Quest Diagnostics

Useless to make appointment. Waited 45 minutes with 1 person in front of me. Had to wait extra for a walk in who was known to the tech… the woman who drew my blood was very competent.

This is about Quest Redwood City. The only good thing is that you can make an appointment online, and if you do, you get seen on time. And as far as I know they do a proper job of the blood draw.
But on the downside:
They provide NO parking, and this is in downtown so the streets are always parked up.
There seems to be only one employee there, and working alone must be taking a toll on his service attitude. He used to be kind of pleasant. Today he couldn’t have acted less interested in being friendly or helpful (e.g. when he couldn’t find the paperwork that had been faxed over).
The kicker is the price, though. I first went to Quest a couple of years ago, because a test I needed was about $ 137 compared to well over $ 300 at the Stanford Hospital lab. That’s the test I went for today. WHILE he was drawing my blood, for some reason the staffer suddenly remarked (paraphrased), «This test is going to cost $ 400. Closer to $ 500 with the venipuncture.» I was floored. If that turns out to be true, there’s no more reason to make the inconvenient trek to Quest.

Great location and very clean. Staff was gentle and professional. I was in and out in 15 minutes!

Do not go unless you have an appointment! I had a horrible experience in Redwood City. Apparently, they closed their Menlo Park office and Redwood City has new people who are obviously unhappy that their workload has increased. Although they were not terribly busy, the two people working there, while very polite, took forever with each draw. They seemed to be making a point that if you were a «walk-​in» you were going to pay dearly with your time. There were three high school girls who had waited an hour and a half only to be told that they don’t do TB tests until noon. They missed school to go there but then had to go back. If anyone came on who had an appointment, they were taken first — even though they were early for their appointment. They clearly did not want to take people who did not have an appointment. When, finally, after an hour and a half, I was the only one left except for another person who did not have an appointment and just arrived. The last person serviced left ten minutes earlier so the woman worker had no one for the past 10 minutes. The man had someone he was drawing blood from. I stood and waited at the desk because I knew I was next, no one else was there with an appointment, and waited (thinking where the heck did the woman go!). Finally, the man finished with his patient and when he came out to get his next patient and look at the sign in sheet, I said I know I’m next. He takes his time and looks at the sheet. It is 9:36 and he is looking for the 9:30 patient who is not there yet. At that moment, the door opens and he calls the name a second time and sure enough, it’s the 9:30 appointment lady just walking in the door. He says «I have to take her.» I said «come on!» Then I get this lecture because he is clearly peeved at people who do not have appointments and wants to show them! I said that I had to be at another appointment at 10am and had been waiting since 8:15. He continued to lecture me. The woman who had the appointment told him to take me first which was very kind of her. Thankfully, my 10:00 appointment was in Redwood City and I was not late. I don’t know whatever happened to the other woman worker there — she disappeared. I have had to drop in for blood tests for years and never saw such slow workers. I heard them complaining (to patients) about the Menlo Park closure and «management» and their terrible workload. Maybe so but don’t take it out on the patients. I was so upset because I was going to be late for my appointment but mostly at their condescending, reprimanding attitude.

Going to get blood work done on a Saturday morning after fasting the night before isn’t my idea of a good time. However, Rima made the experience almost pleasurable. She was faced with a standing room only crowd this morning and could not have been more cheerful. She worked swiftly without seeming stressed, was quick with a joke, thanked me for my patience, and made me forget the hour I had waited to be seen.

Fely is the best! A million stars for her. I am very fearful of having my blood drawn and even had anxiety walking through the door. Fely took me back with a big smile and brought me in the back. I was explaining how I get so scared that when I was a kid I punched the nurse when she tried to take my blood. I assured her that I would not punch her but that I was very nervous. Fely was so good at her job that when I was looking away to not see the needle she slipped it in and I didn’t even feel it!!! What an amazing lady !
I had to go back two weeks later for a second blood test and I was so pleased that Fely was there again to draw my blood. Again she was amazing yet again.
Thank you Fely, you are very good at your job and you have a nice big smile that puts people at ease.

I’m very familiar with this center and most of its employees. I always have a great and professional person drawing my blood. I’m a very hard stick and they always seem to find a vein and listen to my input. Izzy the main or head person always treats me a part of the family!

If I could give a zero stars I would. Came in to take a blood test, and it was packed. Wouldn’t be a problem if they had more than one person working there. It wasn’t until an hour and a half later did they call my name, only to tell me they couldn’t draw my blood because my doctor wasn’t a valid doctor. Are you kidding me? These are questions you should ask prior to having your patients waiting for all that time.

This place is awful! They lost my lab submissions and waited 24 hours to then contact me and tell me I didn’t turn them in. Not only were they turned in, the man who took them confirmed they were in the bag provided and then made me sign to confirm. The woman kept screaming at me that I had not brought them in. They are so horrrible and I“m so mad right now I could scream myself.

Worst lab I’ve ever been too. I brought my 8 year old daughter here about a year ago and they kept poking her over and over again, while she kept very calm and compliant she was sobbing in pain! I had to tell them to stop! No sympathy for my child!
Second encounter was today, when I walked in to pick up a specimen cup for my dad (he needs to give them a stool sample to check for h. Pylori) anyhow, I asked the older Asian lady with short hair for it and she with a mute expression gave it to me. I was waiting for her to give me instructions, she didn’t so then I asked her what to do immediately after he «goes» in the cup. She then very reluctantly and as if I was bothering her told me that I had to put in the freezer, with a «duh!» expression on her face! Such an uncomfortable and unnecessary way to go about this. Sucks I gotta go back!

In and out in 15 minutes! Just how I like it!
My doctor recommended that I came to this location as it was near my job. I needed to draw blood! Oh great, I don’t usually have good experiences when I draw blood, I’m usually getting poked about 3 times before I actually get enough blood that I need.
I scheduled an appointment through the phone system on Friday, which is not the best method to me but luckily everything worked out and I got an appointment for the following working day! I scheduled to be here at 730am but since I love my sleep so much I walked in here at 8am. There is no wait at all! As soon as I walked in I was being helped!
P.S-There is parking! I didn’t have to lose my mind looking for a place to park or being worried about meters! Yayyy! A+ FOR THAT! Place is really easy to find!
As soon as I walked in there was a sexy Caucasian man working at the desk. I joked with him that I had been fasting since 8pm and I needed to eat! So hurry please and draw my blood LOL. «Well that means stop what im doing right now then huh», he joked back. He stopped what he was doing and took great care of me. :)
Although I had to get poked twice! He made up for it by being sexy and saying that he lived in Castro Valley! What! Same city as me! Another A+! :)
Ok so you get it, right? Ill be here again if I need to draw blood! I was in and out in 15 minutes and everyone was so nice!
If you come early their is no reason you shouldnt have the great experience I had! :)

This is my 2^nd visit to a quest diagnostics and have to say was very impressed. I had an appt so they immediately processed me. Forgot my prescription — no problem — they quickly pulled it up and I was all set.
Overall their demeanor was very friendly and the phlebotomist was patient with my concerns. Pin prick and all my testing was done in 5.

This is my third different Quest office and, in my view, this is an excellent office. First, the reservation system was excellent. The website is easy to navigate, offers numerous time slots for the various offices and the personnel honor the reservations.
The office is easy to get to, clean, and there is ample street parking. I was checked in by Fely who was personable, fast and thorough and my phlebotomist was Marj. Marj is without question the best phlebotomist to ever «poke» me for blood. The first thing that you will notice is that Marj is confident and starts the day like she wants to get to work. We all look for that fabled phlebotomist that is so good that you don’t even realize when you have been stuck by the needle. I found her. I realized that she had poked me when she changed the first tube. It just doesn’t get any better than this!

Worst experience ever and I will not return here.
I needed blood work done per my Dr in the same bldg and they had no one in the waiting room so out of convenience I walked in. Took me right away and no wait. I instructed the nurse that a butterfly needle in my hand works best for me. (I hyperventilate and have had past traumatic events with needles) but I have figured out what works for me. No one ever retorts my request.
Except this nurse. She was stubborn and hard headed and insisted she look at my veins which of course gets my heart rate going and gets me worked up. Looked at both arms and decides she’ll take the vials from my hand… like I asked.
If a patient asks — you listen. It was in no way a reflection or dis-​trust in her abilities. I just know from experience what works for me. Next time I’ll just go to the labs at Sequoia.

Very timely and very friendly. Jeff did an amazing job and was very patient with me– I get really nervous when I need to have blood drawn and I had my three year old daughter with me. Thank you Jeff for your wonderful service!

This review has nothing to do with the actual location of this particular Quest Diagnostics; it is the corporate side I’m lodging a complaint about.
I went on a payment plan for a steep bill that wasn’t covered by my insurance. Actually, it was covered, but b/​c I was (and still am, sadly) on a high deductible plan I had to pay the whole thing. Anyhow, I decided to opt for the payment plan option, and got set up for that: $ 50/​mo until it’s paid off, interest free. I forgot about making the first payment online since when I went to pay I was at work and the site asks for the lab code and account number and I didn’t have my bill to refer to… the system can’t search by anything else but these two codes. Ug. So I got a notice saying, «you forgot to pay» and called that second to apologize and get back on track. I paid that moment via phone, and they reset my payment plan in May. I thought the payment they took was for April, and that another payment would be due in May, but the next statement I got said I had to pay in June, so I paid May, June, July, and August, on time, no issues. In mid August, three days after I pay my August $ 50, I get a call from a Collections Agency! WHAT?! Quest sent me to collections for not paying my APRIL bill! OMG. No one ever said anything to me about missing April when I paid in May and got the account reset. The person should have said «You need to pay April AND May today or we’ll send you to collections.»
When I called Quest to find out what’s up, they said, «yeah, we don’t send notices warning you about your account issues, we just send you to collections if you miss a payment. No notices go out.»
BEWARE the payment plan option!!! Don’t do it unless you can pay on the day or prior, no exceptions, and if you miss a day, but keep paying on their site, that doesn’t count. You will be given no leeway or notice or anything at any time altering you to the fact that you missed a payment by a day, even. But they’ll still take your money, naturally. :(

I was sent here following an appointment in the same building, I now know better to go to the San Carlos location.
I was here a total of about 40 minutes. I did not have an appointment so the amount of time is not my issue. My problem is 40 minutes and there were only 2 people ahead of me.
I also thought it was unprofessional for the lab tech to look at my paperwork and literally make a face and say ohhhh. And then repeat once in the room «ohhh your having a lot done». Mind your own business please.
Last– this may not be a common thing but I recall in the past some places will offer juice or something after having your blood taken. I had 9 vials which I did not realize prior (my fault) but a cookie or stick of gum would have been nice.

This is the worst organized most impersonal operation I have every encountered. The people that work there could care less which is probably due to managements poor efforts to automate everything. You can’t make an appointment with a live person. When you go to the website or call the automated attendant it doesnt work. or the website is down. Its such a bare bones crew that they close for lunch.

I have a medical condition so I have to have my blood drawn every six weeks. I also have a latex allergy — which has often been blown off by lab staff in other places (they assume that most people don’t really mean «allergy,» just a sensitivity). This office has been awesome about being timely, efficient and respectful of my allergy.
The bloodwork is shipped out to other facilities for completion — that’s pretty much every collection site available now. My doctors have my labwork mailed to me from Quest (in addition to the copy they get) and it’s usually sitting in my mailbox within three business days. If you lose your copy? Customer service can mail you another. Need the results sent to more than one doctor? No problem. Let’s just say that Sequoia’s lab wasn’t as helpful with some of these.
There’s only one person on shift after about 4 pm, so try and get in early!

Was recently quite disappointed to find out that most all of the blood work is sent to Sacramento, resulting in longer than expected turn around times. I walked in, asked how long it would take to get several blood panels completed. Some were a week or more. I can understand long turn around times for less common tests. So I started simple — how long would it take to get some panel items that I know are on a CBC (very basic blood test). 2 – 3 business days! I laughed and walked out. Hospital turnaround time on these items is like 30minutes to 3 hours. Even the Palo Alto Medical foundation urgent care facility turned around my CBC in 4 hours, and one of the tests that Quest was saying would take 3 business days, overnight! If you are eager to hear «negative» like I was, waiting like that is not pleasant, or industry standard.