Medical Investigation Facility
The Medical Investigation Facility provides specialized testing for children and youth.
Your child's doctor schedules your child or youth for testing appointments in the Medical Investigation Facility.
The facility is mainly used by the Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit. The Biochemical Genetics Clinic and the Multi-organ Transplant Clinic also use it.
Learn more about endocrine testing in the Medical Investigation Facility testing brochure (PDF).
Referral information
Your child or youth needs a referral from a doctor to visit the Medical Investigation Facility.
Appointment details
If you need to cancel your appointment once it is scheduled, please contact the clinic as soon as possible so that another patient can use your appointment time.
Preparing for your visit
- For some tests, your child needs to fast from the night before or take medications a couple of days before the test. Your doctor will give you specific instructions
- Most tests in the Medical Investigation Facility need an intravenous needle (IV). The IV is how we deliver medications and draw blood samples (if we need more than one blood sample)
- If your child or youth is afraid of needles, you can buy a non-prescription cream such as EMLA® or Ametop™ to numb the skin. Most pharmacies sell these creams. Put the cream on at least one hour before coming to the Medical Investigation Facility
- Please bring your child's BC Services Card/CareCard
During your appointment
When you and your child or youth arrive in the Medical Investigation Facility, you will meet the nurses. They will settle your child or youth onto a stretcher with a warm blanket and prepare them for the test. There is a large collection of children’s movies and a television for each patient. Your child will be able to watch television or pick a movie before the test starts.
Depending on the type of test, once we have put in the IV and started the test, your child or youth will need to rest on a stretcher for one to eight hours.
Clinic staff will be available throughout the procedure to support you and your child or youth.
Contact us
Address:
Room 2C30
BC Children’s Hospital
4480 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3V4
Directions: Go to the Medical Day Unit area on the second floor of the hospital. Follow the signs from the elevators or stairs to MDU/MIF.
If you are unsure about how to prepare your child for their visit, you are welcome to phone us.
Phone: 604-875-2345, extension 7591
Fax: 604-875-2098
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Indigenous Health
We advocate for and provide support to Indigenous patients and families who are visiting the hospital.