If your child needs lab work, you may have questions. We are here to guide you through each step and make the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

What if my child needs extra support?

Our child life specialists can help your child feel more comfortable during their lab test.

This support is especially helpful for children having their first blood draw, feeling anxious or who have sensory needs.

Our child life experts can:

• Prepare your child for what to expect, using language they can understand
• Create a coping plan and offer tools to manage pain
• Use play, distraction and calming items to help your child relax

Child life services are free and available at our Milwaukee and Appleton campuses from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please request child life support when planning your visit or when you arrive. We will provide it as much as possible, but it is not guaranteed.

Do you accept walk-ins?

No. All lab tests require an appointment.

How do I make an appointment?

Call (414) 607-5280 to schedule your child’s lab test at any of our lab locations.

How long does it take to get results?

Your child’s provider will receive results as soon as they are ready and will contact you to discuss them. Timing may vary depending on the test.

We know blood draws and other lab tests can feel scary. We use distraction, simple explanations and child-friendly tools to help your child feel as comfortable as possible.

Before the test

Preparing your child ahead of time can help lower stress. Talk to them about what will happen in simple, honest language.

You might say, “There will be a small pinch to get some blood. The blood tells the doctor information about your body. Your job is to hold still and take big breaths. While they are getting the blood, we can play with the tablet.”

Let them know what choices they’ll have and create a coping plan together. Bring along comfort items to help them relax. For younger children, this might be a favorite blanket, stuffed animal or book. For older kids and teens, consider a fidget item, stress ball, tablet or phone.

If your child is anxious about pain, you have options.

Pain relief options may include:

• Numbing spray at the lab
• An ice pack before the draw to numb the area
• Prescription numbing cream that you apply ahead of time (ask your child’s care team)

During the test

Our labs are full of age-appropriate distractions, from toys and games to tablets and sensory tools. Some children find vibrating devices like Buzzy or sensory tools like ShotBlocker helpful for reducing pain. We have both available in our labs, or you may bring your own.

If your child is sensitive to the pressure of the tourniquet (“tight band”), you can ask for the lab tech to place it over clothing or a paper towel. Throughout the test, encourage your child to take deep breaths and keep their arm still and relaxed.

After the test

After you head home, it’s key to help your child process the experience. Medical play at home can be a helpful way for kids to “play out” what happened. They can pretend to draw blood from you, a stuffed animal or a toy. This can help you understand what they remember and how they felt.

Acknowledge their feelings, even if the experience was hard. You can say, “It’s okay to be afraid, but I know you can do hard things.”

If they’ll need another test in the future, review your coping plan together and focus on the choices they can make. Remind them why the doctor needed a blood test in simple terms, such as, “Your blood tells the doctors how the inside of your body is working.”