Laboratory in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What the laboratory does, and who handles your sample
The laboratory examines samples from your body to explain what is happening inside it. A blood test, a urine sample, a throat swab, a piece of tissue removed at biopsy: each is analysed to answer a specific question about your health.
Two different roles are involved, and patients often mix them up. A laboratory technician runs the tests, operating the analysers that count your blood cells or measure your blood sugar. A pathologist is a doctor who interprets the more complex findings and examines tissue and cells under a microscope to reach a diagnosis. The technician produces the measurements; the pathologist applies medical judgement where a finding calls for it.
Most routine work is measured, checked and reported by the laboratory team. Your results then go to the doctor caring for you, who reads them alongside your symptoms and examination.
Dar Al Kamal Hospital's laboratory is open 24 hours a day, and it accepts walk-ins for most routine tests, so you can come in when it suits you.
When might you need a laboratory test?
- You feel tired, breathless or pale, and your doctor wants to check for anaemia
- You have a fever, sore throat or cough and need a quick answer on the cause
- You have diabetes, thyroid disease or high cholesterol and need regular monitoring
- You are planning a pregnancy, think you may be pregnant, or are having fertility investigations
- You have a planned operation and need blood grouping and pre-operative tests
- You take a blood thinner and need your clotting checked
- You want a general health check-up, or a test for employment or a visa
When is it an emergency?
Go to the emergency department or call 06 599 7777 immediately if you have chest pain, sudden breathlessness, heavy bleeding, fainting, confusion or a high fever with a stiff neck. Emergency blood tests are run as part of emergency care, around the clock. Do not wait for a routine test appointment when symptoms like these are present.
Blood tests
Blood tests are the largest part of the laboratory's work. The complete blood count looks at red cells, white cells and platelets. It detects anaemia, shows a raised white cell count in infection, and checks platelet levels. A peripheral blood smear adds a look at the cells themselves under the microscope.
Chemistry panels measure kidney function, liver function, blood sugar, cholesterol and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the previous two to three months and is used to diagnose and monitor diabetes. Thyroid function tests show whether the thyroid gland is underactive or overactive.
Other tests cover iron studies and ferritin, vitamin D and vitamin B12, inflammatory markers such as ESR, hormones such as prolactin, FSH and LH, and pregnancy testing with beta-hCG. Coagulation studies check how well your blood clots, and cardiac marker tests help the emergency team assess chest pain.
A full list of routine tests and how they work is on the blood test laboratory page.
Urine, swabs and microbiology
Urine tests look for protein, sugar, blood and signs of infection. A urine culture goes further: it grows any bacteria present, identifies the organism, and tests which antibiotics act against it, so treatment matches the infection.
Rapid tests on a swab give a quick answer for common infections, such as flu, strep throat, and RSV or rotavirus in young children. Microbiology covers cultures from urine, blood, wounds and swabs, on the same principle as the urine culture: identify the organism, then identify what treats it. Blood tests for viral hepatitis markers and stool or breath testing for H. pylori also sit within this work.
Histopathology
Histopathology examines tissue removed at biopsy or during surgery. The tissue is prepared, thinly sliced and examined under a microscope to reach a diagnosis about the cells themselves: whether they are inflamed, infected, or changed in a way that needs treatment. Your surgeon or treating doctor receives the report and explains it to you.
Blood bank and transfusion services
The hospital's blood bank supports patients who need a transfusion, whether for surgery, childbirth, anaemia or bleeding. The work covers blood grouping, antibody screening, crossmatching to confirm that donor blood is compatible with yours, and component support, which means providing the specific part of the blood a patient needs, such as red cells or plasma.
If you are having a planned operation or are pregnant, you may have blood typing and crossmatching as part of your preparation. Blood group is also checked early in pregnancy so that the maternity team can plan ahead.
Andrology
Andrology testing looks at male fertility. A semen analysis measures sperm count, movement and shape, and is usually one of the first tests when a couple is having difficulty conceiving. A semen wash for IUI prepares a sample so that it is ready for intrauterine insemination.
Andrology tests are arranged on referral from your clinician, who gives you instructions about abstinence and how to provide the sample. Your fertility or urology doctor then explains the findings and the next steps.
What happens when you come for a test
For most routine tests you can walk in at any time of day or night. Bring your identification, your insurance card, any request form from your doctor, a list of the medicines you take, and any previous laboratory reports.
Fasting matters for certain tests. A fasting blood sugar and some cholesterol panels need you to eat nothing for the hours before, usually overnight. Water is allowed and encouraged, because it makes the veins easier to find. If you are unsure whether your test needs fasting, call 06 599 7777 and ask before you come. During Ramadan, a morning fasting test can often fit naturally around your fast; check the timing with your doctor.
Timing can matter too. Some hormone tests are taken at a particular time of day or a particular point in the menstrual cycle, and some tests are timed against a dose of medication. Do not stop any regular medication before a test unless your doctor has told you to.
For a blood sample, a tourniquet is applied, a small amount of blood is drawn from a vein in the arm into tubes, and pressure over the site afterwards helps prevent bruising. Each sample is labelled with your details at the point of collection. The results go to the doctor who requested the test, who explains what they mean for you.
Understanding your results
Most results are compared against a reference range, the span of values seen in healthy people. Results outside the range are flagged so that your doctor can look at them closely. Your doctor reads each result together with your history, your symptoms and the pattern across several tests.
Reference ranges vary between laboratories, because they depend on the method used. Bring your previous reports so your doctor can see the trend over time. The direction of change often tells more than any single figure.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE insurance plans cover laboratory tests that a doctor orders to investigate a symptom or monitor a condition. Some specialised tests, including some fertility and andrology tests, need pre-approval from the insurer, so it helps to start that as soon as the test is requested.
Tests for employment, visa or travel purposes, and tests requested without a medical reason, are usually outside medical insurance cover and can be paid for directly. Confirm what your plan covers by calling 06 599 7777.
Conditions treated
- Anaemia
- Infection
- Diabetes
- Raised or low blood sugar
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Thyroid disorders
- Raised cholesterol
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Urinary tract infection
- Flu and sore throat
- Iron and vitamin deficiency
- Bleeding and clotting problems
- Blood transfusion needs
- Male fertility problems
- Tissue abnormalities found at biopsy
Services in this department
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk in for a blood test without an appointment?
Yes, for most routine tests. The laboratory at Dar Al Kamal Hospital accepts walk-ins, so you can come in without booking. Some specialised tests, including andrology tests, are arranged in advance on your clinician's referral.
Is the laboratory open at night?
Yes. The laboratory at Dar Al Kamal Hospital runs 24 hours a day, every day, so routine and urgent tests can be done at any time.
Do I need a doctor's referral for a laboratory test?
For most routine tests you can come in directly. A doctor's request is still useful, because it tells the laboratory exactly which tests answer your question, and the doctor who orders a test explains the result. Andrology tests such as semen analysis are done on clinician referral.
Do I need to fast before a blood test?
Only for certain tests, such as a fasting blood sugar or some cholesterol panels. If you are unsure whether your test needs fasting, call before you come; water is allowed and encouraged even when you are fasting.
How long until I get my results?
The time depends on the test. A routine blood count or rapid swab test is quick, while a culture has to grow before it can be read and histopathology takes longer. The laboratory or your doctor will tell you when to expect your result.
Does a high or low result mean something is wrong?
Not necessarily. A value slightly outside the reference range is often that person's normal, because the range describes a population. Its meaning depends on your history, symptoms and the pattern across several tests, which is why your doctor interprets it with you.
What can a laboratory test not tell me?
A single test rarely gives a diagnosis on its own. Results can be affected by recent illness, exercise, medication, fasting status and the time of day, and a normal result does not rule out every condition. Your doctor combines results with your symptoms and examination, and may repeat a test or order others.
Does the hospital have a blood bank?
Yes. Dar Al Kamal Hospital provides blood bank and transfusion services, including blood grouping, antibody screening, crossmatching and component support for patients who need a transfusion during surgery, childbirth or treatment.
Can I have a semen analysis at the hospital?
Yes. The laboratory provides andrology services, including semen analysis and semen wash for IUI, on referral from your clinician. You will be given instructions about abstinence and how to provide the sample before the test.
Should I stop my medication before a test?
No, unless your doctor has told you to. Bring a list of what you take, because some medicines affect results and the laboratory and your doctor need to know what you are on.
Are visa or employment tests covered by insurance?
Usually not. Tests requested for employment, visa or travel purposes are generally outside medical insurance cover because they are for a non-medical reason, though you can pay for them directly.
What is the difference between a pathologist and a lab technician?
A laboratory technician runs the tests and operates the analysers, while a pathologist is a doctor who interprets complex findings and examines tissue under a microscope to reach a diagnosis. Most routine results are measured and reported by the laboratory team.
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