1. < Neuropathy

Trying to send blood work to Mayo Clinic

Posted by thelman @thelman, Apr 19, 2022

Hello,
I've been trying to figure out the root cause of my idiopathic polyneuropathy. I live in Seattle WA and have been seen by a Neurologist at John's Hopkins (long story, my mother used to work there and I wasnt getting answers in Seattle). Last week my Neurologist from Hopkins put in order for me to get blood drawn and sent to Mayo Rochester. I'm struggling to find a place in Seattle area that can do the blood draw and send it to Mayo Rochester for analysis. I was hoping someone on here could point be in the right direction?
thanks
Todd

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Mentor
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Apr 19, 2022

Good morning, Todd I’m sure you’re frustrated; So close and yet so far…

I have a couple of questions for you.
What difficulties are you having? Is it finding a doctor’s office or lab to draw the blood? Is it an insurance issue? Is it the mechanics of sending a blood specimen to Mayo?

Regarding the blood test orders from your doctor at John Hopkins.
You stated that your doctor “put in an order”.
Was this an order directly to Mayo Clinic? If so, the Mayo laboratory will send you a box, specialty tubes for the blood samples and an ice pack if necessary and an order for completion. Did you receive that box? Then all you should have to do is take that order to your local doctor’s office Lab and they will draw the blood into the specific tubes and the box gets sent in the USPS system to Rochester. There will be paper work, (signed orders) in that box sufficient to have the work completed and insurance charged.

I’ve had to do this locally several times a month over the past 3 years. I also had bloodwork done at a clinic in Florida, while on vacation, they used the Mayo box to send the blood directly to Mayo-Rochester. I had to pre-register at the clinic with my insurance card and a copy of the doctor’s order first.
From my experience I don’t believe you can just send a blood/tissue sample to Mayo labs for analysis without having prior authorization from Mayo.

I found all of their laboratory information and posted it below.
You can also call the main number in Rochester, explain the situation and they’ll direct you to Lab services where you might ask the best way to proceed. Ph # 507-284-1511
https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/specimen/preparation/index.php?question=1
You mentioned struggling to find a place in Seattle that can do the blood draw and send it to Mayo. What facilities have you contacted?

REPLY
thelman | @thelman | Apr 19, 2022

Thank you SO MUCH for this information Lori. The Hopkins MD sent me electronic and hard copy orders for a blood draw and told me to ask my PCPs office if they could collect the blood and send it. My PCPs office said this is something they wouldn’t do. I called other blood draw centers and they seemed equally confused.
You advice on contacting Mayo and having them send collection tubes and shipping labels sounds like what I need to try.
Thanks again! I will let you know if I have other questions.
Todd

REPLY
2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 19, 2022
In reply to @thelman "Thank you SO MUCH for this information Lori. The Hopkins MD sent me electronic and hard..." + (show)
@thelman

Thank you SO MUCH for this information Lori. The Hopkins MD sent me electronic and hard copy orders for a blood draw and told me to ask my PCPs office if they could collect the blood and send it. My PCPs office said this is something they wouldn’t do. I called other blood draw centers and they seemed equally confused.
You advice on contacting Mayo and having them send collection tubes and shipping labels sounds like what I need to try.
Thanks again! I will let you know if I have other questions.
Todd

Jump to this post

Todd, Here is the contact information for Mayo Labs.
- Mayo Clinic Labs Contact https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/customer-service/contacts

REPLY
Mentor
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Apr 19, 2022
In reply to @thelman "Thank you SO MUCH for this information Lori. The Hopkins MD sent me electronic and hard..." + (show)
@thelman

Thank you SO MUCH for this information Lori. The Hopkins MD sent me electronic and hard copy orders for a blood draw and told me to ask my PCPs office if they could collect the blood and send it. My PCPs office said this is something they wouldn’t do. I called other blood draw centers and they seemed equally confused.
You advice on contacting Mayo and having them send collection tubes and shipping labels sounds like what I need to try.
Thanks again! I will let you know if I have other questions.
Todd

Jump to this post

Good luck, Todd! I know this can be done and I wish you all the best with finding a diagnosis. Will you let me know what you find out?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.