Below are responses to some of the privacy-related questions that we receive most often...

• What Personal Information (PI) does LifeLabs need from me? Why?

In providing diagnostic services to the public, LifeLabs requires a moderate amount of personal information to accomplish this task. We may ask for various items of your personal health information (eg. – age, gender, medical history) to provide context for your test results, we may ask for contact information (eg. – telephone number) to respond more quickly in emergency circumstances, and we may ask for financial information (eg. – health insurance number or credit card number) to arrange for payment.

• Who can see my results?

Your test results are only seen by those in your “circle of care”, such as your health care provider, and any other specialists or parties specified by your physician on your requisition. In addition, in various rare circumstances, as specified by local legislation, LifeLabs may be obligated to disclose personal information to other organizations (eg. – public health agencies).

• Will you please e-mail/fax my results to me?

Owing to an inherent lack of security in either method, personal test results will not be provided by e-mail or fax communication.

• How can I request a change to my PI?

If you believe that our records of your personal information are in error, and would like to correct that information, please contact the LifeLabs Privacy Officer in your province to initiate the process.

• I wish to register a complaint!

If you have a concern, question or complaint regarding our information-handling procedures, please contact the LifeLabs Privacy Officer in your province. If our initial response is insufficient, you have the option of contacting the governmental oversight authority in your province.

• What about research uses of my PHI?

Personally Identifiable Information is never shared with third parties, other than to provide our services, or as required by law. In some cases, anonymized details may be shared with research groups.

• What is a “blocking” form?

With respect to some health programs involving an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, a “blocking form” is a paper-based form, which when completed and signed by the patient, indicates that their personal information is not to be shared with third parties via that EHR, other than as required to provide the service in question.

• Where can I learn more about privacy?

Numerous online privacy resources are available, but the best place to start would be with your province’s privacy oversight authority.