Here at MLS Curacao, we go out of our way to make sure our patients receive the best care when they come in to us for testing. Our phlebotomy staff will draw blood quickly, safely, and efficiently to minimize the interruption to your day. From hematology, immunology, microbiology, to clinical chemistry and more, our highly trained team of scientists and pathologists work incessantly to ensure that you receive the most accurate, precise, and reliable test results in as little time as possible.

The idea of having your blood drawn can be an unpleasant thought for anyone, but it can be especially stressful for the little ones. At MLS, we pride ourselves in making everyone feel at home, especially children. An extra gentle touch, a warm smile, a colorful lab coat, and a room dedicated especially to them – we do what it takes to make your little ones feel at ease.

We also know that the unknown is usually what children fear most, so we do our very best to give children (and their parents) as much information as possible about the blood collection process. For example, based on the test requested, we’ll let them know whether the blood will be drawn from the arm or from the finger. And of course, we’ll be honest and say that it might hurt just a little – and it’s absolutely allowed to cry, if it helps them feel better.

As a parent, there is a lot you can do to help your child feel at ease: you can hold a little one on your lap, or keep them in their own comfort chair, or let an older child bring their favorite teddy or book to help distract them. Talking about the experience afterwards can help convert a potentially traumatic experience into a pleasant one, which will make possible future visits much more comfortable.

The next time your child needs to have a lab test done, come see us and rest assured that you and your little ones are in good hands.

There are times when a visit to the laboratory can prove extra difficult. It is part of our ethos at MLS to place ourselves in patient’s shoes – so don’t hesitate to contact us if you require special assistance, such as blood collection at home or in the car, and help when bringing special needs patients to the lab.

Blood collection at home

When a visit to our laboratory is not possible for patients such as the elderly, or the physically or mentally disabled, the physician or specialist can send in a request for us to make the necessary arrangements to collect the blood in the comfort of the patient’s own home.

The physician or specialist must clearly indicate whether or not the patient needs to be fasting, so that we can plan the appointment adequately. They will also make sure that we receive the application form in time, or may give the application form to you to present to us. Please make sure that you have all the required documents at hand at the time of your appointment.

If for any reason you have to cancel or reschedule your test, we would greatly appreciate your notifying us ahead of time.

Blood collection in the car

If you are at our premises, but are unable to get to the waiting room for some reason, we will be happy to accommodate you by drawing your blood in the car.

Please bring this to the attention of the reception staff, or ask someone accompanying you to do so, and we will make the necessary arrangements to cater to your needs. Just make sure that all required documents are at hand.

Special needs individuals

It can be the case that a patient who is physically or mentally disabled is well enough to visit the lab, but might still require special attention. If the thought of having their blood drawn can cause a mentally disabled person to be extra sensitive to their surroundings, for instance, we will help put them at ease by taking them into a private room where they can feel more at ease. Just let a member of our reception staff know and we will ensure that everything is done for your loved one to have the best possible experience