Save 70-80% Off Your Blood Work - Click Here to Learn More Men's Comprehensive Panel Women's Comprehensive Panel

Frequently Asked Questions

Back to topWhat if my lab results are abnormal?

Although abnormal blood tests should be considered an early warning, they do not necessarily mean you have an illness or disease. It is important for you to understand that Blood Tests are only a part of what goes into a diagnosis; and they are not intended to be a substitute for a physician's consultation. We do not recommend self-diagnosis or self-medication based on your test results.

The results of your blood tests should be considered in the context of an overall relationship with your personal physician; and, we strongly recommend you discuss abnormal results with your Doctor for evaluation, further testing, and diagnosis.

Back to topDo I need to fast?

When ordering your blood test, information will be provided in the instructions for the Lab Work.

Back to topDo I need a doctor's order for my blood work?

No. Blood Tests are only a part of what goes into a diagnosis; and they are not intended to be a substitute for a physician's consultation. Further, we do not recommend self-diagnosis or self-medication; and thus, the results of your tests should be considered in the context of an overall relationship with your personal physician. We encourage you to discuss abnormal resutls with him/her.

Back to topWhere is my laboratory tests performed?

All specimens are analyzed at Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp). LabCorp is one of the world's largest clinical laboratories, with annual revenues of $3.6 billion in 2006. Headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina, LabCorp has approximately 25,000 employees and offers a broad range of genomic/esoteric tests. Listed under the ticker symbol LH on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), LabCorp tests more than 370,000 specimens daily for over 220,000 clients nationwide.

Back to topIs my information confidential and secure?

Your lab results are maintained on Lab Corps. encrypted servers and sent ONLY to the e-mail address you designated when purchasing the order on-line through Giovane Medical. Your physician or insurance company will not receive a copy of your lab results. Financial information and payment data, including credit card numbers that you provide to us via the Internet bill payment link is encrypted by using secure socket layer (SSL) encryption technology which employs a 128-bit encryption system. This information may be accessed only by Giovane Medical and Lab Corporation employees who maintain password and job-required access rights.

Additionally, all personal data within our information system is secured by firewalls that operate on separate mainframes/servers. The general public may not access these mainframes/servers. In accordance with HIPAA, results are strictly confidential. Most results are ready within a couple of days, and are mailed, e-mailed to you within 24-48 hours.

If you would like your doctor to receive a copy of your results, you will need to indicate your request when checking out.

Back to topWhat is HIPAA?

HIPAA is an acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. HIPAA is the federal law that establishes standards for the privacy and security of health information, as well as standards for electronic data interchange of health information.

HIPAA's Goals Include:

Making health insurance more portable when persons change employers, and making the health care system more accountable for costs -- trying especially to reduce waste and fraud. HIPAA aims to improve accountability in part through what it calls administrative simplification -- a term that translates, roughly, as "promoting efficiency." The principal means of promoting efficiency is better use of information technology.

Health care is -- or, at least at the time of the legislation, was -- still very "uncomputerized" compared to other parts of the economy, particularly in its use of paper for personal health records. Broader use of computer systems increased concerns about misuse of patient's health information, hence the inclusion of privacy and security provisions as part of HIPAA along with EDI standards.

HIPAA has four health information standards, and four associated sets of regulations or "rules":

  1. Standardized formats for all computer-to-computer information exchanges (the "transaction standard");
  2. Standardized "identifiers" for health providers, health plans and (maybe) patients;
  3. Information system security standards; and
  4. Privacy standards.

Back to topWhat about other Internet links?

As a convenience to our site visitors, the Giovane Medical web site contains links to a number of sites that may provide useful information. Links contained on the Giovane Medical web site which transfer you to non-Giovane Medical web site are not maintained by Giovane Medical and may contain different information and/or different privacy policies from those of our Company.

You may review the privacy policies of these web sites and/or receive specific information regarding that site's privacy policies and procedures after leaving the Giovane Medical site. Giovane Medical is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of a non-Lab of America web site. Giovane Medical does not control, or have any input into, whether our business partners or Internet-linked sites use or accept cookies on their sites.

Back to topMay I cancel my order?

If the lab test(s) is / are cancelled within one (1) month from date of order, you are entitled to a refund - minus a $15 cancellation fee.

Back to topAre test results accurate?

All testing is analyzed by the same CLIA-certified, accredited clinical laboratories, used by physicians. Efficacy of lab results may be affected by variables such as failure to fast, current medication or use of herbs. To ensure accuracy in interpreting and understanding your results, consult your personal physician to discuss the results in the context of your health history and the expertise of your doctor.

Back to topHow do I find a collection center near me?

Use our Lab Location page to find a location, get a map and obtain driving directions.

Back to topCan I bill my health insurance provider?

You may submit a copy of your Lab Requisition to your Health Insurance provider. The Lab Requisition is the same paperwork you take to the Laboratory for your blood work. Be sure to send a COPY to your insurance company and not the original. Your Insurance Company may or may not reimburse you for the test. Giovane Medical Services, Inc. and LabCorp do not accept insurance as a part of your on-line purchase of our Lab services.

What are the advantages of NOT using your insurance company?

1. Confidentiality: if you have medical conditions that insurance companies consider significant, the insurance company will report that information to the MIB (Medical Information Bureau).

Insurance companies are considered financial institutions under the federal GLB law. Medical information gathered by an insurance company may also be shared with others through the Medical Information Bureau. - Privacy Rights Clearinghouse / UCAN (Posted March 1993 / Revised November 2007)

2. Save Time and Money:

According to the American Medical Association (AMA's 2003 Physician Socioeconomic Statistics), the national average wait time for a doctor’s visit is 20 minutes. This does not include the drive time, gasoline, and time with the doctor. In addition to ordering the tests and visiting a draw center, you would need to wait for your results to be sent to the doctor and then return for another visit to access the report.

3. Prevention: You are in charge of detecting disease before it occurs, when YOU want the information. You don’t have to wait for your "annual visit."

Regular testing is important for early detection of new disease and for identification of changes in existing disease status. Yet many people fail to get tested at recommended frequency for treatable conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. - Lab Tests On-Line (A Public Resource on Clinical Lab Testing From the Laboratory Professionals who do the Testing)

4. Not all insurance companies will pay for preventative medicine.

Many physicians are paid based on how many problems they address and how long it takes to see the patient. Often, insurance companies won't pay for both treatment and preventive services in the same visit. - Washington Post (Electronic Prevention - Tuesday, April 8, 2008; Page HE05)

5. Our on-line blood testing provides immediate tools to understand your lab results.

Not only do you save time and money, but once you have received your Lab Results, our on-line tools provide easy to use guides to understand the results. Although this should not replace the recommendations and expertise of your physician, it provides basic and important information for the educated consumer who is in charge of their own personal health program.