Helpful Information
+356 23291603/4/5
Sliema / Żejtun / Burmarrad
Saint James Hospital
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Frequently Asked Questions
Most basic tests are available on a walk-in basis.
Appointments are recommended for specific tests such as the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, Lactose Tolerance Test and Male Fertility Tests.
For tests that require fasting, morning appointments help minimise waiting times.
Please check with the laboratory in advance.
MLS LABORATORY OPENING TIMES
MLS St James Hospital Sliema - Schedule for tests without appointment
Monday to Friday 09.30 till 18.00hrs; Saturday – 09.00 till noon.
Sunday and Public Holidays – Closed
MLS St James Hospital Zejtun - Schedule for tests without appointment
Monday to Friday 09.00 till 13.00, 15.00 till 17.30, Saturday (excluding Public Holidays) – 09.00 till noon.
Sunday and Public Holidays – Closed
MLS St James Burmarrad Clinic
Phlebotomy Service is available on the following days:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday (except on Public Holidays) – 08.00 till noon
Some tests require fasting, while others do not.
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Fasting required: Blood glucose (fasting), lipid profile (cholesterol), Folate, Vitamin B12, Homocysteine (these are the main tests)
Fasting usually means no food or drinks except water for 8-12 hours. Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or the lab.
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Yes. Drinking plain water is generally encouraged, even when fasting, as it helps with blood collection. Avoid tea, coffee, juice, milk, or sweetened drinks unless instructed otherwise.
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Do not stop medications unless advised by your doctor
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Some tests may require you to delay certain medications
If unsure, please seek guidance from your doctor.
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A mid-stream urine sample is a clean-catch urine specimen used for testing such as urinalysis, microscopy, and urine culture. It helps reduce contamination from skin or genital bacteria.
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Wash your hands before collecting the sample
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Start urinating into the toilet first
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Collect the rest of the urine mid-stream into a sterile container
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Close the container securely and deliver it to the laboratory as soon as possible
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A first morning urine sample is a concentrated sample collected immediately after waking up. For this test, the entire first urine passed in the morning should be collected in a sterile container. It is commonly used for sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening.
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Please come to the laboratory to collect the empty 24-hour urine container
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On the first morning, empty your bladder and discard this urine
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Record/write the start time, your name, surname and ID. Card on the container
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Collect all urine passed over the next 24 hours in the provided container. Drink water throughout the day. You can eat normally unless there are foods your doctor tells you to avoid.
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Store the container in a cool place or refrigerator in between collections
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Collect your final urine sample as close as possible to 24 hours after the start time. For example, if your collection began at 8.00am. on Monday, your final sample should be collected at approximately 8.00am. on Tuesday. It is important not to miss any samples during the 24-hour period.
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A 24-hour urine collection measures specific analytes excreted in the urine over a full day.
Most urine samples should be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours. If this is not possible, store the sample in a refrigerator unless otherwise instructed.
Please bring:
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Your doctor’s test request or prescription (if available)
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A valid photo ID
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Any prior test reports, if requested
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Sample collection usually takes 5–15 minutes, depending on the type and number of tests. Some specialised tests may take longer.
Results are typically available:
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Same day (within a few hours) for urgent tests like hormones or cardiac markers
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1-2 working days for routine tests (sometimes same day)
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5-11 working days for specialised tests
Turnaround time for specialised tests that are sent to our referral laboratories overseas varies, depending on the lab testing requirements.
Results may be provided via:
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Online patient portal
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Printed report collected in person or sent by post
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Yes. All laboratory results are handled with strict confidentiality and shared only with the patient and authorised healthcare providers, in compliance with privacy regulations.
Inform the phlebotomist immediately. Laboratory staff are trained to manage such situations safely. You may be asked to lie down and rest before continuing.
Yes. Laboratories are equipped to handle patients of all ages. Please inform staff if special assistance is needed.
Yes, we offer home or workplace sample collection by appointment. Availability, fees, and service areas may vary.
Most laboratories accept:
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Cash
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Credit/debit cards
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Digital payment options
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Insurance billing (where applicable)
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In rare cases, a sample may be unsuitable due to clotting, insufficient volume, or technical issues. The lab will contact you promptly if recollection is required.
The laboratory report/s contain reference ranges and technical terms, but interpretation and diagnosis should always be discussed with your doctor.
We collaborate with a specialised laboratory overseas for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT).
VERAcity or VERAgene is a Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) which can be performed during or after the 9th week of pregnancy to screen for certain genetic conditions in the developing fetus before birth.
VERAcity requires a blood sample from the mother (see resource link).
Package 1. Trisomies 13, 18, 21
Package 2. Trisomies 13, 18, 21 including gender
Package 3. Trisomies 13, 18, 21, Gender, Aneuploidies X, Y
Package 4. Trisomies 13, 18, 21, Gender, Aneuploidies X, Y, Microdeletions
VERAgene is a more comprehensive test which includes 100 monogenic diseases, as well as the ones above (see resource link). This also requires a buccal swab from the father, in addition to a blood sample from the mother. The father must not eat, chew, or smoke anything for one hour before the test. Other NIPT tests may also be performed upon request, subject to clinical indication.
These tests can be done on a walk-in basis.
We would need your gynaecologist to sign and fill in the VERAcity or VERAgene SIF forms (you can download these two forms from the above links).
Turnaround time is a 7 to 10 working days.
Phlebotomy is a medical service involving the collection of blood samples for laboratory testing, as requested by your doctor or healthcare provider.
The blood collection is provided free of charge when carried out in connection with a laboratory test performed by our services.
A fee applies if the patient attends for phlebotomy only.
List of tests
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR 24-HOUR URINE TESTS
Please collect the 24-hour urine container from laboratory reception.
The first time you have to urinate in the morning, go as you normally would, without collecting it. Write down the time as the start time.
Every time you pee after that, collect it in the container. Keep the container in the fridge when you’re not using it.
Drink water throughout the day. You can eat normally unless there are foods your provider tells you to avoid.
Try to collect for the last time as close as possible to 24 hours after you marked the start time. For instance, if you have your first pee — that you didn’t collect — at 8 a.m. on a Monday, try to collect for the last time at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
Make sure the container is marked with your name, start time, end time and any other required information.
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Special Instructions: Random urine sample in a sterile container
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Special Instructions: Please contact the laboratory to receive guidance about this test.
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Request more information
Get in touch with us if you require assistance.
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Schedule an appointment - fill out a test requisition form.