Laboratory

The CVPH Laboratory is a fully accredited, comprehensive diagnostic service staffed by Board Certified physicians and well-trained technicians.

Laboratory Medicine and Diagnostic Testing

Laboratory tests are an essential part of medical care. Health care providers rely on these tests to monitor your health, diagnose conditions and track treatment.

University of Vermont Health Network provides comprehensive pathology and laboratory medicine services for patients and health care professionals across the region. With a network of hospitals across Vermont and northern New York, you have access to high-quality laboratory services no matter where you live.

Whether you need a blood draw or are facing a life-changing diagnosis, our team of more than 500 employees including pathologists, technologists, phlebotomists and support staff are here for you. We work diligently to deliver exceptional customer service and partner with your medical providers to guide your care.

New Online Scheduling:

You may now schedule select blood draw appointments online through your MyChart account. Don't have a MyChart account? Sign up now.

Why Choose Us?

We offer:

  • Specialized expertise: Pathologists are physicians who evaluate body tissues to diagnose diseases and oversee the laboratories. Our pathologists have extensive training and experience in subspecialty areas of pathology and bring a high level of expertise to your care.
  • Range of services: Our test catalogs include more than 2,000 different tests. Your provider may collect specimens and send them to us, or you may visit one of our sample collection locations for a blood draw, urine collection or special test.
  • Commitment to quality: Our laboratories are dedicated to meeting established standards for personnel, quality and safety and are fully accredited by state and federal regulatory agencies.
  • Rapid results: We analyze most specimens locally, which helps us get results to your provider as quickly as possible. You also have access to these results as soon as they are available through your MyChart patient portal account.

What to Expect

Many sites offer walk-ins or online appointment scheduling. Check your preferred location for special instructions.

The length of your procedure depends on the type of test you are having. A routine blood draw typically takes about 10 minutes to perform, but please allow at least 30 minutes to include registration and potential wait time during busy periods. We do our best to get you in and out quickly. Understand that we may see patients with special requirements or who need immediate testing or timed tests first.

Laboratory tests often require you to follow certain guidelines to ensure their accuracy. Your provider will let you know what to do before, during and after your test. General instructions for some common tests we offer include:

Blood Draws and Fasting

We provide blood draws for adults and children using venipuncture (through a vein, usually in your arm) and capillary collection (through a stick in a finger or child’s heel).

Your provider may order a blood test that requires fasting. This means you should:

  • Not eat or drink anything except water for at least eight hours before the test
  • Continue to take prescription medications unless your provider directs you otherwise
  • Avoid smoking and exercise as much as possible before your test

If you have any concerns about fasting, talk to your physician.

Our highly trained staff works to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Providers can request additional accommodations for young patients or patients requiring unique care.

Depending on the need, patients may receive the application of a numbing cream or an appointment may be scheduled for a port draw with one of our IV nurses.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Providers use an OGTT to diagnose gestational diabetes. It shows us how your body processes blood sugar (glucose).

An OGTT involves an initial blood test, after which you drink a sweet liquid. You will have several more blood tests over the next one to three hours. Special instructions include:

  • Do not eat or drink anything except water for at least eight hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if you need to discontinue any medications.
  • During the test, avoid eating, drinking (you may have a few small sips of water), smoking or chewing gum.
  • Let lab personnel know if you feel ill or vomit.

24-Hour Urine Testing

A 24-hour urine test collects all the urine you produce over a 24-hour period to diagnose kidney diseases. For this test:

  • Your provider will let you know if you need to avoid certain foods or medications before or during the test.
  • You will receive a container to collect and store your urine.
  • Keep the container securely closed, upright and in a cool place, such as the refrigerator or a cooler with ice.
  • Your provider will instruct you when to begin the 24-hour collection period.
  • Return the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. The container should be tightly closed and labeled with the patient’s name and date of birth.
  • Be sure to check in with lab personnel before you leave the lab, as some 24-hour urine tests also require a blood draw.

We collect specimens based on tests ordered by your health care provider. Your provider may send your order directly to us or provide you with a paper order. If your provider has given you a copy of your lab order, please bring it with you. If the order was sent to us, please confirm with the laboratory that it has been received to avoid delays. We also accept orders from providers outside the UVM Health Network.

We send results to ordering providers 24 hours a day. Please check with your provider or MyChart for your results. If your health care provider is not within the UVM Health Network, we will deliver results to the location specified on the order.