Laboratory services

Our combined staff of more than 1,000 laboratory professionals and more than 35 board-certified pathologists offer routine and specialized services 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week to Allina Health patients and communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

We are certified or accredited by:

• American Association of Blood Banks
• Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA)
• College of American Pathologists (CAP)
• Joint Commission
• COLA

Allina Health Laboratory has seven Twin Cities locations for collection or drop off of samples (specimen).

A written order from your Minnesota licensed provider will be necessary to perform your lab work. We are unable to accept orders from providers located outside of Minnesota.

Please be prepared with an order for the Allina Health Laboratory from your provider/clinic and a copy of your insurance card.

Copies of the results of your laboratory work will be sent to your provider.

Use your secure Allina Health account to view test results within hours, most are released same day.

Collection instructions

It's important to follow these instructions so your sample or specimen is collected the right way. This will help your test results be correct.

Follow the instructions (such as fasting) from your health care provider for test preparation or for collection at home or refer to the Related Links section below and click on your specific lab test for more information.

Samples may be collected by Allina Health Laboratory staff, or delivered to the any one of our lab locations.

Instructions are available in these languages: English, Hmong, Russian, Somali and Spanish.

• Urine culture: How to collect a sample
  English, Arabic, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish
   
• 24 hour urine samples: How to collect a sample
  24-hour urine collection instructions: English
  24-hour urine collection instructions: Arabic
   
• Fecal occult blood test: How to take a stool sample
  English, Arabic, Hmong, Somali, Russian
   
• Sputum: How to collect a sample for your lab test
  English, Arabic, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish
   
• Stool: How to collect a sample for your lab test
  English, Arabic, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish
   
• Pinworm: How to collect a pinworm sample
  English, Arabic, Hmong, Russian, Somai, Spanish
   
• Saliva: How to collect a saliva sample for a cortisol test
  English, Arabic, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish

Fasting for a blood specimen collection

An overnight fast is required for a number of laboratory tests. If your provider has instructed you to fast prior to the collection of your blood specimen, please follow these instructions to ensure optimal results.

• Do not eat or drink anything except normal amounts of plain water for 8-10 hours before the blood draw (8 hours for glucose testing). 
• You may drink normal amounts of water, but no coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, or juice. In addition, you should avoid alcoholic beverages for 48 hours if lipid testing is ordered.
• Do not smoke, chew gum, or exercise the morning of the test.
• Take your medications, unless your provider has instructed you otherwise.

Fasting for a blood test - Patient card

Fine needle aspiration

Fine needle aspiration questions and answers

Bone marrow biopsy with aspiration

Cesarean birth patients

Abbott Northwestern Hospital Cesarean Birth patient instructions