Areas of Care

Laboratory Services and Blood Work

On this page:

Overview

Our laboratories provide essential testing services to support your health care. 

Laboratory tests, such as blood tests, help your physician screen for disease, diagnose, treat and monitor your medical condition.

Two people in lab coats and gloves working together at a lab table with test tubes and containers.

Trained and certified phlebotomy staff follow the latest techniques and guidelines to protect your safety and ensure specimen integrity.  

  • Staff will explain all procedures to you. If you have questions about your tests, please speak with your physician.
  • Your results are strictly confidential and will be sent to your physician or clinic as soon as they are ready. 

Appointments

You don’t need an appointment except for some very rare tests, and these will be booked by your physician’s office.

Eligibility

We receive provincial funding to perform laboratory tests for inpatients and outpatients who visit a physician’s office or registered clinic onsite at one of the three Ottawa Hospital campuses (Civic, General, Riverside), or the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

If your physician or clinic is not affiliated with The Ottawa Hospital or the Heart Institute, please visit a community laboratory for testing. 

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Important reminder

Every patient who comes to our laboratory outpatient clinic for specimen collection, such as blood or urine, must bring:

  • A requisition for the tests signed by their physician and
  • A valid Ontario health card (OHIP) or other valid piece of photo identification. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Every patient who comes to our laboratory outpatient clinic for specimen collection, such as blood or urine, must bring:

  1. A requisition for the tests signed by their physician and
  2. A valid Ontario health card (OHIP) or other valid piece of photo identification.

We can only take your specimen if you have your OHIP card or other piece of photo identification.

It is crucial that we confirm the correct spelling of your name, address, your date of birth and gender. Interpretation of a laboratory result often depends on a person’s age and gender. Results that are normal for a 70-year-old man may not be within normal limits for a teenage boy. 

No, you don’t need an appointment except for some very rare tests, and these will be booked by your physician’s office. 

Please go to Patient Registration to update your information. Your information will be updated in the hospital’s system. 

There are Patient Registration offices on all three campuses. Ask for directions at the Information Desk located near the main entrance of the campus you are going to for your tests. 

If you don’t have a current valid OHIP card, you will need to bring a different piece of photo identification, such as a driver’s license.

Patient tips

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Fasting

Fasting is required for many laboratory tests. If you were told to fast before your test, do not eat or drink anything for several hours (usually ten to fourteen hours) before the collection. In most cases you can drink water and take your medications, but check with your doctor to be sure. 

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Timing

The busiest time of day at any of our hospital blood collection sites is first thing in the morning. Many of our patients require fasting blood work and arrive early in the morning. If you are not required to fast, try coming later in the day when wait times are usually much shorter. 

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Clothing

Please come to the lab wearing loose clothing that allows your sleeve to be rolled up past the elbow. 

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Scent-free

The hospital is a scent-free environment. Please do not wear any scented products when in the hospital or lab. 

Drop-off

If you are coming in just to drop off a sample and you do not require any blood work, you still need to speak to the receptionist so that we can ensure that all the paperwork and labels are complete.

Please check that the following information is on the sample (and legible):

  • Full legal name (the same as on your OHIP card or other valid piece of photo identification).
  • Date of collection.
  • Time of collection. 

Testing

Timed tests

If you see some patients arriving after you, but being served before you, it may be because they are returning for a “timed test” which requires them to have their blood collected at a specific time. Please be patient.

Glucose tolerance testing

For glucose tolerance testing, you must stay in our blood collection area for a period up to three hours, during which multiple samples will be drawn at timed intervals.

PC glucose test

If you are having a two-hour “PC glucose” test, you will be told to go eat a meal and return to have your blood collected at the two-hour mark (PC sample). 

Education

The Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine plays a vital role in medical education through its affiliation with the University of Ottawa. Faculty members contribute extensively to undergraduate and postgraduate training, offering lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and electives.

The division supports four Royal College-accredited residency programs in Anatomical Pathology and Microbiology, and recently added a subspecialty residency in Forensic Pathology. With over 370 hours of annual teaching, the division is deeply involved in shaping future physicians, scientists and allied health professionals through hands-on learning and mentorship.

Research

Research within the Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is focused on advancing diagnostic science and supporting clinical innovation. The division collaborates with The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, the University of Ottawa and other partners to conduct clinical trials and translational research across multiple specialties.  

The Experimental Pathology Group and the Louise Pelletier Histology Core Facility provide technical expertise and support for studies involving tissue morphology, infectious diseases and molecular diagnostics. Faculty members contribute to research design, data analysis and publication, helping to drive improvements in patient care and laboratory medicine.

Three scientists in a lab using microscopes, dressed in white lab coats

Contact us

Civic Parkdale Clinic

Main Floor 
737 Parkdale Avenue Ottawa ON  K1Y 1J8

Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed during weekends and statutory holidays.

General Campus

Main Building, Module J10 , 2nd Floor 
501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON  K1H 8L6

Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed during weekends and statutory holidays.

Riverside Campus

Main Floor 
1967 Riverside Drive Ottawa, ON  K1H 7W9

Monday to Friday 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed during weekends and statutory holidays.

University of Ottawa Heart Institute

For Heart Institute Outpatients ONLY

40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, ON  K1Y 4W7

Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed during weekends and statutory holidays.

The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre

Cancer Center–Main Floor, Room C1308
501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON  K1H 8L6

Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed during weekends and statutory holidays.