LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services Reviews 416

The technician didn’t interact with me at all. Needle went in ok but when she switched vials she somehow made it hurt a lot. Most can do the switch without me noticing. It’s been an hour and it still hurts. Never had that happen before, but that’s probably because I get my lab work done at the hospital, but unfortunately they’re not open on a stat holiday. This once again justifies why I do that.

Was a walking ,didn't have to wait long. Quick and very kind.

This review is specifically for mobile life lab services in ontario. I called life labs on two occasions to confirm an appointment.Time for their mobile lab service. I was assured of a specific time and told that I would be called to confirm, I did not receive a call. The technician did not show up, leaving. My loved one fasting for nearly twenty hours.Assuming that they were getting blood work. I called anne was told after, quite some time that the technician was unwell, and they made an error by not notifying us. I requested a call from the manager. I missed her call. I called back within two minutes and left a voicemail and did not receive any reply. I was assured that a follow-up appointment would be booked and that I would receive a call the day before to confirm the time. They did not call to confirm. I called the manager again and left another voicemail. I'm not sure why I as the customer have to chase life labs to provide their service that they are being paid adequately for.

Tuesday, July 29/25 I waited in line at Life Labs, Centenary Hospital, Scarborough, just to give in my requisition - for a good 10 minutes or more. The man ahead of me finally left saying that he waited long enough and no one was working there. I continued to wait. I had a 2:30 PM appointment. I am 73 years old, disabled and suffer from a multitude of ailments. I tried to talk to one of the techs there and he was so rude to me saying I had to wait. I finally pulled up a chair and sat down. Called in at my appointment time I sat in the cubicle for up to 15 minutes waiting for someone to come and draw my blood. What kind of an organization do you run here? Even trying to complain was no good, just got rudeness. There were at least 4 people working there and it wasn't busy. Still I had to wait. I am so disgusted and upset with this lab. The people who work there are rude and hostile. One tech said she'd be right with me - never saw her again. I'm truly looking for a new lab location. I can't depend or trust Life Labs anymore. I'll be sure to tell all my friends and family and whoever will listen, on how people are treated at this facility.

Receptionist was terrible. Came in for my appt. and was made to wait while she worked on the computer and scanned documents, and didn't even bother looking at me or acknowledging that she would be with me shortly. After 5 minutes, and now 5 people behind me in line, she took my info and told me to have a seat. Arrived at 12:45 for a 12:55 appointment. There was one person on the list ahead of me who also had an appt. for 12:50. At 1:10, she calls in 3 people ahead of me - the one with the 12:50 appt., then the person who had an appt. after me and a walk in that showed had a 23 min. wait. I nicely mentioned to her, her mistake and she flipped me off saying that I would be next. Calls my name, puts me in a cubicle and calls another name and sends them to a cubicle. That person was also attended to before I was. Finally got out of there at 1:30 pm. Was all I could do to keep my cool as my husband was waiting in the car for me in 33C temps.

Horrible waiting times. Was not seen even though other folks without appointments were seen before me. The Ontario health ministry needs to do something about this.

great staff and appointment time was good and the staff Melany was so accommodating and gentle. Thank you! at 5 fairview drive

I had an appointment and arrived on time. I waited 10-12 minutes which was adequate considering the wait area was packed and people were waiting in the hall. I was called back to room 6, a tech came & sat down. Chatted about my nails then looked at me and said "did I ask your last name". Which she had not. Then asked my birth date. Pulled out gloves, 2 vials and the instrument required to draw blood. She DID NOT use a band to pop my veins just dug right in. It hurt, grabbed a cotton ball plopped it on my entry spot and taped it on. Did not check to see if I stopped bleeding. I bled for several minutes and when I removed the cotton ball and tape, there was a spot about the size of a dime on the cotton ball. Not only that, a bruise also the size of a dime on my inner elbow. What happened to the care & concern of patients. This never used to happen, I used to go in and not feel anything and I have blood drawn 2-4 times a year. This is unacceptable and the women of a different culture need to be retrained. This is not a racist comment so do not come at me, it's an honest review. It's not okay to be hurt & bruised to have blood drawn.

Life Labs sent me two reminders for my appointment that had different dates on them and in one case a different time on them. Among the myriad options the voice recording gave me, there was none that allowed for me to speak to a human being to find out which appointment was the correct one.

What a horrible experience. Firstly, the line up to get registered was excessive. I understand that can change through the day hours but there was one person working through the line and two others seemingly watching. The man at the 'reception' was rough in his approach and not customer service orientated. There did not seem to be a consideration for privacy and most everyone could hear everyone's business. I dropped off samples and was questioned about the quantity, and the information. When explained that my doctor completed the forms he just said that if it wasn't done right, it will be thrown out. From their he tossed (literally) them into a bin. When I questioned about scheduling a blood sample, I was told this was the least amount of time and I should do it now. I explained that I didn't have time and that is why I tried to book something (but it didn't work). He had little respect for the patrons and had no desire to help. I would prefer to not to go back to this place. If there were another option, I would definitely take it.

I decided to go back and give LifeLabs one more try after the strike. Not busy and the service was much improved. It was like they were back to the old Life Labs.

I would like to share my experience with Life Lab and the medical system in BC overall which is very sad. I really appreciate the hard work of health care providers and workers but I had a very bad experience which makes me wonder about how many other people are having even a harder time with it. I was asked by my fertility doctor to take a blood test to check my OHSS symptoms on a Friday. The clinic asked me to go to life labs or another lab to perform the test as soon as possible because my symptoms might imply a dangerous thrombosis risk so I have to monitor them fast. On the Friday I tied to book an appointment both with Life labs and with the hospital laboratory system. No appointments were offered in the whole Vancouver Lower mainland until Wednesday of the following week which would have been too late for me. I tried to walk in to a life lab in South Surrey at 7.30am. It s 10am and I am still waiting in line, I have not checked in yet. The personell has to switch between checking people in and doing the blood test. The appointment people are given priority and walk ins are called every hour 2 at the time. We are waiting in line and there are no chairs. There are old people beside me that have been waiting for more than 2 hours and if they didn't have anybody switching with them they would be waiting standing in line. My mother in law is driving around the lower mainland to find a place with less waiting line and nothing is less than 1h wait just to check in. If the clinic closes before they call me I won't be able to give the results of a very important blood test to my doctor. This seems absurd to me. How can a developed country like Canada not be able to provide a blood test service system to his citizen? This is an essential service and old people have to stand in a line suffering for hours. If there is a strike going on someone has to take actions too because this is not acceptable for the amount of taxes we pay and for the standard of life wellness that we want to give to our citizens.

Dear Life Labs Management and HR Team,

I’m writing to share a troubling experience my 4-year-old son and I had during a visit to your 9014, 152 street, Surrey location.

The attending phlebotomist, Thanh, demonstrated a concerning lack of both clinical competence and basic communication skills. She failed to explain the stool and urine sample collection process. When I asked where to drop the samples and which vials were intended for which test, she dismissed my questions by repeatedly telling me to “read the instructions.” Her unwillingness to offer even minimal guidance was unprofessional, and it created confusion in a situation where clarity is critical to accurate testing.
More alarmingly, Thanh’s technique during the blood draw raised serious patient safety concerns. She proceeded without palpating the vein, inserted the needle blindly, failed on the first attempt, and then switched arms. She went to call another assistant to hold his arm. On the second arm, she manipulated the needle inside the vein, moving it around in an apparent attempt to locate the vessel. This not only caused visible pain to my 4-year-old child but is also an example of poor venipuncture technique that could lead to hematoma or other complications. (Photos of bruising attached)

From an HR and clinical risk standpoint, I feel it’s important to highlight the following red flags:

• Lack of empathy and poor bedside manner, particularly with pediatric patients

• Dismissive and unprofessional communication with caregivers

• Inadequate technical skill in phlebotomy (failure to palpate, unnecessary multiple attempts, needle fishing)

• Failure to follow proper patient interaction protocols

No child should be subjected to pain or fear because of untrained or indifferent staff. Thanh’s conduct was not just disappointing, it was unacceptable for a healthcare setting.

I urge LifeLabs to train Thanh. She should not be assigned to pediatric patients without remedial training and assessment. Young children should be treated with the care, competence, and respect they deserve.

I went to life labs in napanee Ontario. Spoke with a ladynamed Nicole. She was great and whole process was pretty pain free. All the lab people at life labs there are professional and friendly.

I have been going to Lifelabs in Aurora, ON (372 Hollandview Tr) for almost 20 years. I have never had any issue other than wait time as a walk in. When i have an appointment i’m generally taken on time. Over the last 2 weeks my teen daughter had to attend twice for a significant amount of blood testing. We discovered she is a fainter and I cannot say enough about the staff: Marsha and Linh during the fainting visit and all the staff on the second visit where she had the fasting glucose test with blood drawn every 30 min. There is also a male nurse there whom she really appreciated distracting her with his sharing about his marathons and asking her about her sports. My daughter needed to lie down each test. she was embarrassed and nervous. The staff made her feel normal and accepted. Thankyou to Aurora Lifelabs. Your professionalism is greatly appreciated. Never a doubt how busy you all are in there and I see you’re always trying your best. Thankyou!
nicole

4800 Leslie St, North York, ON M2J 2K9
--We had an appointment - after register, we waited...my name was on the top...then my name disappeared from screen...they arranged other walk-in people before us. then waited for another 30 minutes after my appointment time. What good are appointments？？out of order
--very bad experience in this location.

good , fast and reliable service

Had an appointment - waited in line 10 minutes for other people who did not have appointments to register...missed my appointment due to that...then waited another 15 minutes for other people who were walk-ins as they were called before me...WHAT ??

Stratford Ontario. Staff dismissive. Had an appointment scheduled. Stood 10 minutes at reception desk. 2-3 staff present. No one spoke to clients. Sign posted- no walk-ins after 1-we are very short staffed. Staff at photocopier swearing at machine. Same staff yelling out client names and so fast no client could understand . While I was waiting another client came to reception with a urine sample. Same staff barked to put sample in fridge, no direction. Same staff in a loud voice said be patient as the are very short staffed.
Facility is filthy. Chairs can see where people sit in dust. Floors have not been washed in months.

Went to 10425 kennedy lifelab. The walking wait time is 3 hours. The staff is rude and disrespectful.