Laboratory

Student Health Services' onsite laboratory offers a wide range of medical and diagnostic services, including HIV and STI testing. The lab provides our health care providers with quick results to facilitate proper diagnosis and treatment of patients.

The lab is accredited through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program, a federal quality assurance initiative. Our staff of registered medical technologists, certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, provides quality and timely testing. Their extensive experience ensures maximum patient comfort.

The lab is located on the first floor of Watkins Memorial Health Center. No appointments are necessary for general lab requests.

FAQ's: Lab Procedures

Lab Orders from Outside Physicians

The SHS laboratory will process tests ordered by health providers from outside Student Health Services. The orders can be brought to the lab by the patient or the health provider can fax the order. Each order must be signed by the provider and include the diagnosis for test(s) ordered.

If you have orders from an outside health provider, you must be in the lab at least 15 minutes prior to closing time in order to process specimens for the evening courier pick-up. Otherwise you may be asked to return the next business day.

Results

Lab results are given to the ordering provider and placed in the student's medical record at SHS. In most instances, negative lab results are sent via secure messaging to the patient. Please make sure that your current email address is registered with Student Health Services. SHS calls all patients who have abnormal lab results when they arrive from the lab.

Some lab results take several days for a result. Pap smears may take up to 2 weeks. Please be assured that every effort is made to contact you the same day your lab result information is received by SHS. The lab staff is not allowed to release the results directly to the patient. If you have questions regarding your lab results, call our Nurse Helpline at (785) 864-9583.

Costs

There is a charge for laboratory tests, which varies per test. Check with your health insurance company to find out what your health insurance policy covers. Depending upon your policy, SHS may be able to bill your insurance company, or you may be able to receive reimbursement for some or all of these costs.