What Happens to Your Blood After It's Drawn? (Scottsdale Edition)
Most people think their blood sample disappears into the lab and that’s the end of the story, but the journey your blood takes after the draw is one of the most important parts of getting accurate, timely results. With our self-pay service, you get peace of mind knowing your blood work is handled carefully and delivered quickly, instead of sitting for hours in a busy patient service center where you’re treated like just another number. For Scottsdale residents using at-home blood draw services, here’s what really happens once your sample leaves your home—and why each step matters for getting reliable results.
Step 1: Labeling and Packaging
Right after the draw, your phlebotomist carefully labels each tube with your name, date of birth, and the date and time of collection, double-checking for accuracy. The tubes are then placed in temperature-controlled biohazard bags designed to protect the specimens from environmental factors like heat or sunlight. This step ensures specimen integrity, traceability, and compliance with strict lab standards, so your samples arrive at the testing facility ready for precise analysis.
Step 2: Specimen Processing
At OptiVena, we handle all specimen processing before delivering your samples to the lab. If the testing requires it, we use a centrifuge to spin and separate plasma or serum from the blood cells, following the timeframe and temperature guidelines specified by each laboratory. This step is crucial because certain tests become unstable if the blood isn’t processed quickly or kept at the right temperature. By performing this processing ourselves, we ensure your samples are preserved correctly, helping you get the most accurate, reliable results possible from your lab tests.
Step 3: Transport to the Lab
Routine labs and time-sensitive labs are delivered directly to the lab, even on weekends, so your results aren’t delayed. We transport your specimens the same day they’re collected to help protect their quality and accuracy. Some tests can become unusable or give false results if they sit too long before reaching the lab. That’s why we make fast delivery a priority—so you and your provider get reliable information as quickly as possible.
Step 4: Analysis and Review
Once your sample arrives at the lab, machines analyze everything from cell counts to hormone levels, but human lab scientists also review the data. Abnormal results are flagged for further inspection before being sent to your provider. That’s why proper specimen handling at the time of collection—and throughout processing—is crucial. If a sample isn’t handled or transported correctly, it can produce inaccurate results or, in some cases, fail to produce any results at all.
Step 5: Results Sent to Your Doctor
Depending on the test, this can take anywhere from a few hours to 5–14 business days. Some tests are send-outs and take longer to result. The lab transmits results securely to your provider’s electronic health record system. After the provider reviews your results, they are usually published on your patient portal through Sonora Quest or Labcorp.
Why This Matters
Knowing what happens behind the scenes helps you trust the process and understand why proper labeling, handling, and delivery matter so much. Every step—from double-checking your information on the tubes to keeping samples at the right temperature and delivering them quickly—protects the quality of your results. At OptiVena, we’re committed to keeping your specimens safe and secure from the moment of collection to lab delivery, so you can feel confident your health information is handled with care and professionalism.
Serving Scottsdale and Nearby Cities
We provide at-home blood draw services across Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek, Gilbert, and other cities in the valley, ensuring professional specimen handling every step of the way.
Ready to book a mobile blood draw near you? Contact us today.
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