My doctor had sent me to get some blood drawn at Quest Diagnostics. I scheduled an appointment on their website for 8:20 am, in East Hartford. It was very easy to get to. Once I arrived at the building, I took the stairs to the second floor. The door was clearly marked that it was Quest Diagnostics. Inside I found a very clean waiting area, with plenty of chairs, and a check in kiosk. Here you can scan your drivers license and insurance card. Then, after a short wait a phlebotomist called me to come into the phlebotomy room to get started.
The room was small, with green walls and some statistical information printed on the walls.
The young, female phlebotomist entered my information into the computer, and asked me if I had been fasting on this morning. I told her I had. She didn't need my insurance card, since I had already entered it into the kiosk.
As much as I don't love needles, and situations like this where there's no way that they can be avoided, my best strategy is to not look. I placed my arm on the armrest, while she tied the blue elastic around my arm. I felt a poke, after a minute I turned around, to find that nothing was done. All of the vials were empty. "I couldn't find a vain" she told me. Ok, I'm no expert, but I'm not sure what she meant, when she poked me right in the center of one.
This is what really upset me. She moved the elastic to my wrist. I told her she could try my other arm. "We're going to try right here" she told me, as she pointed to my hand. Yes, she drew four vials of blood from the dorsal side of my hand. She didn't even give me a proper band aid. This was five days ago, and my hand is still turning various shades of bruise. I also felt very light headed and very hot. I asked for some water, she told me, "you can find it on your way out".
I didn't like that she didn't go to my other arm, before she went to my hand. I also have a bruise on the area where the job wasn't successful.
Thank you for reading this very long review. I will end with these final words. Every job is not for everyone. read more