Appointment booking and referrals

Preparing for the examinations

  • How do I prepare for the examinations?
    • Some laboratory examinations require fasting. A small letter f in front of the test abbreviation refers to an examination that requires a 10–14-hour fast. During the fast, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything except water.
    • Some laboratory examinations require sampling at a certain time. Hormone tests are typically of this type.
    • Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks and smoking the day before your appointment and on the morning of the appointment.
    • You can take your medicines normally on the morning of your appointment unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise.
    • Come to the laboratory right before your booked appointment.

     

  • How do I prepare for an electrocardiogram (ECG)?

    In an ECG examination, the electrodes are placed on your skin on your chest and ankles. Please be mindful of this when getting dressed.

    Avoid strenuous physical activity and caffeinated drinks (e.g. coffee, tea, energy drinks) before coming in for the examination.

    When you come to an ECG examination with a child, you can bring, for example, a soft toy. Read more: In the laboratory with children

  • How do I prepare for a Pap smear test?

    Please note the following before coming to the examination:

    • Pap smear tests cannot be performed while you are on your period.
    • You can continue to take any other local treatments (e.g. a vaginal suppository) normally, except on the day before or on the day of sampling.
    •  Any hormone replacement therapy does not need to be interrupted.
    • Normal pregnancy up to week 35 does not prevent sampling. For instructions on sampling during pregnancy and the postpartum period, please contact your child health clinic.

    Mass screening samples: Please attend the sampling within one month of receiving the invitation, but no later than the invitation year. The screening programme does not allow you to defer screening to the following year.

  • Can I drink alcohol before examinations?

    Alcohol can affect the examination results. You should avoid using alcohol the day before and on the morning of the examination day.

  • Do I need to be without eating and drinking?

    Some laboratory tests are taken after fasting. The doctor treating you / the referring healthcare unit will let you know if you must prepare for the examinations by fasting i.e. be without eating and drinking.

    A small letter f in front of the test abbreviation refers to an examination that requires a 10–14-hour fast. During the fast, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything other than water. Please note that fasting for too long may affect the test results.

    You will receive instructions regarding children’s fasting from the heathcare unit that is treating you.

    You can also ask for instructions from our customer advice service: 03 311 74445 (weekdays Mon-Fri 8-16). In the Ostrobothnia region, the customer advice service is available on 06 213 1626 (weekdays Mon-Fri 7-15).

  • Can I take my medicines?

    You can take your medicines on the morning of your examination day as usual unless the examination-specific instructions tell you otherwise. For example, thyroid medication can only be taken after thyroid function tests.

    If you are in doubt, contact the doctor treating you/the referring unit.

  • Can I drink coffee or an energy drink?

    Caffeinated drinks can affect the test results. Avoid drinking them on the day of the examination, before the examination.

     

  • Can I smoke or use nicotine products?

    Smoking and nicotine can affect the test results. Avoid smoking and using nicotine products on the day of the examination, before the examination.

Children’s sampling

  • My child is nervous about the sampling situation, what do I do?

    Going to a laboratory can be a suspenseful experience. It is beneficial to tell the child about the examinations beforehand since being prepared reduces the fear and suspense related to a laboratory visit.

    It is possible to numb the injection site before sampling. The numbing creams that pharmacies sell without a prescription are suitable for this purpose.

    Read more: In the laboratory with children

  • What kind of an appointment do I book for my child?

    For a child you need to book a longer appointment from section ”Blood tests and/or urine tests and/or electrocardiogram (ECG)” or two consecutive appointments from section “Blood tests”.

  • Can the samples be taken from your finger prick?

    With certain examinations, it is possible to collect the sample from your finger prick.

  • Where do you do heel (stick) sampling?

    We take newborn heel samples in some of our service locations. To find out where we do screening for newborn metabolic disorders and bilirubin tests, please see the list of our service locations (filter service locations by service). 

    You can get more specific information by calling our customer advice service: 03 3117 4445 (weekdays 8-16). Customer advice service in Ostrobothnia: 06 213 1626 (weekdays 7-15).

  • Where do you do newborn screening tests?

    To find out where we do screening for newborn metabolic disorders and bilirubin tests, please see the list of our service locations (filter service locations by service).

    You can get more specific information by calling our customer advice service: 03 3117 4445 (weekdays 8-16). Customer advice service in Ostrobothnia: 06 213 1626 (weekdays 7-15).

Samples taken at home and distance testing

  • How do I store a stool sample?

    You receive instructions when you pick up the sample containers. If you have any questions, you can contact our customer advice service: 03 3117 4445 (weekdays 8-16). Customer advice service in Ostrobothnia: 06 213 1626 (weekdays 7-15).

  • How do I store different kinds of urine samples?

    You receive instructions when you pick up the sample containers. If you have any questions, you can contact our customer advice service: 03 3117 4445 (weekdays 8-16). Customer advice service in Ostrobothnia: 06 213 1626 (weekdays 7-15).

  • Can I order someone to collect my samples at home?

    At the moment, home sampling for consumer customers is not included in our service selection.

  • How do I collect a diurnal urine sample?

    Follow the written instructions you receive. You can also view the instructions for collecting a diurnal urine sample by clicking on the link below or contact our customer advice service: 03 3117 4445 (weekdays 8-16). Customer advice service in Ostrobothnia: 06 213 1626 (weekdays 7-15).

    Read instructions: diurnal urine sampling

  • How do I know if I have the right sample container?

    You can check this by calling our customer advice service: 03 3117 4445 (weekdays 8-16). Customer advice service in Ostrobothnia: 06 213 1626 (weekdays 7-15).

  • I washed the urine container; can I collect a new sample in it?

    The sample containers are disposable. If you need a new container, you can get one from the laboratory.

  • Can I collect a sample in my own sample container?

    Samples need to be collected in containers obtained from the laboratory or the unit that is treating you. This way we can ensure that the sample is fit for analysis.

  • How do I return a urine sample that was collected at home?

    You can return a urine sample to the closest service location without booking an appointment.

    • Take a queue ticket from the ”Samples taken at home and/or customer counselling” button.

    If you are coming to Fimlab for sampling, you can return samples taken at home to the nurse who is collecting your sample. In this case, you will not need a separate queue ticket to return your samples.

  • How do I return a stool sample that was collected at home?

    You can return a stool sample to the closest service location without booking an appointment.

    • Take a queue ticket from the ”Samples taken at home and/or customer counselling” button.

    If you are coming to Fimlab for sampling, you can return samples taken at home to the nurse who is collecting your sample. In this case, you will not need a separate queue ticket to return samples. Please note that stool samples taken at home cannot be returned to our Nopsa points.

  • How do I return a sputum sample that was collected at home?

    You can return a sputum sample to the closest service location without booking an appointment.

    • Take a queue ticket from the ”Samples taken at home and/or customer counselling” button.

    If you are coming to Fimlab for sampling, you can return samples taken at home to the nurse who is collecting your sample. In this case, you will not need a separate queue ticket to return samples. Please note that sputum samples taken at home cannot be returned to our Nopsa points.

  • Where can I get a sample container?

    You can collect a sample container and instructions for sampling from Fimlab’s service locations.

    • Take a queue ticket from the ”Samples taken at home and/or customer counselling” button.
    • For some examinations you may receive the sampling material from the unit that is treating you.
  • Where do I get a remote testing package for STDs?

    Order a free remote testing package for your home. The sample is collected at home and then mailed to the laboratory. You will receive the results via SMS on your mobile phone or to the Fimlab mobile app.

    Read more and order a package: Remote testing

  • Who is remote testing for STDs for?

    You can order a remote testing package for chlamydia or gonorrhoea if you live in Tampere or Orivesi or study in Tampere or Orivesi in upper secondary school, vocational school, adult education centre or university of applied sciences. More information: Remote testing

    If you live in Jyväskylä, Hankasalmi or Uurainen, read more about the remote testing service for sexually transmitted diseases from here: Home testing

  • How do I get the result of the remote test for STDs?

    We will send you the test result as an anonymous SMS or you can receive it in the Fimlab mobile app if you have downloaded the app on your phone.

    Read more about remote STD testing and interpretation of results here:

  • It is below freezing outside; can I return the remote testing package for STDs into a mailbox?

    You can return the package by leaving it at the post office or directly in a mailbox, even when it is below freezing outside.

Screenings

In the laboratory

  • How long is the average waiting time?

    Waiting times vary. To ensure a smooth service, we recommend booking your appointment well in advance.

  • I have an emergency referral, what do I do?

    Customers with an emergency referral will be served with a queue ticket.

    • When you arrive for your sampling, please take a queue ticket from the ”Sampling for emergency customers” button or the “Sampling” button on the registration machine.
  • How does Nopsa work?

    Nopsa i.e. our express blood sampling works without a queue ticket and without appointment booking. Nopsa serves adults and young people who come for blood sampling. You can walk directly into a free booth (green light on = available booth). You must have a valid electronic referral from a doctor in public healthcare and an ID.

    Read more: Nopsa

  • Can I go to a laboratory on a Saturday?

    Only some of our service locations are open on Saturdays.

    Check opening hours here

  • I have booked an appointment, do I still take a queue ticket?

    Yes. You register for all sampling services, both for booked appointments and queue ticket services, at Fimlab’s self-registration kiosks. The registration kiosk will print out a ticket with your service number on it. You will be called in with that number from the waiting room.

  • How does the self-registration kiosk work?

    You register for all sampling services, both for booked appointments and queue ticket services, at the self-registration kiosks.

    The self-registration kiosk will advise you on how to proceed. Show the barcode or QR code of your KELA card, driver’s licence or another ID card to the machine’s reader. You can also enter your personal identity code or the booking key you received when you made your appointment on the touch screen.

    A ticket with your service number will be printed for you upon registration. You will be called in with that number from the waiting room.

     

Examination results

  • How do I get the results?

    When the results are ready, they are transferred electronically to the healthcare unit that sent the laboratory referral. Follow the instructions given to you by your doctor or nurse. Fimlab’s customer advice service does not disclose test results.

    For patients of private doctors and OmaLabra customers, the test results are mailed to the customer’s home address.

    Some of the results are also available on MyKanta.

    You can also receive the results of the most common laboratory examinations on your mobile telephone or another mobile device by downloading the Fimlab mobile app. The service is currently available in Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and Central Finland.

    Read more: Fimlab-mobiilisovellus

  • Why are my results not showing on MyKanta?

    Not all examination results are yet visible on MyKanta. You can request the missing test results from the referring healthcare unit.

  • Who will interpret my results?

    The doctor who is treating you is always responsible for interpreting examination results.

  • Why did I not get my results on the Fimlab mobile app?

    The Fimlab mobile app allows you to receive the results of the most common laboratory examinations on your mobile phone or other mobile device. The service is currently available in Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and Central Finland.

    Read more: Fimlab-mobiilisovellus

  • Where do I see the reference values?

    You can see the reference values for the most common examinations in the Most common examinations section. Please note, however, that the doctor treating you is always primarily responsible for interpreting the results.

    The most common examinations

  • Can I receive the results in my email?

    Unfortunately, this is not possible. However, you can receive your test results electronically via the Fimlab mobile app. Some of the results are also available on MyKanta.

    The Fimlab mobile app allows you to receive the results of the most common laboratory examinations on your mobile phone or other mobile device. The service is currently available in Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and Central Finland.

    Read more: Fimlab-mobiilisovellus

  • Can I get the results from Fimlab’s customer advice service?

    Our customer advice service does not disclose examination results. You should inquire about the examination results from the healthcare unit that is treating you, where the results will electronically be sent to, as soon as they are ready. For patients of private doctors and OmaLabra customers, the test results are mailed to the customer’s home address.

    Some of the results are also available on MyKanta.

    You can also receive the results of the most common laboratory examinations on your mobile telephone or another mobile device by downloading the Fimlab mobile app. The service is currently available in Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and Central Finland.

    Read more: Fimlab-mobiilisovellus

     

  • How long does it take to get the results?

    How long it takes to get the results depends on the examination. If needed, our customer advice service will give you more detailed examination-specific information.

    Customer advice service: 03 3117 4445 (weekdays 8-16). Customer advice service in Ostrobothnia: 06 213 1626 (weekdays 7-15).