Laboratory

The Lab at CRHC is a full service Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratory. Our laboratory testing menu has been specifically designed to meet most routine and emergency patient needs. 


The CRHC Lab provides a wide range of services including:


â–º     Hematology
â–º     Immunohematology (Blood Banking)
â–º     Coagulation
â–º     Urinalysis
â–º     Limited Microbiology
â–º     Chemistry
â–º     Limited Special Chemistry
â–º     Limited Toxicology
â–º     Limited Endocrinology
â–º     Limited Immunology


CRHC utilizes several high quality reference laboratories in order to expand our testing capabilities. These include:


â–º      University of Nebraska Medical Center
â–º      State of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory

â–º      LifeServe Blood Center in Des Moines, IA



Blood Center

LifeServe Blood Center is in Clarinda every few months for blood donation events. Employees and community members can sign up to be a donor at these events. Please check out CRHC's Facebook events for dates, times and more information on how to sign up and blood donation details.


Department of Transportation (DOT) / Workplace Safety

CRHC's laboratory has staff that are qualified for Workplace Safety Collections (Department of Transportation required drug and alcohol testing). All workplace safety testing must be scheduled in advance, Monday-Thursday between 8:00am-4:30pm, and Fridays will be scheduled on a case by case basis. Observed Holidays excluded. To schedule DOT Lab work please call 712-542-8384. If you are in need of a DOT Physical as well, please call 712-542-8330 to schedule your physical first.


Please follow this guidance if you are a patient or you are assisting a patient with a specimen drop off:

1. When the patient brings the sample directly to the lab the sample must be verified by the lab staff member when the sample is delivered


2. If the patient is unable to come back to central check-in to deliver the sample to lab staff, please ensure the patient has a CRHC team member call the lab (ext. 8212) and ask that someone come to receive the sample from the patient delivering.


3. Once the sample is received the lab staff member will log in the information into the log and ensure all information is correct and the sample is viable.


4. If a drop-off occurs after the lab's normal business hours, samples may be dropped off at the front desk of the hospital, if available, or with the Unit Coordinator at the ER entrance. Please ensure a CRHC team member contacts the lab (ext. 8212) and asks that someone come to receive the sample from the patient delivering. If lab staff are unable to come to receive the sample at that time, the CRHC staff member receiving the sample will deliver the sample to the lab directly.

Please follow this guidance if you are an outside facility providing a specimen for drop off or if you are assisting an outside facility with a drop off:

1. All samples are to be brought directly to the lab by the person(s) delivering the sample.


2. Please handwrite on a label and stick it to the specimen container with the patient's name and date of birth.


3. The sample must be checked in on the Lab Specimen Intake Form by the person(s) delivering the sample. This takes place in our Central Check-in area. 


4. If a courier is used for delivery, a copy of the intake form with information completed by clinic staff from the outside facility needs to be included with the sample at delivery. Download that log sheet below.


5. The sample being delivered and all information written on the Specimen Intake Form by the person(s) delivering the sample then must be verified by lab staff.


6. After the lab's normal business hours, samples may be dropped off at the front desk of the hospital, if available, or with the Unit Coordinator at the ER entrance. The CRHC team member should call the lab (ext. 8212) and ask that someone come to receive the sample from the patient delivering. If lab staff are unable to come to receive the sample at that time, the CRHC staff member receiving the sample will deliver the sample to the lab directly.

Download the Specimen Log Sheet


CRHC Laboratory Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday 6:00am – 6:00 pm

Saturday: 6:00 to 4:30 pm

Closed to the public Sunday and Observed Holidays


If you have questions about lab work to be drawn or need to make an appointment, call the lab at (712) 542-8212. Please refer questions about test results to your family physician or healthcare provider.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I need an order for lab tests?

    Orders from your physician are required.  

  • What do I need to do before my blood draw?

    Some tests like Lipids require a fasting specimen to get most accurate results, other tests may not.   Please contact the laboratory to clarify your need to fast.  Fasting for lab tests is generally 10-12 hours, nothing by mouth except water.  If you are having an imaging study on the same morning as your fasting blood test, verify with the imaging department if water is permitted. 


    Some tests measure the level of therapeutic drugs in your bloodstream.  As a general rule, therapeutic drug levels are drawn just prior to the dose of medication being monitored.  If you are not certain, please contact the laboratory for instructions.


  • How soon after my blood test will my doctor have my results?

    Most testing is done on the same day as your specimen is collected, however some tests require a few extra days.  Specimens sent to a reference lab for testing may take several days to a week.  Laboratory results will be available in your Patient Portal in most cases. Some documents may not be available on line.  

  • May I have a copy of my results?

    Please contact our Medical Records department for a copy of your lab results.

  • What do my results mean?

    The best interpretation of your lab results will come directly from your physician.  But if you would like more detailed information about lab tests  visit www.labtestsonline.org. 

  • My doctor is from out-of-town/state. Can I have testing done at CRHC Lab?

    Certainly!  We will fax your results to your ordering physician.  All we need is a laboratory order from your physician.  This can be brought to the laboratory by you, or your doctor's office may fax the order to our secure fax: 712-542-8395.

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