Laboratory services in B.C.
Last updated on August 27, 2024
Laboratory tests provide healthcare professionals with vital information to make important medical decisions about your health. Learn about laboratory services and how to get test results.
Laboratory services play a key role in the health of B.C. residents. Over 70% of medical diagnoses are based on laboratory test results.
More than 4,200 publicly funded tests are available in B.C. Over 57 million tests were performed in the year 2022-23.
Laboratory services are provided in public and private laboratories and hospitals.
Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services (PLMS) works to ensure the Province’s labs adopt the latest technology, guidelines, and techniques to meet the needs of people living in B.C.
Laboratory services are legislated under the:
Getting your lab results
You can get your lab results online in Health Gateway. Most test results are available 2 to 3 days after the test. Results of pathology tests, such as a tissue biopsy, may take several weeks.
If you have a concern about a laboratory service
If you have a concern or complaint about a laboratory service you have received, you are encouraged to report it:
- For a health authority facility, contact the relevant Patient Care Quality Office
- For LifeLabs, call 604-431-7206 or submit online at www.lifelabs.com/contact-us
- For Dynacare Valley Medical Laboratories, call 250-763-4813 or submit online at valleymedicallaboratories.com/contact-us/
- For Health Gateway support, visit the Health Gateway Support Guide or contact HealthGateway@gov.bc.ca
For more information about laboratory services in B.C., please contact the Ministry of Health at HLTH.Health@gov.bc.ca.
Laboratory System Policy Updates
HPV Testing
Since January 2024, as part of B.C.’s 10-year Cancer Care Action Plan, women and individuals ages 25 to 69 with a cervix can choose to order a kit to self-screen for the human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer, or have their screening sampled collected by a health-care provider.
- Learn more about HPV testing in B.C.
- Learn about B.C.’s Cancer Care Action Plan
Provincial Standing Order Policy
The Provincial Standing Order Policy defines requirements and guidelines for referring practitioners. A standing order is the requisition form in which a referring practitioner has indicated the time-period and frequency for the provision of specified Laboratory Services. Under new guidelines, all standing orders received after January 1, 2024, expire after 12 months, while standing orders that were received before January 1, 2024, would be processed as requested.
- Learn more at Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services Requisitions
Ministry of Health Teams – Laboratory Services Unit
The Laboratory Services (LS) team is responsible for strategic planning and the development of strategic direction, priorities, and plans regarding the oversight and provision of laboratory services, as described in the LSA and the LSR. The LS Team monitors the laboratory system and works with other Ministry program areas to identify, prepare public response information, and mitigate risks and issues. Collaborating with the PLMS, within Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), the LS Team supports the Ministry (for and on behalf of the Minister of Health) to make determinations under the LSA and LSR, as well as helps the PLMS to achieve its mandate related to laboratory services in B.C. including the administration of the LSA.
The Laboratory Quality and Issues (LQI) team leads the Ministry and Government response to high-profile issues related to the delivery of public and private laboratory services in B.C. The team collaborates with laboratory leads in PLMS, health authorities, and publicly funded private lab service providers to investigate and respond to public complaints and inquiries. LQI monitors emerging issues and risks across the laboratory system, identifies opportunities for improvement, and monitors quality and quality improvement projects. The team also supports the Provincial Laboratory Advisory Committee and its innovation priorities, such as the provincial anatomical pathology digital services strategy.
The Laboratory Partnerships and Agreements (LPA) team is responsible for negotiation, monitoring, and oversight of Laboratory Services Agreements. The team is the primary point of contact to support or lead ministry initiatives impacting the Master Laboratory Services Agreement, a tripartite agreement between the Ministry, PHSA and LifeLabs. The team oversees performance in key partner program areas, such as the out-of-province/out-of-country program that supports patient access to critical tests not available in B.C., to ensure public spending accountability.
The LPA team leads consultations and engagement with diverse partners, including provincial health authorities, academic and research institutions, other levels of government, regulatory bodies, and private sector, with the goal of accessible, sustainable, and quality laboratory testing for all British Columbians
The Point of Care Testing (POCT) team leads the collaboration of internal and external partners to support the strategy, implementation, and monitoring of point-of-care (POC) testing across the province. The team develops policies, processes and tools to enable and manage expanded POC test use in the publicly funded health care system, and leads negotiations with partners to implement new and innovative ways of delivering POC testing in B.C.