Quest Diagnostics

Went here for a standard blood test. Made an appointment before and showed up 5 minutes early. They saw me on-​time, with minimal fuss. Only downside was that there was only one person working. With a few more patients, the wait could be relively extended.
The review would be five stars if my bandaid was Power Rangers themed. Unfortuently, it was just a piece of gauze and tape.

I went last week and found Charlene working all alone. I got there right after lunch ended at 12:45, expected a wait, but was the only one there!
Had to pee in a cup and then Charlene took like 8 vials of my blood :(She’s a great phlebotomist and I barely felt the needle! It was quick, painless, and I was in and out within 15 mins.
Charlene goes around to different quest locations in SF so she might not be there next time. But if she’s there, you’ll know you’re in good hands.
You rock, Charlene!!!

Terribly understaffed– there’s one person to register, review/​copy/​file paperwork, *and* take all samples. The person who draws your blood, will also check with your insurance.
Everyone waited at least 45 minutes past their appointment time and walk-​ins were in purgatory. Half the appointments walked out. If you have to go here, make sure you have an appointment, because walk ins can wait hours. And bring a book either way.
Because it’s one person all alone, this person is pretty stressed out and is testy. Not ideal for someone who is about to stick needles in you! I wasn’t too surprised that by the time she got to me, she was very rough and it was the most painful blood draw I’d ever had. It hurt for days and I still have a big bruise — 10 days later and it’s 6“x5″! That’s crazy.

I had a horrific experience at this Quest site. The phlebotomist, Sonia, had trouble drawing blood and tried about 5 times before she was successful, leaving a 4 inch area of my arm bruised. She failed to order the correct tests on the blood sample so I had to go back a second time. The results came back and the numbers were completely off and my doctor suggested that Quest must have performed the test incorrectly (either she didn’t draw enough blood or indicated the wrong test) and suggested I try a third time at another lab. This time I went to Lab Corp on Ocean and they were able to draw the blood easily in one try and the results that came back were accurate.

Walked in without an appointment, was seen within 5 minutes and seated for blood draw right after. Sonia took *6 tubes* of blood from me, and all the while she was friendly, caring and gentle. She made it seem like no big deal and kept me calm ~ no easy feat since I hate needles and never look when they are extracting from my arm.
It’s a great location for me and simplifies getting blood drawn. Will definitely come back here for my health care needs.

I am giving a 3 star rating. Mostly because in the last two months I had to do out of the pocket blood work. I went to lab corp, the first time, and just assumed costs would be similar. So I didn’t question it, I thought for the convenience in location and times of appts available I would just go here. WRONG. It was double the price. Literally the test that was $ 135 at Labcorp was $ 269 at Quest. A test that was $ 65 at lab corp was $ 152. Crazy differences, for the same vial of blood! The people were nice but not double as nice:)

Sonia who seems to run this location both times I have visited, is TERRIBLE. Both times, students initially were going to perform my blood draw, which is just not that comforting. The first time, Sonia — «the veteran» — actually ended up drawing the blood and it was SO PAINFUL. I literally yelled out in pain. The 2^nd time, yesterday, the student started and it was EVEN MORE PAINFUL!!! When the student called Sonia to take over, I panicked (because don’t they say that the definition of insanity is believing that if you do the same thing, a different outcome will occur?) and told her that I wanted to do the blood draw at a different location. Sonia seemed offended and said, «No one has ever complained, people actually come far away to have me draw their blood.» She conveniently forgot how I yelled out before in June.
I literally ran over to the Castro Quest location on, thinking — maybe I’m just a baby, maybe I have tiny veins, maybe I’m extra sensitive. NOPE. Gina at the Castro location did my draw and it was like BUTTER. I literally asked, «Did you put the needle in?!!» I was so grateful, especially since I had 6 blood vials to be drawn — so blessedly pain-​free.
Avoid Sonia — and the poor students who are forced to train with her — like the plague!!!