What's the location like?

The City Lab clinic is conveniently located right near my home, which is a major plus. It's easy to get to and there's plenty of parking available.

How long do blood tests take?

Blood tests were quick and easy, usually taking no more than 15-20 minutes. The staff was friendly and made sure I was comfortable throughout the process.

What's the ultrasound department like?

Unfortunately, my experience with the ultrasound department was a total letdown. The technician seemed stressed and unhelpful, and the doctor seemed more interested in questioning my primary doctor's decisions than actually helping me.

How do you handle results?

Results were usually sent to my email promptly, but sometimes they were delayed or required multiple visits to obtain. It's frustrating when you're waiting for answers and they don't come through.

What's the quality of service like?

The quality of service has left me wanting. While some staff members were friendly and helpful, others seemed more interested in making a sale than actually providing good care.

Are prices reasonable?

Prices were higher than expected for some services, which is a major drawback. It's frustrating when you're already dealing with health issues and then you have to worry about the cost of treatment.

Can I get a second opinion?

Yes, you can definitely get a second opinion. I've had some great experiences with other clinics and doctors, and I would recommend seeking a second opinion if you're not satisfied with your current care.

What's the return policy like?

The return policy is pretty standard. If you're not satisfied with your treatment, you can request a refund or a transfer to a different clinic. However, it's always best to check with the clinic directly for their specific policies.

City Lab Clinic Review: Love-Hate Relationship

I've been dealing with some health issues lately, and I've been visiting the City Lab clinic more often than I'd like. Some of my doctor's appointments are covered by my health insurance, while others I have to pay for out of pocket. And not too long ago, a branch of the City Lab clinic opened up just a short walk from my place, so I decided to give it a try.

Location: Krasnodar

What I had done: Ultrasound, blood test, gynecologist appointment

I've been to this clinic more than once. I've had ultrasounds done on my breasts and pelvic organs, given blood samples to the gynecologist, and had blood drawn from my vein. I'm currently going through some medical check-ups and getting my teeth fixed.

REGISTRATION

I usually book an appointment in advance. For blood tests, I didn't need to schedule anything - they just told me to come in on an empty stomach. Since blood is usually drawn on an empty stomach, that made sense. If I needed a doctor's procedure, I'd book an appointment a few days in advance.

At the registration desk, there's a really nice woman who always recognizes me when I come in. I guess she has a good memory for faces.

If I'm coming in for a scheduled appointment, they usually call me the day before to confirm.

There was one time when they gave me the wrong lab results. Specifically, they told me to do one type of test, but they ended up sending me to do a different, more expensive one. The doctor talked to me, realized the mistake, and re-ran the correct test.

BLOOD TESTS

I had to give blood twice, and both times they took it very carefully. One time, my blood was really slow to fill the test tube, and the tourniquet wasn't removed. My arm started to numb, and then they explained that if they removed the tourniquet right now, it might cause a hematoma. Although it's easier to just remove the tourniquet, the blood would flow faster.

This was also a pleasant experience.

When it came to gynecology, they took the tests very carefully too. The doctor would explain everything she was doing beforehand, and also warn me about possible consequences, like a slight stomachache. This was all normal, and I had no questions.

Getting the results.

When I gave blood, I was told that the results would be sent to my email. But they only arrived once, and the rest of the time I had to call or visit the clinic to find out if the results were ready.

What really ruined the experience was the ultrasound.

I had to do three ultrasounds for my lower abdomen, and one for my breasts at the City Lab clinic. The first few appointments with the doctor were okay. I liked that she took her time to examine everything carefully. I've already written a more detailed review about the ultrasound for my breasts, which I'll link to at the end.

The second ultrasound for my lower abdomen really stressed me out. The ultrasound technician sees that everything is fine, but I see her searching for something to criticize. You can't really find anything.

I've had to do ultrasounds three times in a row. Every month, I have to do two ultrasounds - one at the beginning of my cycle and the other at the end. And this goes on for three months straight. One time, my regular doctor did the ultrasound, but the other time I had to go to a different location or do it at home, whichever I preferred. It's easier for me to just pay for it.

My first ultrasound experience with this doctor was smooth sailing. I didn't have any major issues. However, the second time around was a different story. The doctor seemed to be stumped, and she even asked me to undress twice. She wasn't happy that I'd eaten before the procedure. She said my intestines were in the way, and that the food had somehow made it into the area she was trying to scan. Although no one had warned me about this beforehand. She even suggested sending me home to get my previous ultrasound results so she could compare them.

I was a bit anxious about the third ultrasound, especially since the doctor had specifically asked me not to eat beforehand. The appointment was scheduled for 15:40, but I'd had a light lunch at 13:00. Still, she seemed to be bothered by the food in my system. She said everything looked perfect on the ultrasound, but then she started to nitpick. She said we might not be looking at things correctly, and that we should do more ultrasounds. She even suggested additional tests, which made me realize that they were trying to charge me more money.

I have to admit that my primary doctor is someone I trust 100%. And I trust the medical procedures she recommends. So, when this other doctor started questioning my doctor's decisions, it raised some red flags. She said gynecology is a complex field, and that she didn't understand why my doctor had ordered certain tests. She even suggested more ultrasounds and tests.

At this point, she was almost openly suggesting that I switch to their clinic for my ultrasound and other tests.

I've gotta say, it's really frustrating when doctors question the decisions of their colleagues. When they're like, 'Oh, you're doing it all wrong and we're losing money because of it.' Meanwhile, I'm just trying to get some help. But no, they're too busy seeing dollar signs to actually care.

My doctor ordered an ultrasound on the 9th day of my cycle. And of course, she started questioning that decision:

- Why on the 9th day?; - You should have done it on the 12th!; - Why did we even need to do it on the 9th??

And it just went on like that.

By the end of all those conversations, I just wanted one thing: for them to give me the results and let me go home already.

Now I'm getting dental work done. And let me tell you, the cleaning I got at another clinic was a disaster. But my dentist never once said, 'Oh, that clinic is terrible.' She just smiled and stayed quiet. Even when she saw me getting all worked up about how much they charged and how poorly they did the job. That's how a good doctor should behave, in my opinion. Not by badmouthing their competitors.

The ultrasound technician's job was to do the procedure, answer my questions, and give me the results in person. Not to question my doctor's decisions, which I trust completely. She sent me off with a heavy sigh, and it was clear she was disappointed. Not because I didn't have any issues, but because I did everything right and there was nothing to complain about.

And get this - my doctor actually told me to eat something before the procedure. She said, 'Have a snack while you wait.' Which is the opposite of what I've ever heard. If that was the case, they'd schedule me for the morning. But no, they just got upset that I had the nerve to have lunch before a 4-hour procedure in the evening.

THE VERDICT

I'm not going back to this clinic for any more ultrasound tests. I was really disappointed with the doctor I saw. She seemed great at first, but that was it. I'll still come back for blood work, though. That's about it.

Honestly, I wanted to write a review a month ago and give this place 5 stars. Now, I'm really disappointed. I'm giving it 3 stars. I'd still recommend it, but I hope they have branches with better doctors.

My other reviews:

- Ultrasound of the breasts

- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs

- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland

- Blood test for ferritin

- Complete blood count

- Chest X-ray

- Blood test for Helicobacter pylori antibodies