Diagnostics labs in Chennai - Dime a Dozen

                                                                Source: Planetthrive.com 

If one were to take a survey of the number of labs in Chennai, the city of our residence, a mindboggling but unsurprising number would show up.   

In our 5 months at Apollo Specialty Hospital (ASH) lab tests made up almost one-fourth of the mammoth bill.  As with many things we realized there is Apollo, and then there is rest of the medical world.   Apparently their equipments and diagnostic procedures are cutting edge, a line of reasoning used to justify almost double the cost of tests done elsewhere.   

Once out of Apollo it was surely a tough act to follow for some of the specialized test.  But for the routine ones - after two years, various labs and multiple tests I have a few favorites.  Lister Metropolis tops the list, other close runner ups like the ‘24’ hour Anderson Lab, Hi Tech diagnostics and Dr. Lal Path Labs, which is our friendly neighbor.

Lister home service is timely in response, punctual, reliable, and emails me the reports and couriers the hard copies.  They rarely fumble and when they do, are quick to apologize.  Like the time a phlebotomist couldn't find the vein and tested my patience and my father’s arm beyond endurance.  Or the time when one inserted the needle wrong causing excessive bleeding.  I of course wasted no time in reporting the incident to the management.  They surprised me with quick follow-up, apologies and an explanation of the likely mistake. 

Chennai also has home services for x rays and ultrasounds.   

Our city touted as India’s health capital is Mecca for the ailing,   I guess we are lucky to be sick in Chennai.