A new medical lab is ready to open doors in Vernon, giving residents an improved space to get their medical testing done.
Dynacare held a ribbon-cutting on Thursday for its new, spacious medical laboratory at 102-5240 Anderson Way. The laboratory is set to open to the public on Monday, April 8, at 7:30 a.m.
The Dynacare laboratory and Health Services Centre is replacing the Valley Medical Lab on 31st Street in the Railway Plaza, which had its last day of operation Friday, April 5. Dynacare acquired Valley Medical’s two Vernon labs in May 2023, and Thursday’s ribbon-cutting was a step towards transitioning those labs to the Dynacare brand.
The new facility currently has three stations for taking samples, with room to expand to six stations after getting approval from the Ministry of Health, and once demand for the lab’s services rises.
CEO Vito Ciciretto said Dynacare has 170 locations in Canada, but none of them have as good a view as the new Anderson Way location, which has large windows along its west side, allowing natural light to make for a pleasant ambience.
“This is our newest collection centre that we’ve opened,” Ciciretto said. “We’ve doubled the capacity (compared to the 31st Street location) and we’ll be able to take north of 250 to 300 patients a day in this location.”
Four people are staffing the new location, and those staff are transitioning from the 31st Street lab that is now closed.
Ciciretto said one thing the new lab will provide that can’t be found elsewhere in Vernon is a non-invasive pre-natal test.
“Having locations like this allows us to offer that test more broadly,” he said.
Vernon city councillors Brian Guy and Kelly Fehr attended the ribbon-cutting event.
“I think historically we’ve had quite long wait times when it comes to laboratory services in Vernon,” Fehr said. “With the moving of this (lab) over to this new location and the addition of new booths, I think it will serve our community well over the next few years.”
Kara Kirkwood, Dynacare director of operations for B.C., said the hope is that the new facility will make for shorter lab wait times in the community.
Guy added that the bright new space is a more welcoming, friendly environment for people making use of the lab’s services.
“And as the Okanagan has an aging population, larger than much of the province, I think this (facility) is well-needed and well-timed, and will definitely serve our community well,” Guy said.
Dynacare regional manager Hugo Nunez Angel said the lab will be able to process any blood work — including hematology, chemistry and microbiology — on top of taking urine samples.
The Dynacare lab will be open for walk-ins from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. It will also be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, by appointment.
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