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Removing some sting from blood testing

By ROBBYN MITCHELL
Published July 31, 2006

Metuknuch waits patiently in a large brown living room chair in the lobby of King's Transmission in St. Petersburg as Raul Margarejo takes out a needle.

He fills two vials with Metuknuch's blood samples before collecting his $25 fee, in less than 10 minutes.

Metuknuch doesn't have time to go to the doctor's office and then sit for hours waiting to get his blood drawn.

He's the only mechanic at his job, and if he's not there, business halts.

That's why Metuknuch's doctor recommended @ Home Lab Services.

"This was highly recommended by my doctor," Metuknuch said. "I appreciate it because he is courteous, friendly, reliable and dependable."

And Margarejo would love to foster the same kind of relationship with all of his customers.

He and his wife, Nilda, extended their business of drawing blood for laboratory work, called phlebotomy, from nursing homes to personal residences and places of business two years ago.

Before, they were working with 300 nursing homes in Florida since 1992.

That relationship put the Margarejos in contact with the doctors who recommend them to busy patients now.

"People are always asking us, 'Why didn't you do this sooner?' " Nilda Margarejo said. "It's just really convenient."

Customers call and make appointments.

"I ask them if they have a doctor's order and what has the doctor asked for," Nilda Margarejo said.

Once the particulars are out of the way, she makes the appointment and gives a reminder call and sends to the residence one of 10 phlebotomists the company employs.

After performing the service, the employees collect the flat $25 fee, $13 of which is theirs to keep.

"We also reimburse them 30 cents per mile," Nilda Margarejo said. "So it's a pretty good deal."

[Last modified July 31, 2006, 06:25:11]