With Prelib, you’ve always had the option to have your samples analyzed either by a public or a private laboratory at the time of your appointment. 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 your results.
The approach is fully modular : at the time of 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?
En choissisant d’effectuer un test avec Prelib, tes échantillons sont envoyés à un laboratoire pour analyse. Le choix entre un laboratoire public ou privé influence principalement :
- 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.
- Laboratory 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 waiting a bit longer for your results is not an issue.
Option 2: Private laboratory
- Transportation, medical service and analysis fees : $225 on average, based on test selection.
- Average turnaround time : results shared the next day
- 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 quickly, or if you have specific needs. The amount will be charged 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:
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.
- You changed your mind and would rather use the public lab? Si tu détiens une carte RAMQ, tu peux toujours opter pour un laboratoire public. Il suffit d’en informer l’infirmier·ère lors de ton rendez-vous. Seuls les frais de transport (5 $ à 15 $) seront alors facturés. Il est aussi possible de faire imprimer ta requête en clinique et de quitter pour effectuer tes tests dans un autre établissement.
- 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 fee to and laboratory fees. These two categories cover different aspects of the screening process.
Medical Services Fee
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:
Regular Service — No Fees
- With RAMQ only
- Results in about 10 days on average
- Results communicated by phone
Express Service — $55
- With or without RAMQ
- Results in about 5 days on average
- Results by email (except for positive results or those requiring further explanation)
Laboratory Fees
As explained above, laboratory fees vary depending on the laboratory selection.
- 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 ranges from $150 to $395, depending on the number of samples sent (individual tests from $31). The most common panel of tests is $180. 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.
