Ralmed's medical laboratory sits in the same building as our 24-hour GP practice in Kelvin View, Sandton, so test results feed straight back into your care.
At a glance
The laboratory
A medical laboratory tests samples such as blood and urine, so a doctor can confirm what is wrong and choose the right treatment.
At many practices, a test means a second trip to a separate laboratory and a wait for the results. At Ralmed, the laboratory shares the building with the GP practice, so your samples go down the corridor instead of across town.
That means the doctor who sees you can use the results in your care, rather than handing you over to someone else.
Tests
A medical laboratory helps a GP confirm an infection, check how an organ is working or keep an eye on a long-term condition. These are some of the types of test a GP may request, and what each one shows:
| Type of test | What it helps the doctor check |
|---|---|
| Blood tests | Signs of infection, anaemia, blood sugar and how organs such as the kidneys and liver are working |
| Urine tests | Urinary tract infections, kidney problems and signs of diabetes |
| Swabs | Which germ is causing an infection of the throat, a wound or elsewhere |
| Monitoring tests | How well a long-term condition, such as diabetes, is controlled |
[INSERT: the tests the laboratory runs on site, the usual turnaround time, and which samples are sent to an outside laboratory]
How it works
01
The doctor examines you and decides whether a test would help.
02
A blood, urine or swab sample is taken during your visit.
03
The sample goes to the laboratory in the same building.
04
Your doctor uses the result to confirm the diagnosis and plan your treatment.
Questions about a test? Call the practice on 086 1725 633.
One visit, not two. Samples are taken during your consultation, so there is no separate trip to a laboratory.
The same doctor. The GP who ordered the test is the one who reviews the result with you.
A 24-hour practice. The GP practice upstairs is open every hour of every day.
Hospital care close by. If a result means you need a hospital, Ralmed's ambulances work from the same address.
Compared
A medical laboratory does the same job wherever it is. The difference is in how the test fits around your visit to the doctor, and how soon the result reaches them.
| Question | On-site at Ralmed | Separate laboratory |
|---|---|---|
| Where the sample is taken | During your consultation | On a second visit, at the laboratory |
| Who reviews the result | The doctor who saw you | Your doctor, once the report arrives |
| What happens next | Treatment is planned with the result in hand | Often a follow-up appointment to discuss it |
Our medical laboratory is there to support the care you receive at the practice. Laboratories in South Africa are overseen by the Health Professions Council of South Africa through the registration of their staff.
Questions
Call 086 1725 633 with any questions about the laboratory, which is at 89 Impala Road, Kelvin View, Sandton, in the same building as our 24-hour GP practice. Samples are usually taken during your consultation, so the test is part of the same visit to the practice.
In most cases, yes. A GP examines you and decides which tests, if any, will help. The doctor then takes or arranges your sample and reviews the result with you. [INSERT: whether patients can use the laboratory without seeing a Ralmed doctor]
That depends on the test. Some results are ready while you wait at the practice, while others take longer or are sent to an outside laboratory. [INSERT: the usual turnaround times] Your doctor will tell you when to expect each result.
Some blood tests, such as certain sugar and cholesterol tests, need you to go without food beforehand, usually for several hours. Most do not. If your doctor plans a test that needs an empty stomach, they will tell you how long to go without food and when to come in.
Yes. The practice sees children as well as adults, and the doctor can request tests for a child where they will help. Tell the team when you call ahead if your child is anxious about needles, so they can plan the visit with that in mind.
Many medical aid plans cover laboratory tests that a doctor requests, but the rules depend on your scheme and plan. Ask about cover when you call ahead, and bring your medical aid card and ID so the practice can process the tests with your visit.
A doctor or nurse at the practice takes the sample during your consultation, most often a blood sample from a vein in the arm, a urine sample or a swab. The sample is labelled with your details when it is taken, and then goes to the laboratory in the same building for testing.
Testing on site means the sample does not travel across town, and the doctor who examined you can review the result as part of the same episode of care. You avoid a separate appointment at another laboratory, and any follow-up treatment can be planned at the practice in Kelvin View.
Yes. If a video consultation shows that you need a test, the doctor can ask you to come to the practice at 89 Impala Road, Kelvin View, where the sample is taken and tested in the same building. Call 086 1725 633 before you set off so the team expects you.
Related services
See a GP at our 24-hour practice, find doctors open near you now, or book a video consultation. All our clinical services are on the doctors page.
See a GP at any hour and have your tests in the same building, reviewed by the same doctor. A medical laboratory next to the consulting room keeps your care in one place. Call ahead so the practice expects you. For our on-site medical laboratory, call 086 1725 633.
Head office based in Sandton, Johannesburg, Ralmed established in 2013, specializes in comprehensive medical and occupational health services in South Africa, dedicated to compassionate, cost-effective care. Call Ralmed Emergency Medical Services today.