When You Need Lab Results Fast!
If you are sick or injured and need lab work done, you probably don’t want to wait a week for results. You want answers now!
At Lonestar 24 Hour ER, we have a full emergency lab on-site. We can run the tests your doctor needs during the same visit. There are no follow-up appointments and long waits for a telephone call. You get answers now, and treatment begins as soon as possible.
No appointment or referral needed. Walk in any time.
Why Our Emergency Lab Is Different
At a doctor’s office or clinic, your blood samples are sent to a third-party lab. They get processed over a one to three day period, and then the results are given to the doctor’s office or clinic. You will either get a call to review the results, or schedule an appointment to get answers. Our lab is in our building. The techs who run it are ready to process your labs immediately. When your doctor orders a test, they begin work within minutes.
Note: Certain labs may require external testing and those are few and far in between. Most labs are processed in-house and ready before you are discharged from our facility.
What We Can Test For
Rapid Infection Tests (results in minutes)
- Strep throat
- Flu (A and B)
- RSV
- COVID-19
- Mono
Blood Work — Full Panels
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) — checks for infection, anemia, blood disorders
- Basic and Comprehensive Metabolic Panels — kidney function, liver function,
electrolytes, blood sugar - Inflammation markers — CRP, ESR — to look for infection or inflammation
- Troponin — the heart-attack marker — critical in chest pain
- D-dimer — checks for possible blood clots or pulmonary embolism
- Lactate — to check for severe infection or sepsis
- Thyroid panel
- Liver panel
- Lipase and amylase — for pancreas issues
- Blood cultures — when infection or sepsis is suspected
Urine Tests
- UTI and kidney infection screening
- Urine pregnancy test
- Drug screening
- Urine toxicology
Pregnancy and Women’s Health
- Quantitative HCG (blood pregnancy test) — detects pregnancy earlier and more
precisely than urine - Pregnancy confirmation and viability
- Hormone levels when needed
Men’s and Sexual Health
- STD and STI testing
- UTI in men
- Prostate-related bloodwork when needed
Drug, Alcohol, and Toxicology
- Blood alcohol level
- Drug screening
- Prescription drug levels (e.g., lithium, digoxin)
- Accidental ingestion or overdose screening
Other Common Tests
- Glucose and diabetes panel
- Electrolytes — sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium
- Coagulation tests (PT/INR) — especially for patients on blood thinners
- Arterial blood gases — for serious breathing or metabolic problems
If you don’t see a test you’re asking about, call us — we likely run it or can route you to the right place.
When You Need Labs Fast
Come in if you’re experiencing any of the following, and we can begin treatment today.
- Fever that won’t come down, or fever in a baby or immunocompromised person
- Sore throat, swollen glands, or trouble swallowing
- Cough, chills, body aches, suspected flu, RSV, or COVID
- Chest pain or pressure
- Shortness of breath
- Severe abdominal pain
- Painful urination, burning, or frequent urges
- Unexplained fatigue, weakness, or fainting
- Severe headaches
- Blood in urine, stool, or vomit
- Rapid heart rate or palpitations
- Confusion or sudden change in alertness
- Possible drug or medication overdose
- Pregnancy concerns — pain, bleeding, confirming pregnancy
- Suspected STD or STI
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Injury from an accident or fall
If you’re not sure what you need, just walk in and we can figure it out together.
The Benefits of Running Labs at Lonestar 24hr ER
- Results come back in minutes, not days Most rapid tests like strep, flu, RSV, COVID, pregnancy, and UTI will be ready in minutes. Blood work and cultures also come back during your visit. Your doctor orders these labs so he can diagnose you before you leave.
- An emergency physician reads your results No playing phone tag or scheduling an appointment days or weeks out. Your ER physician reads the results, explains what they mean, and creates a plan to get your treatment started immediately.
- Private, calm, and respectful Lab draws happen in a private room. If you don’t like needles or have difficult veins, our experienced team will make sure your blood draw is not painful. Our nurses have experience drawing blood for all ages, young and old.
- Safe testing for pregnant patients and children We use pregnancy-safe testing protocols. We will explain why, and what we’re ordering, including the safest option available for you or your child.
- No referrals, no waits You can walk in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No doctor’s order is required, and there is no long wait.
What to Expect When You Come to Lonestar 24hr ER
- Check-in is fast Walk in, give us your name and insurance info, and we will take you to a room. We have some of the
- fastest wait times in New Braunfels.
- The doctor orders only what’s needed An experienced emergency physician will examine you first, and only order the labs you need. We never waste your time, and we are transparent with our billing practices. If you have questions, feel free to ask — our team is happy to help.
- The draw itself is quick Most blood draws take a couple of minutes. Urine samples go to the lab within seconds. Rapid swabs (strep, flu, RSV, COVID) run right in the room. Our team has years of experience working in emergency rooms. You are in capable and skilled hands.
- Results come straight to your doctor There is no outside lab. Your emergency physician sees your results as they come in and updates you in real time.
- You leave with answers and a clear plan For most patients, we are able to diagnose and treat within the same visit. Prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy. We will also provide specialist referrals and home-care instructions as needed.
Questions Patients Ask
Do I need a referral or an appointment? No, you can walk in any time. You do not need a referral or appointment.
Will my insurance cover ER lab work? Most major insurance plans cover lab testing when it’s necessary in an ER setting. We will bill your insurance directly. If you want to check a specific plan, please give us a call and we will be happy to help.
How fast are emergency lab results? Rapid test (strep, flu, RSV, COVID, pregnancy, UTI) results are back in minutes. Blood work and metabolic panels usually come back within 30–60 minutes. Blood cultures can take longer, but we’ll explain the timing if they are ordered.
Can I get STD / STI testing here? We regularly test patients for common STDs and STIs. We treat what we can on-site.
Is the lab safe for children? Our team is trained to work with kids, including little ones who are scared of needles. For pediatric blood draws, our team will use smaller needles and take less blood. Parents stay in the room the entire time.
I have difficult veins. Can you still draw from me? Yes, our team is made up of experienced emergency nurses and physicians. They know how to take blood regardless of your health or situation.
Can I get a copy of my results? Yes, we will give you a copy before you leave. We will send them to your doctor or a specialist upon request.
Is lab work safe for pregnant women? Yes, a blood and urine test is safe during pregnancy. Just tell us so we can order pregnancy-safe tests, ensuring we take care of you and your baby.
Do you do drug testing? Yes, we can for medical reasons (accidental ingestion, overdose screening, medication levels). We don’t do employment or court-ordered drug tests.
