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PATIENT SPACE

Practical Information

How to make an appointment?

Most importantly – make sure you have your prescription. The secretary will then be able to talk you through the steps to follow.

  • - Which documents to bring?
  • - Will a urine sample be necessary?
  • - Must I fast?

Go to the downloads page for more information on providing samples.

Which documents to bring?

Prepare the following documents that the secretary will require to register you and update your patient file:

  • Medical prescription.
  • The Carte Vitale or up to date Social Security certificate.
  • If you have universal medical coverage – the certificate listing practices that are covered.
  • www.resopharma.fr
    www.spsante.fr

Special cases:
You will need to bring the following:

  • your Blood Group card, if requested, so that we can check type and date
  • Proof of identity, with photo if the prescription so states for example if you must present the results to a court of law (renewing driving license etc) and require a urine test for toxins.
  • Informed consent as well as the ultrasound report indicating the serum markers for the Downs Syndrome screening
  • The consultation certificate in case of Genetic Study screening
How much do the examinations cost?

Screening costs are subject to the medical laboratory health insurance legislation.

If you provide your social security information the laboratory will pre-pay the third-party medical expenses.

The expenses that your health insurance covers are pre-paid by the laboratory if your health insurance company is in the list below.

www.resopharma.fr

www.spsante.fr

Should pre-payment not be covered, you will receive invoices to claim reimbursements.

The laboratory pre-pays expenses for prescriptions from patients who have full cover in accordance with the ALD rule (Long Term Illness).

Certain screenings are not covered by the medical laboratory legislation and so are not reimbursed. You will be informed by the secretary or the person doing the screening.

According to article L.322-2 from the social security code, the insured person pays a fixed fee for all medical laboratory procedures. As of 03-08-2007 le decree n°2007-1166 dated 01-08-2007 and officially published the 02-08-2007, the flat rate ceiling is 1 to 4 euros, per beneficiary and per health professional.

As of 03-08-2007 the payment date for a sole beneficiary, when several procedures are carried out by the same health professional on the same day, the fixed contribution that is covered cannot be superior to 4.

For example, if an invoice lists 6 procedures, with 6 separate codes, you must take away 4 fixed contributions of 1 euro maximum per application of flat rate ceiling, always for the same beneficiary, procedures on the same date and the same health professional. It is the same for medical procedures listed by the CCAM.

The number of fixed contributions supported by the beneficiary of procedures during a civil year is limited to 50.

The fixed contributions are taken into account at the reimbursement date for the procedures.

Notes:

Procedures which are normally reimbursed for less than the fixed contribution (1 euro) are excluded. Medical laboratory procedures that have a coefficient inferior to 7 are also excluded.

Only the main procedure supports the fixed contribution. The related costs, added-on, extra or social security rates are also excluded so as to avoid paying several fixed contributions for one procedure.

We would like to clarify that Synlab Opale is in no way responsible for this initiative.

How will my procedure take place?

The sample will be collected by the designated competent health professional: a nurse, technician, biological-physician or biological-chemist.

The procedure will be carried out in respect of health and safety rules for both yourself and our personnel.

The person responsible for taking your sample will ask you for confirmation of your identity (Name, surname, date of birth, maiden name) and identify the sample with bar code labeling.

You may ask to lie down and can ask any questions you may have about the procedure and your prescription.  Our personnel will reply to the best of their knowledge. They do not have the clinical and paraclinical elements of your medical file unlike your doctor who drew up the prescription and who is fully informed on your medical history.

What does Fasting mean?

Fasting is a process that enables the correct taking of samples and ensures the proper interpretation of the results.

A strict fasting period of at least 8 hours is crucial for blood sugar level testing  and at least 12 hours for a lipid check-up (triglyceride doses, cholesterol, apolipoproteins).

For all other tests a period of fasting is recommended.  As long as there is no emergency it is better to take blood on empty stomach which ensures better quality serum and plasmas. This will also give set basic measures for results to be compared against.

You will find information sheets in the download section explaining the process for certain tests and the various methods used for gathering samples.

When will I get my results?

Testing is carried out in accordance with the prescription and with the latest techniques and methods chosen by the laboratory.

If the prescriber requests a specific technique or a special test that is not carried out by the given laboratory, then the sample is passed to a specialist laboratory and you will be informed (5 to 7 day delay).

The majority of samples taken before 10am will give results available the same day after 5pm. The secretary and the health specialist who took the sample will give you the delay time for results.

Interpreting the results: Expert Biologists

The biologists:

-Approve your results by taking into account the set basic measures, the clinical information and the coherence of the dosage parameters.

-Can comment on your results if you so wish however your doctor is the only professional who can interpret the results in relation to the clinic and the eventual therapy

-Inform your doctor of any pathological results or any results that require immediate attention.

-Can consult with your doctor and decide upon complementary tests to be carried out. You will always be informed.

Communicating your results: Patient Confidentiality and Security

In accordance with legislation, only a typed report on laboratory headed paper that has been signed is deemed authentic. Test reports can be:

AVAILABLE AT THE LABORATORY

Handed over personally to a patient or given to a designated third party in a sealed envelope (the patient takes responsibility to name a third person) upon presentation of the patients identity card or the collection ticket.

BY POST

Sent to the patient by the postal service.

BY INTERNET

Available via secure access through our website. You will be given a login when your patient file is created at the laboratory or it will be sent to you if the sample test is taken at home. The password is your date of birth under the format YYYYMMDD. 

Terms and Conditions for releasing results via internet

tl_files/centrebio/interface/img/fleche_bleue.png Have written consent from the patient
tl_files/centrebio/interface/img/fleche_bleue.png Have the patient’s mobile phone number if the sample was taken in their home
tl_files/centrebio/interface/img/fleche_bleue.png The file must be fully paid

BY COURIER

Handed to a laboratory worker (chemist in rural areas), in a sealed envelope, by one of our couriers.

tl_files/centrebio/interface/img/attention.png For security reasons no results will be given by telephone.

In accordance with the law n°78-17 from 06-01-78 CNIL n°311 563, you can at any time exercise your right to access and correct information about yourself by sending a letter to Centre Biologique – 16 rue des 4coins – 62100 Calais.

The analysis results are systematically transferred to the prescriber (except if the patient requests the contrary).

SPECIFIC CASES

Medical laboratory test results for patients who are minors

No result is given directly to minors.
If the minor agrees, the results will be given to the person holding parental authority.
If the contrary is true, the results will be given to the prescribing doctor.

Doctor in the workplace

In the case of tests prescribed by the in-company doctor and carried out in relation to the job to be done by the patient (physical aptitude), the results are transferred directly to the in-company doctor by the laboratory (no copy is given to the patient unless explicitly stated on the prescription). The in-company doctor will inform the employee of his results.

Test Results for insurance purposes

Results are transferred directly to the doctor working for an insurance company that the patient wished to subscribe to or take a loan from. The laboratory will give the results to the insurance company doctor only when and if the patient has received the results and given written consent for the laboratory to send the results.

Genetic Testing

In accordance with the rules, genetic exam reports are given to the patient by the prescribing doctor during an individual consultation.

Tests carried out under judicial requisition

A copy is addressed by the laboratory to the requesting authority. No result is sent to the patient from the laboratory.