Island Health making temporary changes to outpatient lab services to support COVID-19 response

Ensuring people receive COVID-19 test results in a timely manner is a critical component in the effort to slow the transmission of the virus in our communities. Supporting the COVID-19 response has placed unprecedented demand on laboratory services within Island Health and health authorities throughout B.C.

To ensure laboratory staff and resources are best positioned to continue to respond to COVID-19 moving into cold and influenza season, Island Health will temporarily adjust the hours at some outpatient labs and temporarily close others.

The changes take effect November 2, 2020.

Island Health will ensure all communities we serve have an option to access outpatient lab services. Patients with standing orders for lab work will be accommodated at the nearest available Island Health or LifeLabs location.

These changes are only temporary and will remain in effect for an indefinite amount of time, as necessary to respond to COVID-19.

To ensure you are aware of the most recent information around hours and which location is available to you, please check the Medical Laboratory Locations page at islandhealth.ca.