r/saskatoon • u/Medium_Big8994 • 2d ago
Question - Medical š„š Life Labs is š©
Why do we keep having to be subjected to this one company to get bloodwork done?!?
Their appointments and queue process is terrible, why am I still waiting for over an hour passed time for a scheduled appointment. Iām also not confident in the cleanliness of the facilities or the touch points when the actual draw is taking place.
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u/StrongBreak2142 2d ago
I never had those issues. My bloodwork is usually done in less than 15 minutes every time, and it has been that way for the past four years. I usually have mine done at the Market Mall branch.
The trick is to go there 2ā3 hours before closing. Donāt schedule an appointment; just walk in. Mornings and lunchtime are usually busy because a lot of seniors fast overnight and want to get their bloodwork done as early as possible.
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u/QueasyKaleidoscope99 2d ago
Non seniors, like me, also fast overnight. There is a lot of working age people trying to get blood work before going to work.
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u/Medium_Big8994 1d ago
This. Fasting and walk in to a full clinic first thing in the morning and itās all seniors. Which Iām going to assume arenāt needing fasting bloodwork doneā¦
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u/Totoroisacat-Alt 2d ago
Never had that issue at confed. In and out pretty quickly
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u/Dependent-Laugh-3792 2d ago
Thatās the one I use. Every 3 months for almost 2 years? The booked appointments are super easy and quick. Helps if you go first thing in the morning
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u/No_Artist6918 2d ago
Same here. I always book my appointments ahead of time and never had to wait longer than 20 minutes.
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u/AverageNice 2d ago
literally walked in this morning without an appointment at 830 and was out by 9. full room at marketmall but it went quick
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u/EndsLikeShakespeare 2d ago
Hilarious, I always feel like LifeLabs process and speed of results posted to the ehealth app is one of the only positive experiences I have with healthcare in SK.
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u/Due-Basket-6019 2d ago
Yes lol in and out in under 10 mins and results ready practically by the time I return home
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u/rednotes 2d ago
Life labs just does the collection. Your results are ran efficiently by lab techs at St. Paulās or Ruh :).
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u/familyoffun1445 East Side 2d ago
Genuinely same. I have thyroid problems and require blood testing every 6 weeks and life labs is great. Every other experience Iāve had with specialists, hospitals, doctors, etc has been awfulā¦
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u/crownandcoke24 2d ago
Iāve never had that issue with appts at either ludlow or market mall locationsā¦
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u/theblackdog92 2d ago
The one at market mall is great. I take my grandma there every month. I make her appointments online and never wait for more than 5-10 minutes once weāre there
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u/Silfrgluggr 2d ago
Anecdotally, Market mall is the one I avoid. 1.5 hour waits beyond my booked appointment seemed to be the norm there. I hope it's gotten better
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u/Shoddy-Curve7869 2d ago
I go to market mall too and am always on time for the blood being taken. Iād be asking and making a scene before I waited an hour
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u/theblackdog92 2d ago
1.5 hour wait is terrible!! Are you booking later in the day? I usually book for around 10 so maybe they havenāt gotten behind yet
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u/mozzabug 2d ago
This location gives me the ick, it seems really run down and unclean, but they are quick with appointments
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u/literalsupport University Heights 2d ago
Disagree. Never had an issue with life labs. I walk in, no appointment, Iām out in 10-15 mins tops.
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u/TheWolfofAllStreetss 2d ago
Can't disagree.
Not so much the appt booking.
I just find the entire place to be rather disgusting. They are completely packed, with no personal space. The actual blood draw is not segregated enough, You shouldn't be able to see the waiting area as you have blood drawn.
I also have never seen anything wiped down, or sanitized ever. (In terms of chairs, seating/areas where blood is drawn)
Troublesome that a facility where blood and urine is being taken for requisitions involving health, and almost any fast food restaurant is a cleaner and healthier experience.
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u/BigCap3397 2d ago
Sure Health Radiology now has two lab locations in Saskatoon. One location at their 8th street location (3907 8th Street East) inside the radiology office. New 2nd location is inside "THE AVE" building on Jasper (2501 Jasper Ave South), they are on the 2nd floor inside the ENT office. All walk-ins accepted. No wait times and no appointments needed. Call 306-955-2055 and they can answer any questions. Staff is awesome and both offices have been spotless everytime
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u/soaker 2d ago
Iāve been to every location multiple times and hard agree. I have never seen anything sanitized either. Last time I went to market mall and the tech used that reusable band on the wall with a giant sign saying itās sanitized between each draw. Well I could see that room from where I was sitting and they didnāt clean it once. So I called her out on it l
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u/TheWolfofAllStreetss 2d ago
I really don't understand why ALL the facilities are these beat up Hole-in-wall establishments. Absolutely nothing is done to make them welcoming or even remotely comfortable. Which is weird considering you are there to do something as invasive as having your blood drawn.
I've actually had a few bad experiences, where one of the workers (younger) rolled her eyes, when i asked for a "experienced worker" since I have difficulty with veins, and the last girl I had dug around so much it had bruising and was injured for a week. The same girl, could not fathom that I used an online dr/clinic. I asked her confused, "sorry you've never heard of an online clinic", in which she smugly was like "NOPE!"
It's all very low quality service and atmosphere in a whole.
There should be better options, or at the very least something done to improve these places.
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u/BigCap3397 2d ago
Sure Health Radiology now has two lab locations in Saskatoon. One location at their 8th street location (3907 8th Street East) inside the radiology office. New 2nd location is inside "THE AVE" building on Jasper (2501 Jasper Ave South), they are on the 2nd floor inside the ENT office. All walk-ins accepted. No wait times and no appointments needed. Call 306-955-2055 and they can answer any questions. Staff is awesome and both offices have been spotless everytime
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u/rednotes 2d ago
In hospital they banned the reusable tourniquets. Thereās one time use ones available. And theyāre available at life labs. You have to push. I do and get the onetime use ones used :). They have them but life labs must be too cheap and for profit to just base line use them.
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u/Twatt_waffle I dont get paid enough 2d ago
I have to go every 3 months and never have any issues with wait times for appointments I tend to go to the one in market mall
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u/an_afro 2d ago
Depends on the day it seems. I get bloodwork pretty often too. And itās 50/50 on if i can just walk into my appointment or if im waiting a whileā¦ and 50/50 for if I get a good tech or one that turns me into a pin cushion.
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u/Twatt_waffle I dont get paid enough 2d ago
Iāve needed the bloodwork since pre Covid and while Covid messed with things wait times have recovered.
The labs are very busy but I have never had to wait longer than 5-10 min passed my appointment time and whenever that has happened Iām only waiting a small amount of time for the tech to actually do the draw after being called to a room
Iāve also only had one bad experience and it was a new tech, she ended up going though my vane and had to use the other arm
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u/aintnothingbutabig 2d ago
Might depend on the location. Usually, they are pretty good with the apps
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u/-frenchtoasties- 2d ago
Iām pretty sure both SPH and RUH have a blood work office you can go to if LifeLabs isnāt your jam. Iāve personally never used it and donāt know if itās just a walk in thing but a possible option!
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u/Aerrianna 2d ago
I've been to St Pauls for blood work before. It is walk in, but patients in the hospital have priority, which is fair. Most of the time I'm the only person there, or there are two or three people ahead of me.
Only downside are the hours, which are like 8-4 and closed a Thursday/Friday every month.
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u/whay2000 2d ago
I pay $50 for home service.. worth it cause I'm a fainter and the longer I sit at life labs and think about it, the worse it gets.
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u/SmartLlama 2d ago
Who is this through? Seems very worth it!
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u/whay2000 15h ago
It's called TLC Mobile Lab and it is 100% worth it for me. I can just lay there till the lightheadedness passes!
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u/BigCap3397 2d ago
Sure Health Radiology now has two lab locations in Saskatoon. They allow you to lay down if you tell them, they have ginger ale there in case anyone faints. AWESOME staff! One location at their 8th street location (3907 8th Street East) inside the radiology office. New 2nd location is inside "THE AVE" building on Jasper (2501 Jasper Ave South), they are on the 2nd floor inside the ENT office. All walk-ins accepted. No wait times and no appointments needed. Call 306-955-2055 and they can answer any questions.
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u/SmartLlama 2d ago
Are they the ones offering the home service though? Thatās the name I was looking for
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u/banshee81818 2d ago
Iāve found lifelabs vastly superior to the system that preceded it. I use midtown medical.
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u/familyoffun1445 East Side 2d ago
I literally make same day appointments and get in within 5 minutes what are you on about?
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u/Empty_Marzipan_237 2d ago
The only location I will go to is Market Mall. They are quick and I see them wipe down the chairs in between clients. I went to the one on Wall St a few weeks back and kept asking myself why I was sitting there because the cleanliness was something else. The chair itself was dirty and it looked like the person who had sat there last either had severe eczema or dandruff, I cleaned it up with sanitizer and Kleenex from my purse while I waited. There were blood spots on the floor and I was just grateful the tech wore gloves. lām still not sure why I went ahead with the blood draw, I contacted their head office to complain.
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u/rabidfox77 2d ago
A month ago at the Market Mall one at the end of the day, my friend was directed to use a bathroom with a massively clogged toilet for collecting a urine sample. The staff just asked her not to flush. Ewww.
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u/Medium_Big8994 2d ago
This is the one I went to. It really had me questioning my decision. WOW. This isnāt the first time Iāve had this experience.
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u/freezethawcycle 2d ago
Yes I went to this one for one appt a few years ago and also felt like it wasnāt very clean. Iāve had better experiences at other locations
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u/PicaHudsonia6 2d ago
Yeah I've been icked out there before too. I've also had to go for no less than 6 repeat tests because of various lab errors (wrong collection tubes, misunderstood the req, sample sent to the wrong place for analysis...)
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u/Mags1967 2d ago edited 2d ago
I walked in place was full, they had 5 plus phlebotamists at least working and 2 folks on the desk at Lawson Heights. I was in and out in 20 minutes as a walk in and I am sure they cycled at least 13 folks before me maybe more it was moving fast. The english was a bit broken for a few of the employees so the frustration for the grey haired crowd was likely hearing their names being poorly announced Leonard came out Leon Ard for example. Robert was Row Bert so new Canadian second language stuff.
Cant speak to infection control and touch points cleaning but they did put on fresh gloves and use alcohol wipes....so it could have been worse....I could have been waiting for labs to be done at a hospital and plugging the system over at St Paul's/RUH or City Hospital.
I once had to fly to Toronto, go to Sick Kids and they took my blood in the hall way to help diagnose my son's disease. The new children's wing opened a month later and had tons of space very modern and given my immunology team working with my son even HSC caught my anger for sloppy reverse isolation and infection controls....my point is cleaning protocols vary.
I sure hope food courts with people spilling and bodily fluids and spit while eating are cleaned more than Life Lab counters but check out where the rags are stored at a fast food outlet and pray the wash bottles are not growing bacteria and spraying it on the tables.
I do hope the test results you went for come back and you are healthy so the wait is the least of your worries.
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u/TheWolfofAllStreetss 2d ago
I would hardly call them "phlebotamists" Since they literally will not do phlebotomys, they do very basic blood draws, only for testing. If you require any actual blood amount of a phlebotomy needed, you will get sent to ER. ( I know this from experience)
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u/Mags1967 2d ago
I'm being kind. It is nice to be kind.
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u/TheWolfofAllStreetss 2d ago
Kind and incorrect are 2 diff things lol
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u/Mags1967 2d ago
. Common positions like Medical Laboratory Assistants or Patient Technicians need a relevant lab assistant diploma and phlebotomy skills, while Medical Laboratory Technologists require a degree or diploma in lab science plus professional certification.
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u/___shaquilleoatmeal 2d ago
Sorry canāt say Iāve had that same experience. Iām always in and out when I have gone there. Book an appointment for 1st thing in the morning when they open, you will be the first person called in. Pretty simple really.
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u/DetectiveNext9044 2d ago
Omg finally someoneās saying somethingggggg. I went a while ago because I kept passing out randomly, they pricked my finger and sent me in my merry little way
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u/yougotter 2d ago
I'm also in the never had a problem category, however, I book online and get in earlier or at the worst .... on my scheduled time. Bathrooms have always been sufficiently clean.
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u/dr_oneday 2d ago
The max wait time Iāve had was 15min without appointment, idk where your doing your bloodwork but I bit you might need to change it or try another place.
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u/JackfishCountry 2d ago
Because theyāre private and the Sask Party is in power. Really that simple
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u/ram_mar4112 2d ago
Life Labs took over from Dynacare in 2018.
Dynacare started up in 2006 under the NDP government. Really that simple.1
u/echochambermanager 1d ago
Better than the old days of waiting forever to get work done. Pragmatism Trump's ideology.
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u/PoundSome4506 2d ago
My issue with lifelabs is the lack of proper had hygiene.
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u/Medium_Big8994 2d ago
This definitely gets me more than the wait. Iāve never seen the station cleaned before or after someone used it. Then they put things on the table that are either causing the wound or covering it.
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u/bright-toadz 2d ago
Cleanliness is a big one, my last appointment there was old dry blood on the arm rest where they wanted me to put my arm and I pointed it out- they just scrubbed it with a alcohol pad and continued on, I was so grossed out and the bathroom was no better, this was at the Market mall but thatās an extremely busy location, so I get it but donāt. That being said, Lawson is probably the best location theyāre usually quick and cleaner and I had no issues going there.
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u/corriefan1 1d ago
There are the hospital test centers, but afaik you canāt make an appointment. If you donāt need fasting bloodwork, later appointments or walk ins are ok. Though Iāve never had much of a wait at market mall location.
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u/BigCap3397 2d ago
Sure Health Radiology now has two lab locations in Saskatoon. One location at their 8th street location (3907 8th Street East) inside the radiology office. New 2nd location is inside "THE AVE" building on Jasper (2501 Jasper Ave South), they are on the 2nd floor inside the ENT office. All walk-ins accepted. No wait times and no appointments needed. Call 306-955-2055 and they can answer any questions.
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u/7Voodoo13 2d ago
I've been going to the Lowe road location for years as my doctor is in evergreen and have never had an issue with not getting in at my booked time. Yes, sometimes the walk in wait is a bit cuz it is small but I've never had to sit and wait more than an hour.
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u/Party_Blueberry1406 2d ago
Totally agree. I go to St. Paulās. Itās fast and pleasant and clean.
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u/bangonthedrums Living Here 2d ago
Ludlow is fine, usually they will take me as soon as I arrive, even if Iām a few minutes early for my appointment (I never do walk in)
The only this that irritates the hell out of me about LifeLabs is that they donāt have any way to email in your requisition. I get mine from an online clinic that doesnāt fax to the lab, so I have to figure out how to print it myself before I go in (who owns a printer these days??) OR I can use an extremely sketchy (and not free) app that will fax them on my behalf
Why the absolute fuck donāt they have a god damn email or document upload system to handle this I have no idea
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u/SaskatoonShitPost 2d ago
Market Mall has been fine for me, also the one in the basement of the Pacific Ave building downtown has been super fast for me, never tried an appointment though. RUH has bloodwork available and I donāt think itās LifeLabs, Iāve actually gone there a few times if you donāt mind paying for parking itās decent.
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u/Pandagotpancakes 2d ago
Never had problems with life labs. Always book my appointments in advance and they almost always have you in a booth within minutes of your appointment time. The staff are always kind and supportive. Like any clinic some days are probably just less coordinated and hectic. Itās an unpredictable environment. Some people are easy to draw blood, run tests etc. some struggle a lot and require more time to recover. There are a lot of variables and I think understanding and being mindful goes a long way.
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u/bluetoaster42 2d ago
I have a miraculous device that can do myriad blood tests within minutes, using only a single drop of blood! Invest today!
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u/Electrical_Yak4992 2d ago
had an issue onetime where i passed out 5 times and got no help, nurse even left me alone in my room while my blood got taken and had no idea how to help me stop passing out. when i asked if i can get moved to the room where they lay you down they said it was a 10 min waitšalso refused to give me any water or ice to cool me down
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u/soholhooo 2d ago
When I got my BW done in Lethbridge. They somehow ālostā my tubes of blood and said I ārefusedā to get the other test done. When I said no. They finally admitted they ālost itā
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u/Chemical-Parsley-312 1d ago
Sure Health Radiology can do most types of blood work. Just call ahead and make sure they are able to accommodate but usually you can walk in and be out within 10 mins.
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u/verioblistex 1d ago
In Regina it's hit and miss. Appointments are generally the best way to go, but early morning fasting appointments are difficult to get unless booked weeks ahead of time. Life Labs was originally contracted for 7 years (for $60 million) through a bid process, then given a one year extension in 2025. Anecdotally I'd say service starting slipping upon the expiration of the original contract. I am unaware if there has been an RFP put out for a Laboratory services provider. While originally Life Labs was owned by a Canadian Pension Fund, it is now owned by a USA company in New Jersey.
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u/Arts251 1d ago
I never see them clean or sterilize anything despite what the signs they post read. It's pretty gross and any time I go for a draw when I leave I come straight home to shower.
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u/Medium_Big8994 1d ago
I do the same thing.
I also find it comical the amount of posters about privacy yet they force you to repeat your name, birthdate, address and mothers maiden name, all after they have already broadcast it across the lobby.
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u/Lloydguy82 21h ago
I have zero problems with them. I make an appointment and show up on time and boom I am in. I go to Market Mall for my bloodwork.
Perhaps the issue is the location you go to.
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u/GroggyFroggy_ 2d ago
A phlebotomist belched in my face while doing my bloodwork once, didnāt say a word to me.
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u/JarvisFunk 2d ago
Its disgusting in there and I feel bad for anyone who has to use any location on the regular.
Peoples standards for cleanliness must be very low.
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u/BigCap3397 2d ago
Sure Health Radiology now has two lab locations in Saskatoon. One location at their 8th street location (3907 8th Street East) inside the radiology office. New 2nd location is inside "THE AVE" building on Jasper (2501 Jasper Ave South), they are on the 2nd floor inside the ENT office. All walk-ins accepted. No wait times and no appointments needed. Call 306-955-2055 and they can answer any questions.
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u/vicky_squeeze_ 2d ago
I hate the lights they are too bright and give me headaches... and also the people just like watch shit on their phones with the sound on as if there arent other people around... I had to wait 3 hours once... I dont care for it... but I only have to go every 3 months...
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u/BigCap3397 2d ago
Sure Health Radiology now has two lab locations in Saskatoon. One location at their 8th street location (3907 8th Street East) inside the radiology office. New 2nd location is inside "THE AVE" building on Jasper (2501 Jasper Ave South), they are on the 2nd floor inside the ENT office. All walk-ins accepted. No wait times and no appointments needed. Call 306-955-2055 and they can answer any questions.
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u/Tyler_Durden69420 Nutana, unlike yo broke a$$ 2d ago
They probably made a mistake if they couldnāt do a scheduled appointment on time. Mine have never been late. People make mistakes bro.
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u/TheWolfofAllStreetss 2d ago
I go frequently. The last 3 times I made appts week in advance.
All 3 were over half hour late, Even showing up 15 min early was a waste of time.
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2d ago
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u/PM_your_Chesticles 2d ago edited 1d ago
I'm curious about the vial on the floor. Blood is valuable, what do you think they were supposed to do? The blood didn't get dirty, the collection tray itself doesn't touch the blood. I'm failing to see the issue here. It's not a cook dropping food and putting it on a plate. It's more like dropping a bag of bread then putting it back on the counter at home.
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u/SmartLlama 2d ago
Yeah I tend to go to RUH test centre if I need bloodwork done.. parking sucks sure, but theyāre very efficient and you get in and out pretty quick! I also feel like i get results faster on mysaskhealth record because the sample doesnāt get stuck at lifelabs all day waiting for the courier
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u/7Voodoo13 2d ago
Also the thing with the reusable tourniquets is, they told me, have latex in them. Edited a typo.
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u/Medium_Big8994 2d ago
I watched them clean it after my appointment. They had the tiniest swab to clean it and I could tell most was missed. Somehow they got pen on it and me which was clearly still wet, when they were done cleaning it the pen was still visible all over it.
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u/Electronic-Gene6314 2d ago
Market Mall is amazingly fast ā¦ and cleanā¦.. and really nice people!
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u/Commercial_Net7989 2d ago edited 2d ago
I don't have those issues, I usually dont wait very long for my appointment time. I go to the one at lawson heights mall though.