Frequently Asked Questions

[[titleTag|Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions, so that everything goes as well and smoothly.]]

[[faqTag|General|Which health control panel to start at SYNLAB?~~

We know that choosing the right health control panel can be challenging. If you are a generally healthy man or woman aged 25-50 and want to check your health, we recommend the Health risk panel put together by laboratory and family doctors. It consists of 16 tests that are suitable for a preventive health check. You will get a good overview of general health indicators: for example, the risk of diabetes, the level of cholesterol reflecting the risk of cardiovascular diseases, an overview of the thyroid gland, liver, and kidneys functions, and the level of vitamin D and iron reserves.
Doctors recommend checking these indicators regularly every few years.

;;How do I order lab tests/health control panels?~~

There are two ways of placing an order:

• In person at a SYNLAB sample collection point
• Via the minu.synlab.ee portal

To place an order in person and to take a blood test you will need personal ID. Should you wish to take a blood test or provide another sample immediately after ordering the tests, it is recommended that you come to the SYNLAB sample collection point in the morning without having eaten or drunk anything for 10-14 hours, since some tests (e.g. the glucose or blood sugar test) demand strict fasting.

;;Do I need a doctor’s referral to order tests or consult a lab doctor/allergy specialist?~~

No, you don’t need a referral for either of these. However, without a referral, you will be charged for the tests and/or consultations, including tests prescribed for you in the course of a consultation.

You must register in advance for a consultation with a lab doctor/allergy specialist, which you can do in the minu.synlab.ee or in person at a sample collection point.

More information on how to give samples based on doctors referral, read from section “Sampling with doctor’s referral”.

;;Can I change the document number on the certificate?~~

Yes, you can. To change the document number, enter minu.synlab.ee self-service, open your customer data, change the document number and save. After updating the data, the document number on your certificate will also change automatically.

;;From what time exactly will the certificate be valid?~~

The certificate becomes valid immediately after the result is issued.

;;Is it necessary to make an appointment for an STD test?~~

You don't need to make an appointment for an STD test.

;;Does SYNLAB give me a COVID-19 Recovery Certificate?~~

SYNLAB does not issue COVID-19 Recovery Certificates. You can get it from the  terviseportaal.ee environment or from your family doctor.

;;What should I do if I want to order check-ups based on lab tests for my staff?~~

By law, SYNLAB does not offer full occupational health controls. Companies can purchase our health control panels, analyzes and laboratory doctor consultations for their employees. You can consult with our     account managers    and find a solution that suits the best. Preventive health checks are also a good way to reward/motivate your employees. In addition, we offer various options for organizing health days in the company, gift cards, etc.

Feel free to contact the account managers, you will find their contacts    HERE.

;;How can I contact SYNLAB customer support?~~

You can call us on our hotline: 17123. If calling from abroad, please use our full number: +372 640 8231. Calling either number is subject to the fees charged by your operator. You can also contact us via the ‘SYNLAB Eesti’ page on    Facebook   or by e-mailing   klienditugi@synlab.ee.]]

[[faqTag|Sampling|How soon do I need to come in and provide the lab with my sample(s) after placing and paying for an order in the minu.synlab.ee portal?~~

Orders remain active in our system for 30 days, which means you should provide your sample(s) within a month of paying for your order.

;;Where can I take tests and provide samples and where should I bring them to?~~

To provide samples for tests, go to your nearest SYNLAB sample collection point.  No appointment is necessary for a blood test, service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The Mustamäe sample collection point is an exception, and it is only served by prior appointment. It’s advisable to plan about 15 minutes for the sample collection and 30-45 minutes in the mornings.

We also collect urine, vaginal, stool and other samples taken at home on a first come, first served basis. Kits for taking samples at home can be purchased from a pharmacy according to the pharmacy’s price list. When ordering tests in person at SYNLAB, such kits are included in the price.  Samples taken at home can be returned to any SYNLAB sample collection point.

;;Do I need to make an appointment for giving a blood sample?~~

You don't need to make an appointment to give a blood sample (except A. H. Tammsaare rd sample collection site), we serve everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have purchased our service online, you do not need to contact customer service, you can go directly to the blood sampling cabinet.

;;Can I take medication(s) before the blood test?~~

Prescription drugs: If your prescribed drugs require to be taken at specific times, the drug must be taken according to the doctors prescription. As medications can affect the results, please inform doctor during the consultation.

Food supplements and over-the counter drugs: It is better not to take food supplements and over-the counter drugs before giving the blood sample, except for allergy drug antihistamine, which does not affect IgE of the allergen in the blood.

Thyroid drugs: Regards to thyroid drugs, it is important that there is at least 4 hours gap between giving blood and taking the medicine.

;;When can I come in and give samples?~~

Opening hours can be found  here.

;;Where can I find out how to take samples?~~

Guidelines on taking samples can be found   here. Please read them carefully so that you take your sample correctly.

;;Where can I get sampling tools?~~

You can get sampling tools in two ways:

1) Buying from the pharmacy. Please pay attention that not all specific sampling tools are sold locally in pharmacies (e.g. stool occult blood analysis, vaginal sample accessories).

2) By contacting our customer service at the sampling point (free of charge). 

;;Where can I take/bring my sample materials?~~

You can bring sample materials to all SYNLAB sampling points by handing them over to customer service or a phlebotomist.

;;May I bring a sample provided by another person to SYNLAB's sampling point?~~

You may. However, it is important to know that the responsibility for taking the sample material always lies with the sample collector. The sample provider will complete an on-site confirmation form, where they must provide their details, the donor of the sample, and the identity of the sample collector. If it is determined at the sampling point that the doctor has not placed an order in advance or the person has not placed an order as a private customer in My SYNLAB and it needs to be arranged on-site, the sample provider must also have a power of attorney from the sample owner, authorizing the sample provider to place the order on their behalf.

SYNLAB does not issue certificates for analyses brought in by another person.]]

[[faqTag|Sampling with doctor’s referral|Can a sample be given by doctors’ referral at all our sampling points?~~

Yes. At all sampling points, samples can be given both as a private customer and with a doctor's referral.

;;Is it possible to book an appointment with our allergist with a referral?~~

You cannot book an appointment with our allergist with a doctor´s referral. Allergist appointments are only booked for private customers.

;;How can I give samples if I have a doctor's referral??~~

Your doctor can give you a referral letter to SYNLAB or send an electronic referral directly to SYNLAB.

Take the referral letter with you when you come to give a sample. If the doctor has issued you an electronic referral, we can find it in our program. In both cases, it is necessary that you have an identity document with you to give samples.

To give a sample, choose the most convenient SYNLAB sampling point for you. You do not need to book an appointment in advance (except at the Mustamäe sampling point).

You can get the necessary sample containers from the sampling point.

We will send the results of the analyzes based on the referral to your doctor and to you on Terviseportaal.

;;Can I get analyzes for free based on a referral?~~

Analyzes are mostly free for you with a referral. This is unless the referral is from a private clinic, nutritionist/therapist or if the service is not in the list of health care services of the Health Insurance Fund.

;;How long is a doctor's referral valid?~~

We expect you to give a sample within 1 month from the issuance of the referral.]]

[[faqTag|How to prepare for a blood sample collection with a child?| How to prepare for a blood sample collection with a child?~~

Generally, children’s blood samples are collected from venous blood. In exceptional cases, capillary blood is taken, which is decided by the medical staff after assessing the situation on the spot.

;;Where can I see the results of my child’s blood analysis?~~

The parent can see the results of the child’s analysis in minu.synlab.ee or  terviseportaal.ee.

;;Does the child have to go without eating and drinking before the analysis?~~

For some analysis, fasting is necessary to obtain the most accurate results. This varies from analysis to analysis. You can check the necessity of not eating and drinking and the time frame for this in the corresponding analyse section at   minu.synlab.ee.

A glass of unflavoured and non-carbonated water (up to 150 mL) before giving a blood sample is allowed. In the case of blood sampling with a child, we recommend it because if the child has consumed water before giving blood, it makes blood sampling easier.

;;How old must a child be to give a blood sample without an accompanying adult?~~

You can come to give samples without a doctor’s referral from the age of 18. For children under the age of 18, the presence or written authorisation of a parent or guardian is required.

;;How to prepare a child for blood sample collection?~~

It is recommended to play the procedure at home with, for example, the sting game. This means trying to make a sting on the skin with a pencil and trying to guess how strong the sting will be – whether it is similar to a mosquito bite or something else.

It is worth arriving early so that the child has a chance to get used to the environment or, if possible, get comfortable in the play corner. Therefore, it would be good to first agree at home which parent is calmer and better at comforting in these situations and whose level of anxiety will not get too high if things do not immediately go as planned. It is important to praise the child even if they cry. See more advice HERE.]]

[[faqTag|Results|How quickly will I get my test results?~~

This depends on the specific test and can take anywhere from 1-20 working days. In most cases you won’t have to wait for longer than three working days. Average waiting times are set out for every test and panel on the   minu.synlab.ee.

;;How do I get hold of my test results?~~

If you have an Estonian ID code, the results of tests ordered via the patient portal or a blood testing point are transferred to the  minu.synlab.ee  and the  terviseportaal.ee. Notification about the results being uploaded to the portal is sent to the e-mail address or texted to the phone number indicated in the order. Citizens of other countries who don’t have an Estonian ID code have their results sent to them in a Cryptshare e-mail.

The results of certain analyzes (e.g. Microbiome analysis, microbiology, etc.) are not displayed in Minu SYNLAB and the Terviseportaal.ee environment. In this case, detailed information and instructions for viewing the results can be found in the e-mail informing about the results and in Minu SYNLAB.

;;Who sees the results of my tests?~~

You can view the results of orders placed via   minu.synlab.ee   and at blood testing points (with the exception of microbiological tests) by logging in to your account. The results of the tests ordered for another adult can be seen only by the person giving the test. The parent or official representative can see the results of the minor's tests.

In accordance with valid requirements, the lab also forwards your results to the  terviseportaal.ee,   where they are visible to the family doctor and any specialists linked to your medical history. You can review the data pertaining to you in the health information system on the  terviseportaal.ee    website. In addition, you have all of the rights arising from the Personal Data Protection Act in regard to data retained in the health information system, including the right to close off data so that they are not available to anyone.

;;What should I do if I need help interpreting lab results?~~

If you need help, we recommend consulting one of our lab doctors. You can book a time for this in   minu.synlab.ee   or in person at a SYNLAB sample collection point.]]

[[faqTag|Purchasing and realizating gift cards| Where can I buy gift cards?~~

Gift cards can be purchased at SYNLAB sampling points across Estonia. The e-gift card can be purchased from My SYNLAB.

;;Can I purchase a gift card in my chosen value?~~

Gift cards are linked to specific panels. SYNLAB currently does not issue gift cards with monetary value.

;;How long is the gift card valid for?~~

The gift card is valid for 12 months. There may be differences in the validity of gift cards purchased during the campaign.

;;Is the gift card named?~~

The gift card is not named but is linked to a specific panel.

;;Can I exchange the panel on the gift card for another one?~~

The panel on the gift card cannot be exchanged for another panel.

;;Can I exchange the gift card for cash?~~

The gift card cannot be exchanged for money. The gift card is linked to the tests included in the gifted pane]]