What Lab Tests Are Available at Urgent Care?

When you’re not feeling your best, figuring out what’s going on with your health can feel overwhelming. Maybe you’re experiencing unexplained fatigue, a lingering cough that won’t go away, or digestive issues that make everyday life uncomfortable. In moments like these, lab testing can provide essential answers—and you don’t have to wait weeks for results from a primary care doctor.

Urgent care centers like TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track offer a wide range of lab tests, providing quick, accurate information about your health. From blood tests to rapid diagnostic screenings, these tests help identify conditions, confirm diagnoses, and guide treatment plans. The convenience of getting lab tests done at urgent care means you can skip the long wait times of traditional labs and get back to your life sooner.

Lab testing isn’t just for when you’re feeling sick. It can be part of preventive healthcare, ensuring conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and infections are detected early. Whether you need lab work as part of a routine check-up, for a school or work requirement, or to pinpoint the cause of new symptoms, we can help. 

Blood Tests: A Window Into Your Health

Blood tests are one of the most fundamental diagnostic tools in modern medicine. By analyzing a small sample of your blood, healthcare professionals can assess your overall health, detect potential problems, and monitor chronic conditions. Blood tests provide crucial information that helps doctors make informed decisions about your care.

At TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track, we offer blood tests for:

• Glucose Levels: High or low blood sugar levels can indicate diabetes, prediabetes, or issues with insulin regulation. Monitoring glucose is essential for diagnosing and managing diabetes effectively.
• Cholesterol: A cholesterol test measures LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides to assess heart health and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Iron Levels: Low iron can lead to anemia, while high iron might suggest hemochromatosis or other health concerns. Tracking iron levels helps diagnose and manage these conditions.
• Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, carries oxygen throughout the body. Abnormal levels can signal anemia, lung disease, or other underlying conditions.

Blood tests are quick, straightforward, and incredibly insightful. If you’ve been feeling unusually tired, have concerns about diabetes or heart health, or need pre-surgery bloodwork, urgent care can provide the answers you need.

Urinalysis: A Simple Test with Big Insights

Urine might not seem like a powerful diagnostic tool, but it offers a wealth of information about your body’s internal functions. A urinalysis can detect infections, kidney issues, metabolic conditions, and more—all from a single sample.

Our urinalysis tests can help diagnose:

• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): UTIs are common but often overlooked until symptoms become unbearable. A urinalysis can quickly detect bacteria in the urine, allowing for prompt treatment.
• Kidney Problems: Protein, blood, or abnormal substances in the urine may indicate kidney disease or damage.
• Diabetes: High glucose levels in urine can suggest diabetes or poorly controlled blood sugar levels.
• Pregnancy: Urine pregnancy tests provide fast, reliable results to confirm early pregnancy.

Urinalysis is non-invasive, fast, and informative—making it one of the most commonly requested lab tests in urgent care settings.

Stool Tests: Digging Deeper into Digestive Issues

Digestive problems can be tricky to diagnose without the right tests. Stool tests analyze samples to detect infections, digestive disorders, and even signs of more serious conditions like colon cancer.

Our stool tests help identify:

• Colitis: Inflammation of the colon can cause diarrhea, pain, and cramping.
• Crohn’s Disease: This chronic condition affects the digestive tract, and stool tests can help monitor inflammation levels.
• Parasites: Intestinal parasites can cause nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
• Blood in Stool (Stool Guaiac Test): Hidden (occult) blood in stool may be an early sign of colorectal cancer or gastrointestinal bleeding.

When digestive symptoms linger or intensify, stool testing provides critical insights that can guide effective treatment.

Rapid Testing: Immediate Answers When It Matters Most

Time matters when you’re feeling unwell, especially when contagious illnesses are involved. Rapid testing offers quick results, allowing for timely diagnosis and immediate care when needed.

At TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track, we provide rapid testing for:

• Flu: Influenza symptoms can mimic those of other respiratory illnesses. A rapid flu test confirms the presence of the virus within minutes.
• Strep Throat: Strep bacteria cause throat pain, fever, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Rapid strep testing helps confirm the infection so that antibiotics can be prescribed if needed.
• COVID-19: Testing remains essential for identifying and managing COVID-19 infections, protecting yourself and those around you.
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus): RSV can cause significant respiratory distress, particularly in young children and older adults. Rapid testing ensures quick diagnosis and early intervention.

Rapid tests empower patients and doctors to make faster, more informed decisions about treatment and isolation protocols.

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing: Private and Essential

STIs are more common than many people realize, and early detection is key to preventing complications and reducing transmission. We offer discreet, confidential STI testing services for conditions like:

• Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: These bacterial infections are easily treated if caught early but can cause complications if left undiagnosed.
• HIV: Early diagnosis allows for better management and access to lifesaving treatments.
• Syphilis: Syphilis can cause severe complications if untreated, but testing is quick and straightforward.

Regular STI testing is essential for anyone who is sexually active, particularly if you have new or multiple partners.

Allergy Testing: Identifying Hidden Triggers

Allergy symptoms can mimic those of other conditions, making it difficult to identify triggers without proper testing. Allergies can cause sneezing, skin rashes, respiratory issues, and more. Our allergy testing services can help determine which substances may be causing your symptoms.

We test for allergies to:

• Pollen and Mold: Common outdoor allergens that cause seasonal symptoms.
• Pet Dander: Cat and dog dander are frequent culprits of year-round allergy symptoms.
• Dust Mites: Microscopic mites can cause sneezing and congestion indoors.
• Certain Foods: Food allergies can cause reactions ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

With the right allergy information, you can better manage symptoms and improve your daily comfort.

Glucose Testing: Monitoring Blood Sugar for Better Health

Glucose testing measures the sugar levels in your blood, providing essential information about metabolic health. High or low glucose levels can indicate various conditions, from diabetes to hypoglycemia.

We use glucose testing to:

• Screen for Diabetes: Diabetes is increasingly common, but early detection helps patients manage the condition effectively.
• Monitor Existing Conditions: For individuals with diabetes, routine glucose checks help track the effectiveness of treatments.
• Evaluate Symptoms: Fatigue, excessive thirst, and blurry vision can all signal glucose-related issues.

This simple yet powerful test can provide critical insights into your body’s energy regulation.

Throat Culture Test: Targeting Bacterial Infections

When sore throats linger longer than expected, a throat culture can identify the underlying cause. This test involves swabbing the back of the throat to check for bacterial infections like:

• Strep Throat: Caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, strep throat requires antibiotics for treatment.
• Other Bacterial Infections: Throat cultures can also detect less common bacteria contributing to symptoms like pain, swelling, and fever.

Prompt diagnosis through a throat culture ensures proper treatment and faster recovery.

Back-to-School and Sports Physicals: Meeting Requirements with Ease

Many schools and sports programs require physical exams and basic lab tests to ensure participants are healthy and safe. We make the process quick and convenient, providing:

• General Health Assessments: Checking height, weight, and basic vitals.
• Lab Tests for Specific Requirements: Some programs may require urine or blood tests to screen for conditions like anemia or diabetes.
• Injury Risk Evaluation: Identifying factors that might increase the risk of injury during physical activity.

Whether it’s the start of the school year or the upcoming sports season, we’re here to help.

Visit Us for Lab Testing in St. Petersburg

If you need lab testing in St. Petersburg, you don’t have to go far. Our St. Petersburg 4th Street Urgent Care is conveniently located at 4949 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL. We’re near familiar landmarks like The Fresh Market, Kahwa Coffee Roasting, and The Shoppes at 4th Street North, making it easy to fit lab testing into your day. At TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track, we offer a wide range of lab tests to meet your needs, from routine screenings to more specialized diagnostics. Our experienced medical team is here to provide accurate results quickly, so you don’t have to wait long to get the answers you need.

Convenient, Accessible Care When You Need It

With 20 convenient locations across the Greater Tampa Area, we make healthcare accessible when you need it most. Our On My Way System allows you to fill out your paperwork online before you arrive, helping you skip the waiting room and get seen faster. We’re open 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so you can visit us at a time that fits your schedule. For reliable, convenient lab testing in St. Petersburg, visit TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track—because your health deserves answers without the wait.