In short
- You can check any Abu Dhabi health facility on TAMM, by name or by licence number.
- Ask the facility to confirm that it is licensed to collect samples at home.
- After a video consultation, a doctor can request laboratory tests under the DoH standard.
- Malaffi links providers’ records in the emirate, so ask whether your results will be shared.
Three lookups on TAMM
| What you want to know | Where to look | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Is this facility in the DoH list? | Find a Health Facility | Its type and area. You can also filter by whether it accepts insurance. |
| Is this licence number eligible? | Search with Facility License Number | A number starting with MF or PF, followed by numerals |
| Who is this professional? | Find A Medical Professional | Their profession and area. Results show a licence code. |
Questions worth asking the lab
- Is your facility licensed by DoH to collect samples at home, and what is your facility licence number?
- Who will come to my home, and are they licensed by DoH?
- Which laboratory will test my sample, and how long should it take to get there?
- Who will explain the results if something is abnormal?
- Does my insurance cover this test, or will I be paying for it myself?
A licensed facility should be comfortable answering these. If a provider cannot give you a licence number you can check, think about choosing another.
Testing at home, and where it fits with a doctor
The DoH Standard on Tele-Medicine recognises this kind of pathway. During a tele-consultation, a physician can request pathology tests from any provider that suits the patient, including point-of-care testing. The standard defines point-of-care testing as testing outside a licensed laboratory, which can include a patient’s home.
So one sensible route is to talk to a doctor first, have the sample collected, and then go back through the results with the same doctor. If you start with the test instead, you can still book a video consult afterwards. A result on its own rarely tells the whole story.
Your records and getting ready
Malaffi is the health information exchange that connects public and private healthcare providers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, giving them a unified patient record. Ask your facility how your results will be recorded, and keep a copy for yourself.
As for preparation, the NHS notes that some blood tests may need fasting or changes to certain medicines. Your lab or doctor should tell you exactly what to do. Do not stop a medicine because of a test unless a clinician has told you to.
If you feel seriously unwell while waiting for a test or a result, do not wait. Call 998 or go to the nearest hospital.
Booking through medicAI
You can book from a test page in the medicAI app, which explains what the test checks and shows the price. Add your address, pick a date and time, and pay online. A licensed partner lab collects the sample and tests it, and the results come back to your health record next to your vitals and documents. Partner labs in the emirate are licensed by DoH and are responsible for their service. See lab tests at home for more.
The tests you can book yourself on medicAI are over-the-counter tests, so you do not need a doctor’s consultation first. If you want help choosing a test or understanding a result, you can talk to a doctor.
Questions people ask
How do I verify a lab’s licence in Abu Dhabi?
Use Search with Facility License Number on TAMM, which checks a number starting with MF or PF. You can also find facilities by type and area with Find a Health Facility.
Can a doctor order a test after an online consultation in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. The DoH Standard on Tele-Medicine allows a physician to request pathology tests during a tele-consultation, from a provider that suits the patient.
Where will my home test results go?
On medicAI, results come back to the app and appear in your health record. Ask the testing facility whether it also shares results through Malaffi, the Abu Dhabi health information exchange.
Sources and further reading
- DOH Standard on Tele-Medicine, September 2020 (archived copy) (DoH)
- Find a Health Facility (TAMM)
- Search with Facility License Number (TAMM)
- Find A Medical Professional (TAMM)
- About Malaffi (Malaffi)
- Blood tests (NHS)
Read next
medicAI is not for emergencies. If someone is seriously ill or injured, call 998 or go to the nearest hospital.
This page is general information. It does not replace advice from a doctor who knows your situation. medicAI is a technology platform. Care is given by independent licensed facilities, who are responsible for it and for its outcome.
