Mobile Laboratory Collection Service

Calgary Laboratory Services (CLS) provides Mobile Collection Service for patient who face significant medical challenges that prevent them from accessing Patient Service Centres(PSCs) for blood collection (see criteria below). Mobile office hours are Monday through Friday 07:00 - 16:00,

On-call staff are available for after hours emergency requests Monday through Friday 16:00 - 20:00, and Satruday, Sunday, and holidays 07:00 - 17:00. Requests for after hours emergency collection must be made to CLS Lab Information Centre 403-770-3600.

Mobile Collection Services (MCS) does not perform STAT ECGs after 16:00 and on weekends/holidays for home collection. MCS will perform STAT ECGs for patients residing in a Care Centre or Rehab & Recovery facility, however no interpretation is available until the next business day. Although STAT ECG interpretations are not available outside Monday through Friday 08:00 - 16:00, a request for a copy of the tracing can be made.

CLS Mobile Collection Services requisition:  #REQ9013MOB Mobile Collection Services Requistion

To be considered eligible for this service, patients must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Patient has a mental health problem such as agoraphobia, debilitating anxiety, or psychiatric condition that prevents them from leaving their residence
  • Patient has dementia or brain injury that would present a safety risk travelling to a CLS Patient Service Centre
  • Patient suffers from a medical condition such that a trip of an hour or more outside the home would compromise the patient's health
  • Patient has high oxygen requirements that cannot be safely met by the use of portable oxygen

Patient would not be considered as eligible for Mobile Collection Service if the following apply:

  • Patient resides in a "Senior's Complex" and does not meet mobile criteria
  • Patient is a resident in a facility that provides transportation for activities such as shopping, social outings, etc. in which the patient participates
  • Patient is able to drive a motor vehicle
  • Patient is experiencing financial pressure or social pressure as a result of having to travel to a PSC
  • Patient is able to arrange transportation for other actvities such as shopping, banking, and/or hair appointments
  • Patient is able to take extended vacations
  • Patient is able to return/has returned to work

Note: Patients do not qualify for service on the basis of age alone.

Guidelines for Duration of Service

 Frequency  Duration
 Once only  n/a
 Daily  Maximum 5 days (M-F)
 Twice / week  Maximum 2 weeks (M/Th or Tu/F)
 3x / week  Maximum 2 weeks (M/W/F)
 Weekly  Maximum 3 months
 Bi-weekly  Maximum 6 months
 Monthly  Maximum 1 year
 Bi-monthly  Maximum 1 year


Guidelines for Ordering

STAT orders for mobile collections should only be requested when it directly affects patient care in urgent or emergency medcical circumstances.
Orders for future reoccurring collections should NOT be requested as STAT.
Routine orders will be scheduled on patient's next designated collection day.
Please ensure this service is used effectively so we can continue to provide a quality and efficient service to those patient with the greatest need.

Triggers for Cancellation of Service

  • The physician cancels the order.
  • The physician fails to return completed order on two separate occasions.
  • The physician fails to renew the order.
  • Patient refuses to have spcimen(s) drawn.
  • Patient is unable to be contacted prior to collection visit and is not home on two separate occasions. This rule does not apply if the patient's absence is due to being at emergency or hospitalized.
  • Patient, caregiver, or family member is physicially/verbally abusive to lab staff.
  • Location of service has been assessed as unsafe for CLS staff.

Provision of Mobile Collection Serive may be considered for unusual or extenuating circumstnaces based on consult between health care provider and Calgary Laboratory Services.

Patients who do not meet criteria for residence collection may go to any Patient Serice Centre for blood collection.
Patient Appointment Information

Home collection may only be requested by attending physician(s). Originating order requires a Mobile Collection Service Requisition to be completed and faxed to the Mobile Office. Once a mobile patient file is established, any changes to the original order must be made by faxing the Mobile office.

Mobile Phone Number:  403-770-3351
Mobile Fax Number:  403-777-5222


To assure integrity of the specimens prior to analysis and to comply with the laboratory standards for the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, the following is a list of test that cannot be collected as part of the mobile collection service:

 ACTH  CD4 (includes CD8)  Lactate
 Aldosterone  CH-50 Complement  Lactose Tolerance
 Ammonia  Cryofibrinogen  Lupus Type Inhibitor
 Anti-Factor Xa  Cryoglobulin  Malaria (including Babesia, Trypanosomes, and Microfilaria)
 Antidiuretic Hormone  D-Dimer  Renin
 Ascorbic Acid  Glucagon  Trace Elements
 C-1 Esterase Inhibitor  Glucose Tolerance  Vitamin B1
 Calcium, Free or Ionized  Hemostasis Study  Vitamin B6
 Carboxyhemoglobin  HIV Viral Load  

For current test availability please refer to the Alphabetical Test Directory.