Getting a blood test without a doctor's orders - can it be done? (blood tests, diabetics)
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Ok... so does anyone know if it's possible to get a CBC (complete blood count) run from a lab (like LabCorp) without having a doctor's orders?
The reason I ask is because I'm curious to see what my counts are, yet I don't really wish to go through the ordeal of having to go to the doctor's office and have them try to interpret the results to me - I can take care of that myself, and I'd obviously go see a professional if anything was wrong with my results. I'm perfectly healthy AFAIK, I'd just like to have an update on my levels.
Also, I'm on private high-deductible insurance, and to be honest I don't feel like having something like high cholesterol (if I were to have that) show up on my record and raise my premiums (I know, I know...how immoral of me).
Anyhow... if there's no way I can, that's fine - I'll just do it when I go to my yearly ob/gyn visit, but it would be nice if I could take care of it myself.
So far as I know, the anser is no. TYhere are nurse-practioners who can order tests, also Physician Assistants. You could alsways go to a new one under a fake name, pay privately, and get your results. But everywhere I've been in the last 2 yrs makes you show your driver's license to get anything done.
Even the health dept that does HIV testing has either a NP or PA order the tests.
Ok... so does anyone know if it's possible to get a CBC (complete blood count) run from a lab (like LabCorp) without having a doctor's orders?
The reason I ask is because I'm curious to see what my counts are, yet I don't really wish to go through the ordeal of having to go to the doctor's office and have them try to interpret the results to me - I can take care of that myself, and I'd obviously go see a professional if anything was wrong with my results. I'm perfectly healthy AFAIK, I'd just like to have an update on my levels.
Also, I'm on private high-deductible insurance, and to be honest I don't feel like having something like high cholesterol (if I were to have that) show up on my record and raise my premiums (I know, I know...how immoral of me).
Anyhow... if there's no way I can, that's fine - I'll just do it when I go to my yearly ob/gyn visit, but it would be nice if I could take care of it myself.
Much thanks in advance.
First it might be helpful to know things like cholesterol isn't part of a CBC.
I can have them done at my local hospital, but I think they send the results to my doctor. You might look into health fairs, but I think they might do the same thing. I just got an advertisement for a health fair in the mail today, but it's already out in the trash bin.
An A1c is not a CBC. It is a test that gives a three month average for blood sugars. Helpful for diabetics to check their overall long term control.
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You're right. OK, a CBC *plus* a lipid test. 
