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Lab Tests and Results: What to Expect and What to Do Next

Lab tests help your provider understand your health, check for changes, and guide the next steps in your care.

This guide explains why lab tests are ordered, how to view your results in MyChart, and what to do if you have questions about what your results mean.

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Understanding Tests and Results

Why Labs Are Ordered

Lab tests can help your provider check symptoms, monitor health conditions, and make care decisions.

Viewing Results in MyChart

Many lab results appear in MyChart after they are processed, sometimes before your provider has reviewed them.

Understanding Your Next Steps

Your care team can help explain your results and guide you if follow-up care, medication changes, or referrals are needed.

Understanding the Purpose of Lab Tests

Why Lab Tests Are Ordered

Lab tests help your provider learn more about your health.

Lab tests may help:
  • Check symptoms or new health concerns.
  • Screen for conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, or thyroid concerns.
  • Monitor chronic conditions over time.
  • Make sure certain medications are working safely.
  • Guide treatment changes or follow-up care.
  • Support preventive care and routine health screenings.
Why This Matters: Lab tests help your provider make care decisions based on what is happening inside your body.

Lab results are helpful, but they do not tell the full story by themselves.

Your provider may also consider:
  • Your current symptoms or concerns.
  • Your past lab results.
  • Your medical history.
  • Your medications.
  • Your age and health risks.
  • Whether more testing or follow-up care is needed.
Note: A result outside of the normal range does not always mean something serious. A normal result does not always answer every question.

Why This Matters: Your provider helps connect your lab results to your full health picture.

How to Access Your Lab Results

Viewing Results in MyChart

Lab results may appear in MyChart at different times depending on the type of test.

Timing may depend on:
  • The type of lab test ordered.
  • How long the lab needs to process the sample.
  • Whether the test needs special equipment.
  • Whether provider review is needed before release.
  • When the test was completed.
Note: Many results appear within 1 to 9 days after the test is completed, but some may take longer.

Why This Matters: Knowing that results can take time can help reduce worry while you wait.

Some lab results may appear in MyChart before your provider has reviewed them.

This may happen because:
  • Results are posted automatically when ready.
  • Your provider may review results after they appear in MyChart.
  • Some normal results may not require a phone call.
  • Some results need more time for review.
  • Your care team may contact you later if action is needed.
Note: Seeing a result early does not always mean something is wrong or that immediate action is needed.

Why This Matters: Seeing results early can help you stay informed while your provider reviews what the results mean for your care.

MyChart gives patients secure access to parts of their health information, including many lab results.

To view lab results in MyChart:
  • Log in to your MyChart account.
  • Look for the test results in health record section.
  • Open the result you want to review.
  • Check for any provider notes or follow-up instructions.
  • Contact Peak Vista if you have questions.
Note: Some results may not appear right away or may require provider review before they are released.

Why This Matters: Knowing where to find your results can help you stay connected to your care.

Understanding Your Results and Next Steps

What Your Results Mean For You

Lab results may include numbers, ranges, or medical terms that are hard to understand.

Lab results may show:
  • Whether a number is inside or outside a listed range.
  • Changes compared to past results.
  • Signs that more testing may be needed.
  • Whether a medication or treatment may need adjustment.
  • Information that supports a diagnosis or care plan.
Note: Do not stop medications, change your treatment, or make major care decisions based only on a lab result without talking to your care team.

Why This Matters: Lab results are easier to understand when your provider explains what they mean for your health.

Your provider reviews lab results and decides whether follow-up is needed.

Follow-up may depend on:
  • Whether the result is normal or abnormal.
  • Whether your symptoms have changed.
  • Whether treatment needs to be updated.
  • Whether more testing is needed.
  • Whether a referral is recommended.
  • How urgent the result is.
Note: Some results may require a call, especially if they are normal or do not change your care plan.

Why This Matters: Follow-up helps make sure lab results are connected to the right care plan.

If you do not understand a result, Peak Vista can help explain your next steps.

You can ask questions by:
  • Sending a non-urgent message through MyChart.
  • Calling the Customer Service Center.
  • Speaking with your care coordinator, if applicable.
  • Requesting an appointment to review lab results.
  • Asking your provider at your next visit.
Note: If your symptoms are severe or suddenly worse, seek urgent or emergency care instead of waiting for a message response.

Why This Matters: Asking questions can help you better understand your results and feel more confident about your care plan.

Lab results may lead to different next steps depending on what the test shows.

Next steps may include:
  • No action needed.
  • Monitoring the result over time.
  • Changing or starting a medication.
  • Ordering more lab work or testing.
  • Scheduling a follow-up visit.
  • Referring you to a specialist.
Note: Your care team can walk you through the next step if follow-up care is needed.

Why This Matters: Knowing what may happen after results are reviewed can help you stay prepared and involved in your care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Lab Results

Lab result timing depends on the type of test and how long the lab needs to process it.

Result timing may vary based on:
  • The type of test ordered.
  • The lab processing time.
  • Whether the test is routine or specialized.
  • Whether provider review is needed before release.
  • When the sample was collected.
Note: Many results appear within 1 to 9 days, but some may take longer.

Some results are released to MyChart automatically when they are ready.

This can happen because:
  • MyChart may post results before provider review.
  • Your provider may review results later.
  • Normal results may not require a phone call.
  • Some results need more time to understand.
  • Your care team may contact you if action is needed.
Note: Seeing results before a call does not always meant here is a problem.

If you have questions about your lab results, contact your care team instead of trying to interpret results on your own.

You can get help by:
  • Sending a MyChart message.
  • Calling the Customer Service Center.
  • Contacting your health center.
  • Scheduling a visit to review results.
  • Asking your provider at your next appointment.

Your provider may contact you if your results need follow-up, treatment changes, or more testing.

Your provider may contact you if:
  • A result needs follow-up.
  • A medication change is needed.
  • More testing is recommended.
  • A referral is needed.
  • Your care plan needs to be updated.
Note: Some results may not require a call, especially if they are normal or do not change your care plan.

If you cannot log in to MyChart or cannot find your results, Peak Vista can help connect you to support.

You may need help if:
  • You cannot log in to MyChart.
  • You forgot your username or password.
  • You do not see a result you expected.
  • You need help turning on notifications.
  • You need help understanding where results are located.
Note: Some results may take longer to appear or may not be available right away.