In-House Lab Specialist

What in-house lab services are available?

There are a number of on-site laboratory services available at Abilene Family Medical Associates. Your provider can perform bloodwork or other in-house testing to diagnose conditions like:

• Flu
• Diabetes
• Strep throat
• High cholesterol
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Your provider can also use the on-site lab to determine the results of a routine Pap test as part of your well-woman visit, as well as confirm a pregnancy through a urine test.

All blood is drawn during your office visit and sent to LabCorp for further analysis.

Why do I need bloodwork?

On-site lab testing allows your Abilene Family Medical Associates provider to diagnose an illness, monitor the effectiveness of treatment, or evaluate your overall health.

You may need to have bloodwork if you have a chronic health condition, such as a thyroid disorder, high blood pressure, or diabetes. By testing your blood, your Abilene Family Medical Associates provider can monitor how effective your current treatment is in managing your blood sugar or thyroid levels and also track the progression of your disease.

Additionally, your provider may recommend blood testing to confirm an acute illness, such as infections and functionality of your organs, or as part of your routine annual wellness visit.

What happens during a strep throat test?

To test for strep throat, you Abilene Family Medical Associates provider uses a simple swab test to collect samples of cells at the back of your throat. The test is fast and painless, although you may have some discomfort if your throat is swollen.

The in-house lab processes your results, and your provider can tell if you have strep throat in just a few minutes.

How is a urinary tract infection diagnosed?

If you have pain in your abdomen and burning when you urinate, you may have a UTI.

To test for this condition, your provider requests a sample of your urine to test in the in-house lab. During the evaluation of your urine, your provider checks for signs of discoloration, strong odors, and the presence of blood cells or bacteria.

By confirming an active urinary tract infection, you can begin treatment quickly to prevent other complications. If the infection is the result of bacteria, your provider can prescribe antibiotics that relieve pain and other symptoms within two to three days of starting treatment.

To discuss other in-house laboratory services, call Abilene Family Medical Associates or schedule an appointment online today.