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Valley Medical Laboratories, operated by Dynacare

For patients

A smooth visit starts before you arrive.

Five minutes of prep saves you a second trip. Here’s everything to know — what to bring, how fasting works, and where your results show up.

Specimen vials and a requisition clipboard on a clean white surface

Bring these with you

  1. BC Services Card

    Your Care Card is required at every visit — it confirms identity and keeps results matched to you. No card number? Your results will go to your ordering provider.

  2. Requisition or standing order

    The form from your physician, nurse practitioner, midwife, or naturopath. We can’t collect without one.

  3. Payment, if private

    For tests MSP doesn’t cover we accept Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, Mastercard Debit, American Express, and cheque — at every location.

Visit options

Walk in, or book ahead

Every lab takes walk-ins with a live queue — you can join the line from your phone before you leave home. Six locations also offer booked appointments: Kelowna Capri, Lumby, Winfield, Keremeos, Penticton Ellis Street, and Osoyoos.

  • Appointments open 4 weeks in advance and new days are released daily.
  • If every date is grey, that lab is fully booked for the next 3 weeks — try again the next business day.
  • Specimen drop-off never needs an appointment.
Check wait times & book Browse all labs

Home collection

A house-call program is available as a courtesy for patients who can’t make it to a lab. Call the centre to ask about getting on the home collection list.

Call (250) 763-4813

Some samples can only be collected on certain days, times, or locations. If a test on your requisition is unfamiliar, call before you go.

Results

Where your results live

Results go straight to the provider who ordered your tests. You can also view them yourself online, as soon as the laboratory releases them.

MyCareCompass

Online results portal. Help line: 1-888-522-7758.

BC Health Gateway

The Government of B.C.’s health record portal.

Common questions

Fasting, ID, and the fine print

What is fasting?
Fasting means going without anything to eat, drink, chew (including gum), or smoke — except plain water — for a specified amount of time.
How long do I need to fast?
Most fasting tests require a minimum of 8 hours with nothing but plain water.
Can I have coffee or tea while fasting?
No — only plain water.
What about prescribed medications or vitamins?
Check with the doctor who ordered your fasting tests — it depends on the medications and the tests. It’s usually best to wait until after your tests to take a morning dose. An evening dose should be taken no later than 10 pm, with water only.
Why do I need my BC Services Card every time?
Your BC Services Card confirms your identity, saves you time at the lab, and prevents mix-ups between people with the same name.
Why do some people get called in before me?
Some tests have timing requirements, so individuals are occasionally taken out of order.
Why do I have to pay for some tests, like PSA?
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) governs which tests are covered and which must be paid privately.
Are you part of Interior Health?
No. Valley Medical Laboratories is a community medical laboratory that operates separately from the Interior Health Authority.

Need to pay for a private test after your visit? Pay your bill online.