I understand that certain tests (eg. STD tests) where samples are taken at Lifelabs offices and forwarded to the BC Disease Control branch. Can you advise if the tests are labeled using the patients name and care card number or is there a code issued by Lifelabs to ensure strict confidentiality?

Its common that tests that look for HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis C are sent to the provincial lab at the BC Center for Disease Control for testing.

The tests would use the same information that would have been provided by the testing clinic/doctor. In BC, this is most commonly the person’s name, date of birth and care card number. This means life labs and the provincial lab would use the same client information and the provincial lab would do the same as life labs in that it reports the results back to the person who ordered the original test.

The lab system just like your medical information stored at any clinic/hospital is governed by very strict confidentiality laws. This means your information is kept private.

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Health Nurse

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This answer was posted on February 16, 2017.

This answer was updated on February 7, 2022.

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I understand that certain tests (eg. STD tests) where samples are taken at Lifelabs offices and forwarded to the BC Disease Control branch. Can you advise if the tests are labeled using the patients name and care card number or is there a code issued by Lifelabs to ensure strict confidentiality?