Direct access testing (DAT) allows individuals to order their own medical tests directly from a clinical laboratory, without the need for a physician’s lab order. DAT is also known as patient-authorized testing or direct-to-consumer testing.
Patients who wish to have a lab test completed without a doctor’s referral need to conduct an online search for their desired test and locate a facility that offers that test in their area. The patient will usually pay for the lab test upfront, and the results will be communicated directly to them within a few hours to days via email or phone call.
There are a number of reasons a patient might want to schedule a blood test without first obtaining a referral from their doctor, including:
