Laboratory

The Lab

The Timmins Cluster Laboratory Services Partnership – comprised of laboratories located in Hornepayne, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Matheson, Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Englehart, MDS and Toronto Medical Laboratories – strives to ensure that laboratories continue to meet the standards required by the provincial accreditation body.

The Hospital Laboratories are open 5 days a week. Laboratory staff collect and identify samples from in-patients, out-patients and emergency cases, completing necessary documentation and forwarding results to the physician. The Lady Minto Hospital Laboratory also provides microbiology services to its two partner hospitals, Bingham Memorial Hospital (Matheson) and Anson General Hospital (Iroquois Falls).

Our Medical Laboratory Technicians provide vital information about your health. Did you know that up to 85% of decisions about your diagnosis and treatment are based on laboratory test results? Both you and your doctor depend upon the accuracy of these results.

With the emergence of COVID-19, we have had to make some changes to our out-patient services. Moving forward, out-patient services for laboratory must be requisitioned by the referring physician’s office. The hospital will then contact the patient directly to schedule an appointment.

PLEASE NOTE

Ontario has transitioned from the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) to FIT for colon cancer screening. Please click on the link below to read the document.

Transition to FIT

What you can do
  • Always follow instructions to prepare for your test. If you have not followed instructions or have deviated from the instructions, notify the person collecting your sample.
  • Inform your health care provider of any medications (including vitamins and supplements) you might currently be taking or foods you have eaten within the day prior to the test. If you are taking prescribed medications such as blood-thinners or seizure medication, you may want to write down the exact time at which you took your dose and when your blood was drawn. This information will be useful if your doctor has any questions about your test results.
  • Certain behaviors may affect some test results, such as recent or excessive exercise, not taking in enough fluids (dehydration), excessive eating or recent sexual activity. You may be asked to refrain from some of these activities for certain tests.
  • Some of the more common types of preparation required for testing include fasting (to go without all or certain foods) for several hours before the test or even overnight. If unsure whether to fast or not, it is best to fast. Fasting will not affect other tests that are ordered, however, if you do not fast and the test requires fasting, then you will be asked to return on a day when you are fasting.
  • Certain tests may require you to increase or decrease the amount you drink for 10 to 12 hours prior to the test.
  • There may be specific foods and medications you will need to avoid.
  • You may be asked not to smoke before the test.
  • If you are collecting the specimen at home (such as urine, stool or semen), you could be asked to follow certain procedures to transport the specimen from home to the lab.
Ask questions

If you are ever unclear about the instructions, be sure to ask the person ordering the test for clarification. If you are not given any instructions, you should ask if there are any special instructions needed to prepare for the test.

Bingham Memorial Hospital

Outpatient Hours

Monday to Friday
8:00 am - 11:00 am
(except on Statutory Holidays)

1-705-273-2424 ext. 1120

Anson General Hospital

Outpatient Hours

Monday to Friday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
1:00pm - 2:45 pm
(except on Statutory Holidays)

1-705-258-3911 ext. 3327

Lady Minto Hospital

Outpatient Hours

Monday to Friday
8:00 pm - 4:00 pm
(except on Statutory Holidays)

1-705-272-7200 ext. 2324

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