Melanie MoralesDo you need to get a medical screening and have some lab work done? Whether you’re getting it for personal reasons or as a mandate of your workplace, this list of the best diagnostic laboratories in Edmonton has you covered.
After extensive research, we found the laboratories in this article. We chose the top ones based on the labs’ quality of service, the range of testing offered, and their overall efficiency.
Before we take a look at the best diagnostic laboratories in Edmonton, let’s discuss how much laboratory services cost first, though.
How Much Do Diagnostic Laboratories Cost in Edmonton?
According to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, all “medically required diagnostic services including laboratory, radiological and other diagnostic procedures” are fully covered.
Take note, that any diagnostic tests need to be ordered by your physician first, though. It’s also possible to get some lab tests without insurance, but this would require payment upfront and can be expensive.
The average cost of getting a blood test in Canada at a lab without insurance can range from $100 – $3,000. This estimate includes miscellaneous fees and the final cost will depend on how comprehensive the test is.
However, for those with insurance, a complete blood count only costs around $7 to perform. According to Alberta Health Services’ report, this is the “reference median cost” of the actual tests and excludes certain factors such as labor and cost of transport.
We’ve outlined some common laboratory tests and their reference median costs below to give you an idea of what you may have to spend.
| Complete Blood Count | $7.00 |
| Blood scan with Morphology 10 | $10.00 |
| Chlamydia/GC Test 20 | $20.00 |
| HIV Serology (Mixed Ag/Ab Detection) | $50.00 |
| Surgical Pathology Report 300 | $300.00 |
| Drugs of Abuse Screen – Urine (RRL) | $55.00 |
| Drugs of Abuse Screen – Urine (Routine) | $30.00 |
| Comprehensive Drug Screen – Urine | $170.00 |
The Best Diagnostic Laboratories in Edmonton
Now that you know what to expect when getting some lab work done, we can take a look at our picks for the best diagnostic laboratories in Edmonton.
1. Alberta Precision Labs
| SERVICES | Blood Collections, CSF, Body Fluids, Urines, ECG, EKG, Mobile Collection Services, Time Sensitive Bookings |
| WEBSITE | https://www.albertaprecisionlabs.ca/ |
| ADDRESS | Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (ProvLab) 8440 112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J2, Canada |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Phone: 1-877-868-6848 Email: [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Open 24 hours a day |
Alberta Precision Laboratories is under the supervision and ownership of Alberta Health Services (AHS). They provide diagnostic lab services for the provincial healthcare system.
Since the laboratory services of the Albertan healthcare system now fall under their responsibility, Edmonton residents can receive a faster turnaround of results. This company’s vast range of resources and state-of-the-art equipment can provide efficient testing and interpretation of results too.
Alberta Precision Laboratories is also easy to access for both patients and healthcare professionals since they’re set up in multiple clinics around Edmonton.
They even perform laboratory testing for 28 clinics and medical centers in the city, such as Kaye Edmonton Clinic, Hys Medical Centre, and Royal Alexandria Hospital.
To book an appointment and have your test administered, you’ll need to physically go to one of Alberta Precision Lab’s laboratories. However, if your physician is located in their sister clinic or partner health center, you’ll most likely be directed toward one of their diagnostic labs.
If for some reason you’re unable to physically go to the testing site because you’re disabled, housebound, or have mobility issues, Alberta Precision Labs provides mobile collection services. Your eligibility for this service will need to be determined first by your physician though.
Another thing to take note of is that Alberta Precision Laboratories strongly advises patients to refrain from taking Biotin before any diagnostic test. This is a water-soluble vitamin that is present in many common multivitamins and can interfere with your final results.
They also accept tests that are urgent and time-sensitive, guaranteeing turnaround within 7-21 days. This is a welcome addition for healthcare professionals who need quick results to help their patients get the needed treatment.
Having your tests performed by Alberta Precision Laboratories is more convenient if you have Alberta Health Insurance. The processing of your insurance information and payments will be more seamless, so you can concentrate on healing.
Pros
- Owned by Alberta Health Insurance
- Multiple locations around Edmonton
- Accepts time-sensitive diagnostics
- Open 24 hours
Cons
- Need to have Alberta Health Insurance to go here
- Mobile collection service needs approval
2. DynaLIFE Medical Labs
| SERVICES | Diagnostic Lab Services, Referral Testing, Consulting & Management Services, Scholarship Programs, Clinical Trials, Electrocardiogram Interpretation Services, Naturopath Services, Home Collections, Occupational Testing, Uninsured Laboratory Testing, Specimen Information, Anatomical Pathology, Microbiology, Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Cytology,Hematopathology, |
| WEBSITE | https://www.dynalife.ca/ |
| ADDRESS | #200, 10150 – 102 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 5E2 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Telephone: (780) 451-3702 Toll free: 1-800-661-9876 Fax: (780) 452-8488 |
DynaLIFE Medical Labs has been providing diagnostic laboratory services for over 60 years. With over 1300 employees and 30 locations, they conduct more than 19 million laboratory tests annually.
You can find DynaLIFE diagnostic labs merged with hospital laboratories, community patient care centers, and central testing laboratories across Canada. They have a comprehensive range of services.
In Edmonton, you can find a DynaLIFE diagnostic lab in the downtown area and clinics such as Meadowlark Health Centre and College Plaza, just to name a few. They also conduct referral testing and offer consulting and management services to other health care organizations.
They can even perform tests that aren’t covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, such as Fertility Assessments. However, patients are required to pay before the collection of samples, even if the test was instructed by a physician or healthcare professional.
Companies requesting uninsured testing services, such as employment or insurance-related tests, are responsible for transporting specimens to DynaLIFE. However, an accredited courier is required and the samples must be delivered overnight to preserve their integrity.
Moreover, if the test is being conducted due to a company mandate, the patient need not pay if the company has an account with DynaLIFE.
This diagnostic lab also offers services beyond testing – if you want to help advance their research, you can participate in one of their ongoing clinical trials as well. Only select partner locations offer this service though, and you must book in advance by calling their main office.
Additionally, they offer aspiring medical lab technicians a chance to be awarded a bursary or a scholarship to NAIT Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) or the Medical Laboratory Assisting Program (MLA). DynaLIFE will cover the entire tuition cost of the 22-week program for the awarded applicants.
Pros
- Can perform tests no covered by health insurance
- Conducts clinical trials for research
- Offers two bursaries to aspiring medical lab techs
Cons
- Doesn’t provide courier services for samples
- Companies must have a DynaLIFE account for employee testing
3. Canada Research Laboratories
| SERVICES | Drug Testing, Alcohol Testing, Audio Testing, Mask Fitting, Medical/Nurse Assessment, Vision Testing, Spirometry Testing, Lab-Based Drug Test |
| WEBSITE | https://www.canadalabs.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 10067 166 Street Northwest, Edmonton, AB, T5P 4Y1 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Phone: (780) 487-8355 Toll Free: 1-877-880-0737 Fax: (780) 790-1328 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Open 24 hours a day |
Canada Research Laboratories was first established in 2006 in Fort McMurray and expanded to Edmonton in 2013. It’s a Canadian-owned and operated facility that focuses on occupational health services.
They collaborate with multiple facilities across Canada to perform any laboratory testing. Some of the companies they work with are We Care, ECS, and East Coast Mobile Medicals.
Canada Research Laboratories primarily conducts drug and alcohol screening for employers to ensure a risk-free workplace. As an accredited company, they comply with the strict regulations of the government and any screening rules.
Take note that testing is only performed between 6:00 am and 10:00 am though, but they can screen for up to 12 different types of prohibited drugs. For their other services, Canada Research Laboratory is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
What makes them stand out is that they also do fit testing for respiratory masks to ensure that workers minimize exposure to toxic materials in their job sites. There aren’t many laboratory services that offer this, and Canada Research Laboratory can perform additional pulmonary lung function testing as well.
For those that require a complete medical assessment of their staff, Canada Research Laboratories has on-site nurses to perform the examination. The examinees’ physical capacity and fitness are evaluated to see if they can perform the jobs tasked to them.
Moreover, they also perform vision testing, which is necessary for employees like drivers and which can be scheduled annually by employers.
While Canada Research Laboratories also offers audiometric testing, this is only done in their Fort McMurray location and is not available in Edmonton.
Aside from laboratory testing, courses and seminars on first aid and CPR are also conducted at the facility. Canada Research Laboratories can train supervisors how to recognize safety risks in the workplace that may require requesting drug and alcohol testing of employees.
Pros
- Open 24/7
- Affordable rates
- Offers seminars and courses first aid and CPR
Cons
- For employers only; no personal testing
- Limited time frame for drug and alcohol screening
4. Dynacare Laboratories
| SERVICES | Dynacare Plus (Patients and Individuals), Healthcare Providers & Hospitals, Dynacare Workplace (Corporate Clients), Dynacare Insurance Solutions, Dynacare Next (Specialized Testing) |
| WEBSITE | https://www.dynacare.ca/ |
| ADDRESS | 6628 50th St. NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2N7 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Toll-Free: 1- 800-565-5721 Fax: (780) 784-1199 |
Not to be confused with DynaLIFE, Dynacare provides essential medical testing to help provide solutions for patients and physicians to manage health care. First established in 1959, they now have multiple locations across Canada and the United States.
In 2015, Dynacare received certification of its Edmonton laboratory as the first Instrumented Initial Test Facility (IITF) for workplace drug screening in the continent. This means they are fully compliant and authorized to perform government-standard testing.
Dynacare Laboratories is the core brand of their service, which conducts diagnostic laboratory testing. However, their expanded services consist of five main brands that cover various stages of health care solutions.
They provide online solutions like Dynacare Plus, a portal that provides patients a means to manage their health information, including receiving their test results.
Similarly, they also offer Dynacare – Net Check, which allows you to get in line before you get to a location for laboratory & health services via their free app or straight on their site.
Unfortunately, Dynacare Plus and Dynacare – Net Check are not available in Alberta, which is quite disappointing.
On the other hand, Dynacare Workplace is available in Edmonton, which is for employers that want to sign up for programs that conduct occupational health testing. This ensures that each member of the company is both physically and mentally fit for their tasks.
They can perform Pharmacogenetic Testing, which can help employees find the proper treatments for any health (both mental and physical) conditions faster. This, in turn, can help employers by reducing health benefit costs and absenteeism.
However, Dynacare is best known for drug and alcohol testing programs that help companies reduce any potential risks. They have the only Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) certified laboratories that can be defended legally in court.
Both lab-based and oral fluid testing are available here, and signing up for Dynacare Workplace can create a customized schedule for your company’s needs.
Aside from the usual diagnostic testing, Dynacare can also perform advanced genetic testing. Other services they offer are insurance solutions, risk assessment services, and conference call consultations.
Pros
- Offers genetic testing
- Works with insurance companies to provide assessments
- Dynacare Workplace provides complete solutions for employers
Cons
- Dynacare – Net Check not offered in Edmonton
- Can easily be mistaken for DynaLIFE
5. Optimum Wellness Integrated Clinic
| SERVICES | Micronutrient Panel, Female Hormone testing, Male Hormone Testing, Food Intolerance IgG and IgE testing, Environmental Allergy testing, Environmental Chemicals, Solvents, Plastics & PCB testing, Mold (Mycotoxin) Testing, Toxic Metal & Essential Urine testing, Toxic Metal & Essential Hair testing, Bowel Leaky Gut (Intestinal Permendility) Testing, Stool Analysis and Parasite Testing, Cardio LPP Panel, Lyme’s Disease Panels (various), Neurotransmitter testing, Thyroid Comprehensive Testing |
| WEBSITE | https://optimumwellnessclinic.ca/ |
| ADDRESS | 9080 25 Ave SW #201 Edmonton, AB T6X2H4 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Phone: (780) 439-1200 Fax: (780) 434-6800 Email: [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm |
If you’re interested in alternative treatment, naturopathic medicine combines science with natural forms of healing. That’s what you get at Optimum Wellness Integrated Clinic, where they can not only test for but also diagnose, treat and prevent diseases using naturopathy.
It’s important to note that naturopathic doctors (NDs) aren’t officially recognized as medical doctors and treatment from them isn’t covered by insurance. However, they attend a naturopathic medical college that covers traditional medicine, and they also need to take a professional board exam to become licensed.
Most of the patients who seek their services are those who have various health issues, unclear diagnosis, chronic illnesses, and those who want to improve their health.
Anyway, one of the most common tests performed at Optimum Wellness Integrated Clinic is for allergies for both food intolerance and allergies from natural sources. However, they can also test for high levels of chemicals resulting from contaminated water or polluted air.
For health and wellness, you can get a micronutrient panel, the latter of which measures the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in your white blood cells. Other things they can test for are Lyme disease and parasites in your stool, among others.
Take note that Optimum Wellness Integrated Clinic may forward some general lab testing to a third-party laboratory if they aren’t equipped to do so. While this could potentially increase your costs, you’ll be able to receive naturopathic treatment for your diagnosis.
Some of the therapies they offer are botanical medicine, naturopathic manipulation, and even traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. You can even avail of lifestyle counseling to help you understand your body better and help it heal itself.
Pros
- Provides a range of natural, holistic treatments
- Conducts wide range of tests for allergies
- Treats patients by working with and consulting medical doctors
Cons
- Not covered by Alberta Health Insurance
- Not officially recognized as medical doctors
FAQs about Diagnostic Laboratories
This concludes our list of the best diagnostic laboratories in Edmonton. We hope you were able to find a lab from this list that fulfills your needs.
Do you have any suggestions or recommendations of other laboratories? Let us know so we can check it out.
Now, if you just need to have a blood test, you can check out this list of the best places to get a blood test in Edmonton.
