02/16/2026
Hey all! I wanted to answer some questions and give some insight on our blood work process. I think it will help clear up any confusion.
When you have your labs completed for Dr. Fox and processed through Labcorp, the results could take a varying amount of time to be returned to the office depending on the type of test being ran. It could be next day, it could be next month. There's no way to know 100% for sure and we try not to speculate on that time frame. Sometimes the patient is registered with Labcorp to receive the results directly from Labcorp. In that event, typically the patient will receive the results from Labcorp before the office receives the results. (Usually by a day or two)
Once we receive the results in the office, they are saved to your portal, they are printed and then given to Dr. Fox. When Dr. Fox has those results, she reviews them extensively line by line. While reviewing the labs she also makes notes on the results to explain what those results mean and then makes notes regarding the treatment plan. Nurse Shayla then gets those results with all the notes, types them up in the patient's portal and sends them to the patient. Once they are sent to you, the patient, you will get an email notification that you have a visit summary or a message from Fox Family. This is another reason it is IMPERATIVE you access your patient portal and learn the basics of it's operation.
At the time of your blood draw, you ALWAYS have the option of scheduling an appointment to go over those results in person with either Dr. Fox or Shayla. Regardless of who reviews them with you in person, Dr. Fox has ALWAYS read them and made the treatment plan. If you choose not to make an appointment at the time you have your blood drawn, you can make an appointment once you get the results if you need more clarification. However, appointments are limited and should always be made in advance.
As you can imagine, this isn't a super speedy process. It is a great process for very detailed patient care. If you wanted someone to just glance over your results and toss them to you with a prescription and little to no explanation, then it is likely you wouldn't have found Fox Family and Dr. Fox. ;)
Exceptions to the standard process do exist for urgent and/or critical lab results. In the event that case arises we are immediately notified by Labcorp that there is a critical result for a patient. This is done by phone and by fax. Labcorp does not stop trying to contact us in the event of a critical lab result. Once contacted we immediately act on that result and that critical result is handled with the patient. If your Vitamin D is low for example, that is typically not a critical result. If your A1C is 40 and your Glucose is 800, that is critical.
What we can't do: We can not answer questions about your lab results without Dr. Fox seeing the results and reviewing them. This means if you see them on the Labcorp website, we can not answer questions about the results until Dr. Fox reviews them. This means that when we upload the original report from Labcorp into your portal, we can not answer questions about those results until Dr. Fox reviews them. We understand it may be concerning to see high and low results on the original report. However, we have to give Dr. Fox the time needed to review the labs appropriately. Rest assured, if it was critical, we would call you immediately.
Timeframe: This process usually takes 2 weeks from the time we draw your blood. There are times where it may be longer, or shorter. However, this is why we always tell patients 2 to 3 weeks in order for you to have your final results. We don't intentionally hold your labs hostage for any reason whatsoever. We promise we want you to have them as fast as you want to have them.
I hope this helps explain the process and helps understand why it does take the time that it does to return the final product back to the patient. We appreciate all the kindness, patience and understanding!
