With Prelib, You Can Now Choose Your Laboratory Type Before Your Appointment

With Prelib, you’ve always had the option to have your samples analyzed either by a public health system laboratory or a private laboratory at the time of your clinic visit. Now, you can make that choice directly when booking your appointment through the patient portal. This new feature shows the private laboratory analysis fees for the recommended tests, as well as the estimated turnaround time for results.

The approach is fully flexible : during your appointment, you can choose to mix and match both types of labs based on your preferences.

Public or Private Laboratory: What Does This Choice Mean?

If you choose to get tested with Prelib, your samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. The choice between a public or private laboratory mainly influences:

• Turnaround time for results
• Transportation and analysis fees
• Potential reimbursement through private insurance

Here’s how each option works.

Option 1: Public Laboratory

• Transportation fee: between $5 and $15
• Analysis: covered by the public healthcare system
• Average turnaround time: varies depending on the capacity of the public system, up to 10 business days
• Eligibility: RAMQ only

This is the most affordable option, ideal if you’re comfortable waiting a bit longer for your results.

Option 2: Private laboratory

• Transportation and analysis cost: most comprehensive panels range between $150–$385, with individual tests from $31
• Average turnaround time: results available within 24 to 72 business hours
• Private insurance: fees may be reimbursable, depending on your coverage

This option is ideal if you’d like to receive some or all of your results more quickly, or if you have specific needs. The amount will be charged in-clinic at the time of your appointment.

Please note: You can always request a printed requisition at the clinic and choose to have your tests done at another facility.

Combining Public and Private to Fit Your Needs

You can choose a different laboratory for each test. This flexibility allows you to tailor your screening process to your priorities while keeping costs under control.

For example: Someone is getting tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV, but would like to receive only their HIV result more quickly.

They could choose:

• Public laboratory: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis
• Private laboratory: HIV

How to Change Laboratory Options

If you select the private laboratory when booking your appointment, this choice can always be adjusted on site on the day of your appointment.

1. You changed your mind and would rather use the public lab? If you have a RAMQ card, you can always opt out of the private lab and use the public one instead. Just let the nurse know during your appointment. You'll only be charged for transportation costs ($5 to $15). You can also have your request printed at the clinic and leave to have your tests done at another facility.
2. You want to choose a different laboratory for each test? That's perfectly possible. Just mention your choice to the nurse during your appointment.

If, on the other hand, you selected the public laboratory when booking your appointment, you can switch to the private laboratory during your visit.

Note : Notre point de service à St-Laurent ne peut effectuer d’analyses en laboratoire public.

How to Calculate Private Laboratory Fees

Private laboratory fees depend on the tests you choose to have analyzed by a private lab. Each additional test increases the total cost, as the laboratory must process a separate sample.

Calculate your cost based on the selected tests:

Distinguishing Between Medical Service Fees and Laboratory Fees

To better understand your invoice and choose the option that best suits your needs, it is important to distinguish between two types of fees: medical service fees to and laboratory feesThese two categories cover different aspects of the screening process.

Medical Service Fees

This fee covers the entire clinical process: medical assessment, test prescription, result review, and personalized follow-up if needed.

Two follow-up options are available:

Laboratory Fees

As explained above, laboratory fees vary depending on the type of lab chosen.

• With a public laboratory, sample analysis is covered by RAMQ; only transportation fees ($5–$15) are charged at the appointment.
• With a private laboratory, the cost of transport and analysis ranges from $31 to $395, depending on the number of samples sent (individual tests from $31). These costs are reimbursable by most private insurance companies.

How to Submit a Claim to Your Insurer

With just a few simple steps, you can quickly determine whether your private laboratory fees and medical service fees are eligible for reimbursement.

Read this article to learn how it works →