Who is at-home blood collection for?
Mobile collection is a good fit when leaving the house is difficult or unsafe. It is arranged by request, and common reasons include:
- Homebound patients who cannot travel to a lab
- Seniors who find getting out challenging
- People with mobility issues or who use a wheelchair or walker
- Patients recovering from surgery or an injury
- Those with conditions that make waiting in a public space hard
If you are able to come to us, walking in at one of our locations is usually faster. Mobile collection is there for the times when that is not realistic.
How do I arrange a home visit?
At-home collection is offered by request and for a fee, separate from what OHIP covers for the tests themselves. To set it up, call our main lab and our team will walk you through scheduling and the service charge:
- Ottawa area: 613-789-4242
- Toll-free: 1-800-409-1942
You can also reach us through our contact page to start the request.
What should I have ready for the visit?
Having a few things prepared makes the visit quick and smooth for you and the phlebotomist:
- Your lab requisition, signed by an authorized provider and generally valid for 6 months from the date signed
- Your valid Ontario health card
- A clear, well-lit spot to sit, ideally near a table or armrest
- Confirmation of any fasting instructions, since your requisition will indicate whether fasting is required
- Payment arrangements for the home-visit fee and any uninsured tests, such as vitamin D
What happens during a home blood collection?
A certified phlebotomist arrives at the arranged time, confirms your identity and requisition, and collects your samples using the same standards we follow in our labs. The draw itself takes only a few minutes, and there is no need for special equipment on your end. Because we are a fully accredited lab, the care and handling of your samples do not change just because collection happened at home. Your samples are then transported back for processing, and results reach your ordering provider and your patient portal on the usual timeline, with typical bloodwork turnaround around 24 hours and routine chemistry often the same or next business day.
Where do you offer home visits, and how far ahead do I book?
Our mobile service reaches across Ottawa-Carleton and into Eastern Ontario, supported by the same network behind our 11 locations. Because home visits are booked one at a time, demand can mean some lead time, so it helps to call ahead rather than waiting until the last day of a requisition. Planning around a standing or recurring order is easier when you book early. If your needs go beyond a blood draw, our full range of tests and services covers imaging, ECG, and more at our locations, and our team can help you decide what still needs to be done in person.
Is a home visit covered by OHIP?
The tests on your requisition are covered exactly as they would be at a centre: medically necessary tests ordered by an Ontario physician, nurse practitioner or midwife are insured with a valid health card. The visit itself is a service Bio-Test charges for, separate from OHIP, and any uninsured tests on the requisition (vitamin D for most adults, for example) are charged as usual. Client services confirms the visit fee and any test fees when you book, so there are no surprises on the day; there is no public price list.
Who performs the collection
Every home visit is carried out by a certified Bio-Test phlebotomist, the same staff who collect at our patient service centres, following the same identification, labelling and handling procedures. Samples are transported back to our accredited Ottawa laboratory, where all licensed testing is performed on site, so the quality of the result does not depend on where the draw happened.
How do I book at-home collection with Bio-Test?
For most bloodwork you can simply walk into any of our 11 locations with your Ontario health card and requisition, no appointment needed. When travel is not possible, home visits are available by request for a fee: call 613-789-4242 or 1-800-409-1942 to arrange a certified phlebotomist to come to you. Have your requisition and health card ready, and book early, since visits are scheduled one at a time and lead time varies.