clear instructions

Before leaving, confirm preparation instructions, the location for testing, follow-up timing, and how to contact the clinic with questions. A clear requisition and a simple plan make laboratory testing much easier to complete and understand.