Lab Tests

Lab tests are painless, easy, and confidential at the Different Approach Wellness Center full-service lab. Exemplary nurse practitioner Thera Radney, MSN, NP-C, works closely with an efficient phlebotomist and other lab professionals to collect samples and process your lab results in a timely manner so that you can get back to your busy life. Call the Southfield, Michigan, office now or request your appointment online.

What types of lab tests are available?

Lab tests evaluate samples from your body. The samples can come from almost any part of your body. The most common lab tests include:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests (urinalysis)
• Saliva tests
• Genital fluid tests
• Stool tests
• Hair tests

Because Different Approach Wellness Center has a full-service lab on-site, they conveniently offer these sample collection methods in the office.

What is the purpose of lab tests?

Lab tests can:

• Identify diseases
• Detect bacterial and viral infections
• Reveal recent drug use
• Determine blood type
• Evaluate DNA
• Assess electrolyte levels
• Check blood sugar level
• Evaluate cholesterol and other lipid levels
• Confirm pregnancy
• Detect kidney problems

You’ll usually have lab tests during your wellness (preventive medicine) exams. Depending on your needs, Thera might request lab tests during other appointments.

What do I need to do before a lab test appointment?

Before your lab tests, nurse practitioner Thera explains the types of samples needed for testing and how they’re collected. Many lab tests require no preparation, while others require you fast (no food or water) for a specific time before the test.

At Different Approach Wellness Center, an efficient phlebotomist — a medical technician trained to draw blood — collects blood samples in the on-site lab.

With urine and stool samples, you’ll provide the sample yourself, usually in the bathroom at the lab.  

Other samples have different collection processes. For example, Thera performs genital swabbing to collect vaginal fluid during gynecology exams. Another example is flu and rapid flu tests involving a nose swab to collect fluid.

When will I see the results of my lab tests?

The full-service lab at Different Approach Wellness Center begins immediately to process your blood, urine, or other samples. In many cases, like with the rapid flu test, you’ll know the results within minutes. Others take a few days, but the office staff contacts you immediately when your results are available.

All lab tests at Different Approach Wellness Center are confidential, convenient, HIPAA compliant, and FDA-approved. Call the office now for the highest quality lab testing in a safe and clean environment, or request your appointment using online scheduling.