LifeLabs
LifeLabs is a Canadian-owned company that has been serving the healthcare needs of Canadians for more than 50 years.
Over a million Canadians count on LifeLabs for the information they need to make decisions about their health. Each year we perform over 112 million laboratory tests to help diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease. Supported by four core divisions – LifeLabs, LifeLabs Genetics, Rocky Mountain Analytical and Excelleris, together we are driven by a passion to build a healthier Canada.
Each year we perform over 112 million laboratory tests to help diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent diseases for millions of Canadians. Supported by four core divisions – LifeLabs, LifeLabs Genetics, Rocky Mountain Analytical and Excelleris, together we are driven by a passion to empower a healthier you. From standard lab testing, to genetic and naturopathic testing, to developing new technologies to connect patients to their health, patients are at the core of all we do and are the driving force behind our pursuit of excellence.
Our Commitment
We care about people’s health and are committed to empowering a healthier you. At every step in the testing process, from collection to reporting, we provide caring, efficient, reliable and high-quality services. As a trusted partner supporting patients, healthcare providers, corporate customers and entire provincial healthcare systems, we are continually harnessing our medical expertise to build the best test offering while investing in technology to transform the delivery of health care.
Indirectly owned by OMERS Administration Corporation, with interests managed by OMERS Infrastructure Management Inc.,LifeLabs works to provide value to the healthcare system while remaining responsive to changing environments and needs.
Our History
For over 50 years, we have been serving the diagnostic healthcare needs of Canadians. With roots stemming from a small lab on the west coast and a group of entrepreneurs in Ontario, we have grown to become Canada’s largest lab provider.
Our Network
LifeLabs is well-positioned to deliver care at home, in the community and across Canada through our four core lines of business. We have 16 laboratories, over 5,700 professionally trained staff members, 382 conveniently located collection centres in B.C., Ontario and Saskatchewan, an extensive network of couriers and mobile phlebotomists. As well we have a complete suite of testing services available to all Canadians and partner with governments and companies to develop technologies and customized services.
Patient Centred Care
Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Across every aspect of our organization, we are focused on providing care that is respectful of individual needs and values with an approach that is collaborative, coordinated, and accessible.
Serving Patients with Autism
For the estimated one in 66 Canadian children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a visit to the health clinic can cause sensory overload and distress. We are proud to have developed Canada’s first specific and comprehensive guidelines for specimen collection for patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Accessibility
LifeLabs is committed to treating people with respect and in ways that help them maintain their dignity and independence.
Cultural and Gender Sensitivity
Our nation is an incredible mosaic of cultures that proudly represents diverse backgrounds, religions, views and values. It is out of our deep respect for all Canadians that we aim to be sensitive to cultural differences as well as gender identities.
Safe and Respectful Environment
The safety and well-being of all staff and patients is our top priority and we are committed to a safe, respectful and harassment-free environment. Unwelcome behaviour can include actions or comments that demean, offend, embarrass or isolate such as:
> Ridiculing, taunting, belittling, humiliating or insulting someone.
> Unwelcome sexual flirtation or advances.
> Refusing treatment from a healthcare provider because of their race, religion or accent.
Actions will be taken to address behaviours that present a safety risk to employees and/or patients. Verbal threats or physical acts of violence may result in removal from a facility and/or prosecution.
Partnering for Better Health Outcomes
Genetics is transforming healthcare. Building a healthier Canada means looking at the future and both influencing and being ready for it. When it comes to bringing meaningful, high quality genetic testing to Canadians through Canadian expertise and Canadian-based operations, LifeLabs is a leader. Through the building of partnerships with innovative researchers and by leveraging our operational and service expertise, we are bringing important genetic tests to Canada that will drive better health outcomes and value for patients and our healthcare system.
Through the 2017 purchase of the Canadian business of Centogene, a world leader in the delivery of genetic testing for rare and inherited diseases, we are also able to provide access to leading-edge whole exome sequencing (WES) to all Canadians. This partnership allows Canadians to benefit from our knowledge about our healthcare system, our professional expertise in genetics, high quality operations, leading turnaround time, and access to a global database to diagnose rare conditions.
WES technology looks at all the coding regions, or approximately 1% of a person’s genome, and compares the sequence to a database to detect mutations that cause health conditions. WES is especially useful for pediatric patients who are experiencing delays in development and/or other rare symptoms, but it is also helpful in determining causes for unusual neurological, cardiac, bone and metabolic disorders, to name a few.
It was this test that provided answers for a mother desperate for more information about her son’s autism. After watching her child struggle for over two years, she had enrolled him in a medical genetics research study that might provide more insights into his diagnosis. Unfortunately, the study was expected to last two years, and waiting that long for answers was simply unacceptable for this concerned parent. Working with LifeLabs and her physician to complete the WES test, this mother got the answers she was looking for and personalized support from our genetic counsellors in a matter of weeks.
“Genetic testing, like Whole Exome Sequencing, can provide answers where no other test can,” said Dr. Ron Carter, Director, Genetics Program.
We are leveraging the knowledge and experience of leaders and organizations across the healthcare system through effective partnerships to make sure that, together, we exceed the needs of our patients and our healthcare system while delivering solutions for the future.
Improving Health through Automation
We are ready for the future. Through our investment in new high volume chemistry (HVC) technology, we have brought the ‘next generation’ of chemistry testing to Canadians. Chemistry tests are foundational to lab diagnostics. Our HVC lines process tests over 80 different assays, such as those that measure blood sugars and kidney function, with the results of these tests providing vital information to patients and healthcare providers about potentially serious health conditions.
With tracks that measure up to 70 feet in length, this is the largest installation and automation in North America. This installation was completed in partnership with Roche and Abbott on an Inpeco line—the first collaboration of its kind globally. This fully-automated HVC line runs millions of tests each year and is revolutionizing chemistry testing for Canadians.
This extraordinary system delivers maximum efficiency and scalability. Samples are delivered by our couriers from our Patient Service Centres to a dedicated delivery location at our lab. They are then automatically transported and sorted for processing through a series of analyzers. Results are verified and uploaded to our results reporting technologies, my results™and my eHealth™, for our patients and healthcare providers.
This new HVC technology also supports improvements for our employee health and safety. The automation significantly reduces manual handling of specimens, resulting in a lower risk for repetitive strains.
In short, our commitment to innovation, quality and value through our HVC system increases our capacity and establishes a new benchmark for speed and consistency that enhances our ability to deliver reliable, high-quality community lab testing to Canadians.
“We needed to do more than just keep up with rapid increase in demand for diagnostic testing – we needed to transform how we test at LifeLabs to be ready for the future,“ said Tanya Martin, Vice President of Laboratory Operations.
At each of our 16 labs across Canada our teams sorting, testing, analyzing, researching and reporting on patient samples. Working with the latest technology and instrumentation in state-of-the-art facilities, it is the dedication of this staff that ensures the quality testing and reporting for which LifeLabs is renowned. With experiences ranging from highly respected physicians and researchers, to burgeoning young minds with a passion for science, working in our labs is a challenging and rewarding career.
Members of our lab teams are:
> committed to quality
> enjoy problem solving
> detail oriented
> interested in health sciences
> eager to learn from their colleagues
> passionate about continuous improvement
Why LifeLabs
At LifeLabs, it is the passion and commitment of our people that unites us every day and motivates us to ensure our patients receive the very best. Our teams are using science to create ground-breaking tests to save lives, predict illnesses and even prevent diseases. With a belief that knowledge is power, we connect our patients directly with their test results so they have valuable health information when they need it most. We care about our people and are committed to excellence in the work we do for people. Join our team as we continue to grow and strive for excellence.
Contact LifeLabs:
LifeLabs is committed to constantly improving our quality of service. If you need assistance, or have comments, concerns or suggestions, please choose from the topics below. Call our Customer Care Centre!
ONTARIO
1-877-849-3637
55 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1R6, Canada
BRITISH COLUMBIA
604-431-7206
or toll-free at
1-800-431-7206
SASKATCHEWAN
1-888-333-0222
