Blood Work and Lab Tests in Miami Lakes

Blood work at the same visit

When the person who examines you can also draw your blood, the test actually gets done. At Ambert’s Miami Lakes office, blood is drawn right there, usually at the same visit where your provider orders the tests, so there’s no second appointment at a lab across town and no order slip to lose.

It works the same way whether you’re here for an annual physical, a check on your diabetes, blood pressure or thyroid, the start of a weight loss program, or a same-day sick visit where a test would change the treatment.

Common blood tests, what they check, and how to prepare

These are the tests primary care providers order most often. Your provider decides which ones you need; this table is so you know what you’re agreeing to.

Test	What it checks	Before the test
Complete blood count (CBC)	The number and size of the different cells in your blood; often part of a routine checkup	Usually no preparation
Basic metabolic panel (BMP)	Eight substances that show your fluid balance, metabolism and how well your kidneys work	Usually fast for 8 hours
Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)	The same eight as a BMP plus six more, including proteins and liver enzymes	You may need to fast for several hours
Cholesterol (lipid) panel	Cholesterol and triglycerides, which help show your risk of heart disease	Usually fast for 8 to 12 hours
Hemoglobin A1C	Your average blood sugar over the past two to three months	No fasting; tell your provider if you’re pregnant or take opioids
Thyroid (TSH)	How well your thyroid is working	Tell your provider every medicine you take
Vitamin D	The level of vitamin D in your blood	No special preparation
PSA	A protein used to screen for prostate cancer	Avoid sex for 24 hours before
Urinalysis	Your urine, often to check for an infection, kidney problems or diabetes	A normal urine sample

The descriptions and preparation come from the National Library of Medicine’s test guides (MedlinePlus), which are worth reading for any test you’re having. Two notes from them: routine vitamin D testing isn’t recommended for everyone, and screening for prostate cancer with a PSA test is your choice, because a high PSA doesn’t always mean cancer (MedlinePlus).

Fasting, done right

If a test needs fasting, it means nothing to eat or drink except plain water, usually for 8 to 12 hours. Juice, coffee and soda can get into your bloodstream and change your results, so skip them; plain water is fine and actually makes the draw easier. Ask whether to take your usual medicines, but don’t stop any on your own. And book early: a morning appointment means most of your fast happens while you sleep (MedlinePlus).

It’s common to feel a little light-headed after a fasting draw, so bring a snack to eat right after.

What the draw is like

A member of the team takes a sample from a vein in your arm using a small needle, and collects a small amount of blood into a tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out, and it usually takes less than five minutes. The risk is very low: some people get slight pain or a bruise where the needle went in, and it usually goes away quickly (MedlinePlus).

Where your sample goes

Some simple tests can be run right in the office. Under federal lab rules (CLIA), these “waived” tests are simple tests with a low risk of an incorrect result (CDC), and they are the ones the office’s lab certificate covers. Everything else is sent to an outside laboratory. Either way, the results come back to the provider who ordered them, who reviews them with you.

Reading two of the numbers you’ll see most

A1C. Below 5.7% is normal, 5.7% to 6.4% is prediabetes, and 6.5% or above is diabetes (CDC). Providers often confirm a diabetes result with more than one test before calling it a diagnosis.

Cholesterol. Most healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years; people with heart disease, diabetes or a family history of high cholesterol need it checked more often (CDC). If your numbers are high, that becomes part of your ongoing care, along with an EKG if your provider wants to look at your heart.

Insurance, orders and your results

Coverage for lab tests depends on your plan and on the test; the insurance page lists the plan types the practice accepts, and reception can check yours. If you’re new to Ambert, start with a visit: the new patient guide explains how to book, and your provider orders the tests that make sense for you. When your results come back, our guide to how long blood test results take, and how to read them explains the common numbers in plain English. Blood is drawn at both the Miami Lakes and Kendall offices.