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Has anyone had problems with Quest Diagnostics?
I've had two bad experiences with them. The first one was just mildly bad. Workers were gossipping in front of me, saying things like "the sample wasn't labeled and no one knew what it was, etc., just as they were about to draw a blood sample from me.
I survived that episode.
But today they royally messed up. It was supposed to be a urine test, which they were going to send to Mayo. When I got there, there was only one guy in the whole building, he knew nothing of the request that had been faxed to them weeks ago, and he claimed he had no access to the fax machine. So, I peed in a cup anyway, and he stuck a post-it (that's right, a post-it for a label; it was pink) with my name hand-written on it, and he put it in a box and said his supervisor could deal with it later.
Several hours later, I got a call from someone at Quest saying they can't do the urine test I need because "they don't have the right tube."
My local medical "team" is killing me.
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I live out of state from Mayo Phoenix. I do tele visits with Mayo every 3 months, during which we review the psa results from Quest. Although the paper order from Mayo for the psa test that I give to Quest clearly requests the results to be faxed to Mayo and provides all the necessary information, Mayo never has received the psa results from Quest during my 3 tele visits so far. I've learned to always show up on the tele visit with a copy of the psa results I got from the Quest portal and Mayo accepts my verbal results. I guess I really don't know who's dropping the ball, but I strongly doubt it's Mayo. Independently, within the last year another physician I see gave me a written order for some blood work at Quest. I said can't you just send it over electronically, to which he replied that other patients of his has reported Quest not being able to find the electronic order. Does seem to be somewhat similar to your story. Best wishes.
Quest Diagnostics has been very efficient with my blood testing.
Quest has good connectivity with Johns Hopkins, receives electronically my Rxs for PSA and Testosterone and reports to both JH and me.
I make an online appointment and the techs have always been professional and helpful.
My uPSA results have taken some time to report, however they are processed in CA (I am in PA) and the reporting time has improved to about 72 hrs the past 2 tests. T is reported next day (processed in PA).
Best wishes.
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1 ReactionMaybe it's just a local thing. Like when I stay at a Motel 6, usually it's a good experience. But now and then, in some places, it's a not-so-good experience.
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1 ReactionQuest has been very inconsistent. Would love not to have to use them. Always a surprise. Florida.
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1 ReactionI'm so sorry to hear that.
Initially every three months I was going to a private lab (which still bills the gov't), and I don't know anything against them, but then I realised I could just go into the hospital itself and do my bloodwork there since I'm under the care of a radiation oncologist in their local system.
I get the results online now — in hours instead of days — and while anywhere can mess up, I have more faith in the decently-paid hospital phlebotomists and lab techs. Also, the fact that my sample doesn't leave the building removes the risk of shipping errors.
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2 ReactionsI use a local Quest because it's more convenient and I also believe costs Medicare less than have the hospital do it. What I've learned is that there are two ways to send them the prescription electronically. One way goes to a centralized Quest place and the local clinic can pull it down from there. I have had better luck with that than faxing to the local clinic itself. In addition, I always bring the paper order with me and that's important to do if you can so as to confirm they do what you want them to do. In my case I can print the order from the hospital portal.
I get PSA and testosterone results very quickly and can download them. The hospital has gotten them directly from Quest also. My primary care doc, on the other hand, says to always alert him when I've had the Quest blood draw because he doesn't think he otherwise gets a notice that they're available to him. Alternatively, I can also upload my copy of the results to the portal and send them to my doctor at the hospital and my primary care doctor that way if need be.
So that's what I've learned.
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3 ReactionsI have used Quest for many years now for all of my required blood tests. As someone else already mentioned, there seems to be an excellent communication channel between Johns Hopkins (where all of my doctors are affiliated) and Quest. My PSA results are generally reported online the same day as the tests, as are my metabolic panel and lipid tests.
I do have other options, such as LabCorp, which are also convenient, but I have never seen any reason to try them.
My experience in the past was pre or post physician visit I just walk down the hall to the lab. Very preferable to Quest. I live in California where Quest is the option. Quest is very inconsistent in proficiency of technicians, access to lab results and communication. I have used different Quest locations and now have found one with for the most part competent staff and the access to results has improved. Billing is another problem with Quest; 1 of 4 visits they forget to bill my insurance and send me a statement that then must be dealt with. Would prefer in-house lab but that concept seems to be disappearing no doubt as a cost saving measure. I am not big on cost saving measures when it comes to my health and the health of my family.
I've been going to Quest for many many years and I've never had any problems.
Jake
I don;t use them anymore, but when I did there was a definite problem with proficiency of the some of the technicians.