Our Privacy Commitment

Protecting the privacy and security of personal information is essential and fundamental to our values and to the way we do business. Our website privacy policy is part of that commitment.

Website Privacy

Our website does not collect information that personally identifies individuals except when that information is provided on a voluntary basis. We also tell you why we are asking for the information, for example, to assess your suitability for a career opportunity you have applied for or send you newsletters you have requested.

Information provided to us will not be sold or made available to a third party for commercial or advertising purposes. We may work with website content management services and data storage providers. These third parties are not authorized to make use of any information you provide through our website.

This website may employ "cookies". These are small files stored in your computer that identify users entering a website. These cookies allow us to direct you to your preferred subsection and enable statistical analyses of how our website is used. This allows us to measure interest in various sections of the site so we can improve design and content to serve you better. Only aggregated data from these analyses, not individual records, will be used for this purpose.

Website users should be aware that electronic mail is not a secure or private method of transmitting information. Please do not send confidential information to us via e-mail.

Our website also contains links to third-party websites. The practices of these sites are outside of our control. Users should verify the privacy policies of these sites before submitting information to them.

Privacy Statement for LifeLabs

We are firmly committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. Everyone in our organization respects the importance of individual privacy and takes responsibility for protecting the personal information we collect.

That shared respect and responsibility is reflected by our commitment to the 10 principles of the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information:

1. Accountability:  We take responsibility for the personal information we collect, use and disclose, and have a designated Privacy Officer who develops and implements policies based on the CSA's 10 principles and helps us comply with applicable privacy regulations, including BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

2. Identifying Purposes:  We identify the purposes for which we collects, uses and discloses personal information at or before the time it is collected from an individual.

3. Consent:  We obtain an individual’s consent before we collect, use or disclose personal information.  In some situations, that consent is implied. For example, when we provide our services to a patient at the request of a healthcare practitioner, it is implied that the patient consents to the collection and testing procedure as well as the result disclosure to the practitioner and other members of the patient's health care team.

4. Limiting Collection:  We collect only the personal information that we need to accurately identify an individual in order to provide services and manage the business.  Information is collected by fair and lawful means.

5. Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention: We use or disclose personal information only for purposes identified or with the consent of the individual or as required by law.  We retain personal information only as long as necessary or as dictated by privacy regulations or legal requirements.

6. Accuracy:  We collect and maintain personal information carefully to ensure that it is correct, complete, as up-to-date as possible, and can be used accurately for the identified purposes. To ensure that accuracy, we may ask the same questions about personal information each time a patient visits one of our locations.

7. Safeguards:  We have appropriate security, physical and administrative safeguards in place to protect personal information. 

8. Openness:  We communicate clearly and openly about our privacy policies and practices.

9. Individual Access:  In response to written requests, we will inform individuals of the existence, use, and disclosure of their personal information.  When appropriate, we will provides access to that information and allow the individual to question its accuracy and completeness.

10. Challenging Compliance:  Please direct any compliance concerns to our Privacy Officer, who will investigate and respond to you with the results. 

For further information about our privacy policies and practices, please write to:

Privacy Officer
MDS Metro Laboratory Services
3680 Gilmore Way
Burnaby, BC V5G 4V8