Analytical Laboratory
Our lab is the heart of the network
Features of Our Offer
- No appointment is necessary. Simply visit the healthcare facility during the listed hours of operation; however, you can better manage your time by scheduling your appointment. For any lab service, look in the drop-down menu for the option labeled “Lab Tests – Appointment” and choose the time that works best for you. If you need a personalized check-up, you’ll find it among the options available in the drop-down menu.
- No prescription is required.
- The costs of the services are extremely affordable and vary depending on the level of service requested.
- We offer services that are fully managed in-house at our Laboratory.
- We offer services processed and reported on an urgent basis.
- Results are reported quickly (same day!) and can be conveniently downloaded using the digital options provided by Toscana Diagnostica.
Home Pickup Service for Personalized Assistance
- For patients who prefer the comfort of their own home, we offer a home blood draw service by appointment in Florence. To request this service, please email supporto.clienti@toscanadiagnostica.it. We recommend booking at least 48 hours in advance, but we will carefully evaluate any urgent requests.
- On the scheduled day, our specialized staff will come to your home to perform the service in complete safety.
- Payment methods: Payment is typically made electronically, unless specific arrangements are made during the booking process.
- Online access to test results: Once the blood draw is complete, we’ll provide instructions on how to access your digital test results, in full compliance with privacy regulations. Test results are also available at our facilities.
Reference Documents
Below are some key documents developed by the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (SIBioC) that guide our quality management system.
Recommendations for Venous Blood Collection
Lippi et al., Clinical Biochemistry 2008
This is where every sample becomes an answer, and every test tube turns into a certainty.
“And this is where we made a choice that sets us apart: to handle everything in-house, from start to finish, without ever outsourcing the testing to external facilities.”
When you have a blood sample drawn at any location in the Toscana Diagnostica network, your sample arrives at our Central Laboratory in Sesto Fiorentino. It is analyzed here, validated here, and reported here. No intermediate steps, no transfer to third parties, and no gray areas in the process of your test.
How to Prepare for a Blood Draw
A blood draw is a safe and generally painless procedure, although it may cause some discomfort in certain individuals. At Toscana Diagnostica’s healthcare facilities, you can always let the staff know how you’re feeling and provide feedback, including on the physical effects of the procedure:
"Our goal is for every patient to feel welcomed and cared for."
The Withdrawal
The blood sample is typically drawn from the inner side of the arm by applying a tourniquet, which slows blood flow and allows for proper identification of the vein. It is important to inform the healthcare staff in advance of any allergies to the materials used during the procedure so that the necessary precautions can be taken.
The Collector
The specimen collector performs the procedure using specific equipment, a list of which is also provided inside the specimen collection kit. Please report any discrepancies you find from the instructions provided. For the collection of specific biological samples—such as urine, stool, fluids, tissues, and other materials—Toscana Diagnostica provides the necessary containers and collection kits free of charge; these must be picked up in advance at our healthcare facilities prior to collection.
Fasting for 8–10 hours beforehand
The scientific community agrees that patients should fast for at least 8–10 hours before having blood drawn. In the hours leading up to the test, patients may drink small amounts of water, but should avoid beverages that could affect the accuracy of the results.
Important Announcements
You must also always inform the healthcare staff of any ongoing medication, special dietary requirements, or relevant physical or mental health conditions. The healthcare staff will assess any potential interactions with the requested procedure and take the necessary precautions, if needed.
Quickly find the exams you need with our advanced search
Use the digital guide from our Florence Analysis Lab to filter results by category, specific tests, or other criteria. This will help you find the option that best suits your needs. Simplify the planning of your healthcare journey with an intuitive and comprehensive tool.
What We Analyze
Our laboratory covers the entire spectrum of laboratory diagnostics
The broadest range of routine diagnostic tests: blood glucose, lipid profile, liver and kidney function, electrolytes, cardiac enzymes, inflammation markers, specific proteins, and much more. These are the tests that support daily preventive care, treatment monitoring, and the management of chronic conditions.
Pathological Anatomy (Histology and Cytology)
We're one of a kind! Toscana Diagnostica performs the full range of pathological anatomy tests in-house, including histology
The examination of tissue samples obtained through biopsy or surgery, as well as cytology—the analysis of cells collected from biological fluids, secretions, effusions, fine-needle aspiration samples, and cervical-vaginal smears (Pap tests).
This approach reflects our philosophy of comprehensive management of the diagnostic process: the sample never leaves our network; every stage of the process—from fixation to embedding, from sectioning to staining, from examination to reporting—is handled in-house, with full traceability and guaranteed turnaround times.
The quality of the service is guaranteed by the contribution of pathologists with recognized scientific and international standing, who bring to the Toscana Diagnostica network experience gained in top-tier academic, hospital, and research settings. The review of slides is entrusted to specialists with expertise tailored to specific regions and pathologies, ensuring a level of diagnostic depth that goes beyond routine reporting and allows, when necessary, for collegial discussion and a second opinion provided within the same facility.
Pathology is the discipline that transforms a tissue sample or a group of cells into critical clinical information: an oncological diagnosis, a histological classification, or a grade that guides treatment. It is the point at which the pathologist’s expertise determines the patient’s course of care. That is why we have chosen not to outsource it, to invest in the best expertise available, and to make it an integral part of our network—with the same discipline and care we apply to every other area of the laboratory.
How We Work
Our laboratory uses state-of-the-art equipment and a high degree of automation. The path of each sample is digitally tracked from the moment of collection until the report is delivered. Every step of the process is documented and verifiable.
Analytical quality: not just a word, but a system
"Quality in our lab is a structured system"
Every day, before analyzing patient samples, our analytical lines undergo internal quality control (IQC) using certified reference materials. At the same time, we participate in External Quality Assessment (EQA) programs, which periodically compare our results with those of national and international reference laboratories. Our procedures are documented, kept up to date, and subject to regular internal audits. The laboratory’s Technical Director oversees the entire analytical system and ensures compliance with the standards established by the network and regional regulations.
Turnaround Times
"We know that waiting for test results can be a source of anxiety."
That is why we are committed to ensuring reliable and competitive turnaround times throughout the region. Routine tests are reported within 24 hours of the sample’s arrival at the laboratory. For many test panels, results are available the same day. Specialized tests and procedures that require more time (microbiological cultures, genetic tests, molecular analyses) follow specific timelines that are communicated at the time of sample collection. The report is delivered digitally and can be easily viewed on any device. If you prefer a paper copy, you can pick it up at the center where you had your sample collected.
The Digital Report
"Every report produced by our laboratory is available in digital format through our online delivery system."
Secure, accessible, and always available. The system fully complies with data protection regulations: access is protected by individual credentials, and data is transmitted and stored using appropriate encryption standards. The digital report isn’t just a convenience—it’s a clinical tool. It can be easily shared with your primary care physician, archived over time for longitudinal comparisons, and accessed wherever you are, without the risk of losing it.
Why Do Everything In-House?
"The decision not to outsource laboratory testing is a strategic and clinical one that directly affects the quality of the service you receive."
Handling everything in-house means managing the entire process, from the pre-analytical to the post-analytical phase. It means being able to intervene in real time if something doesn’t add up. It means ensuring that the result you see on your lab report has been produced, checked, and validated by people and instruments about which we know every detail. It’s also a commitment to our local community: it means investing in expertise, technology, and organizational capacity right here in Tuscany, creating a comprehensive and self-sufficient diagnostic network within the region.
Who We Serve
“Our laboratory serves everyone: the citizen who needs a routine blood test, the doctor looking for a reliable partner for more complex tests, the company that needs to manage the health monitoring of its employees, and the healthcare facility that needs qualified diagnostic support.”
We work with private patients who choose to come to us directly, with companies through occupational health and welfare agreements, and with insurance companies and health funds. To find out which agreements are in effect in your area, contact us or check directly at your nearest Toscana Diagnostica location.
The next step starts here
You can do this online through our reservation system, by phone, or in person at our centers.