Testing Services

Alpha Laboratories understands the challenges of providing patient centric, efficient and effective diagnostic services and leading edge clinical solutions in a healthcare environment driven by continuous technology advancement and increasing expectations.

ECG

ECG

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a representation of the heart’s electrical activity recorded from electrodes on the body surface.
The ECG is widely used in patients with suspected or known heart disease. It can be used to measure any damage to the heart, how fast your heart is beating and whether it is beating normally and effects of drugs or devices used to control the heart (such as a pacemaker).

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Ecg trace

Holter Monitor

The Holter Monitor (also known as ambulatory electrocardiography device) is a device worn at home and at work which is used for continuous monitoring of heart rate and rhythm for 24, 48, or 72 hours. The Holter Monitor test allows your daily heart rhythm to be analyzed. A diary of routines is also kept to correlate activity to heart rhythm and rate and is widely used in patients with suspected or known heart disease. The extended recording period is used to identify occasional rhythm disturbances that would be difficult to identify in a shorter period of time as they come and go at various times throughout the day or night. The digital Holter is often used to find correlation between any abnormal rhythm and the patient’s symptoms, such as dizziness, palpitations, and shortness of breath or chest pain.

Book an Appointment Prepare for a test
Holter small

How to prepare for ECG/Holter Monitor?

1

There is no special preparation for the test. Make sure you shower or bathe before the electrodes are applied to your chest, since you won’t be able to do these activities while the test is in progress.

2

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any adhesives.

3

Please wear loose-fitting clothes. Buttons down the front of a shirt or blouse is preferable. This makes it convenient to apply the ECG electrodes, and also comfortably carry the monitor in a relatively discreet manner. No synthetic materials should be worn.

4

Some patients may be asked to have their chest shaved so the electrodes can stick.

Find a Location

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Showing 1-32 of 32 location(s)

Ajax - Bayly

95 Bayly St W, Ajax, ON L1S 4E5, Canada
208
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Wheelchair Accessible
Book an Appointment

Collingwood - Huron Street

28 Huron St, Collingwood, ON L9Y 1C4, Canada
Unit 102
Closed on Apr 1, 2024
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Wheelchair Accessible
Book an Appointment

Erin - Thompson Cresent

2 Thompson Crescent unit 2, Erin, ON N0B 1T0, Canada
Unit 2
Closed at 3pm for Tue and Thu
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

London - Barker Street

124 Barker St, London, ON N5Y 1X9, Canada
Unit 2
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

London - Gainsborough Road

990 Gainsborough Rd, London, ON N6H 5L4, Canada
Closed on Jan. 10th and Jan. 17th
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Closed Saturday, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Late
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

London - Oxford Street

140 Oxford St E, London, ON N6A 5R9, Canada
Unit 104
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

London - Southdale Road

510 Southdale Rd E, London, ON N6E 1A5, Canada
Suite 202
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

London - Wortley Road

190 Wortley Rd, London, ON N6C 4Y7, Canada
Closed for lunch between 12 - 1pm
Closed on Apr 17th, 2024 after 12 pm
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Closed Saturday, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

Markham - Yonge Street

7163 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L3T 0C8, Canada
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
LUNCH: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Wheelchair Accessible
Book an Appointment

Mississauga - Derry Road

3530 Derry Rd E, Mississauga, ON L4T 4E3, Canada
Unit 208
Family Day Operation Hour: Feb 17th 9 am - 1 pm and closed on Feb 19th
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Mississauga - Goreway Drive

6870 Goreway Dr unit 102a, Mississauga, ON L4V 1P1, Canada
Unit 102A
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Orillia - Memorial Avenue

119 Memorial Ave, Orillia, ON L3V 5X1, Canada
Unit 104
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Platinum

3465 Platinum Dr, Mississauga, ON L5M 7N4, Canada
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Stratford - Douro Street

444 Douro St, Stratford, ON N5A 0E6, Canada
Unit 106
Appointment only on Feb. 12th. Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Broadview Avenue

855 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 2P9, Canada
(Broadview & Danforth)
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests X-Ray US
Wheelchair Accessible
Book an Appointment

Toronto - College Street

622 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1B4, Canada
(College & Grace)
Suite 203
Closed on Feb. 26th and 27th
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
LUNCH: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Saturday:9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Late
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Dixon Road

245 Dixon Rd suite 112, Etobicoke, ON M9P 2M4, Canada
Suite 112
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday: 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early Late
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Don Mills Road

1262 Don Mills Rd. suite 206, North York, ON M3B 2W7, Canada
Suite 206
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early Late
Does: Lab Tests ECG X-Ray Covid-19
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Finch Avenue East

3420 Finch Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1W 2R6, Canada
(Finch & Warden)
Suite 204
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early Late
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Keele Street

2830 Keele St suite 304, North York, ON M3M 2G8, Canada
Suite 304
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Monday - Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Friday: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early Late
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Kipling Avenue

2291 Kipling Ave, Etobicoke, ON M9W 4L6, Canada
Suite 117
Family Day Operation Hour: Feb 17th 8:30 am - 11:30 am and closed on Feb 19th
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am - 11:30 am
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Lawrence Avenue East

2130 Lawrence Ave E suite 300, Scarborough, ON M1R 3A6, Canada
(Lawrence & Birchmount)
Suite 300
Family Day Operation Hour: Feb 17th 8 am - 1 pm and closed on Feb 19th
Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sat: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Diagnostic
Mon - Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: 9:00 am - 1:00pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidhttps://alphalabs.ca/admin/entriesays
Open: Weekends Early Late
Does: Lab Tests ECG US
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Midland Avenue

2025 Midland Ave suite 402, Scarborough, ON M1P 3E2, Canada
(Midland & Ellesmere)
Suite 402
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
LUNCH: 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Overlea Boulevard

45 Overlea Blvd suite b1, Toronto, ON M4H 1C3, Canada
(Don Mills - Overlea)
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 7:30 am - 12:30 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Late
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Toronto - Pape Avenue

751 Pape Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 3T1, Canada
Basement
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Book an Appointment

Toronto - St. Clair West

1223 St Clair Ave W suite 304, Toronto, ON M6E 1B5, Canada
(St Clair Ave W & Dufferin)
Suite 304
Closed on Wednesday Feb 14 and Family Day (Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon - Thur: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early Late
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Uxbridge - Campbell Drive

4 Campbell Dr, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R5, Canada
Unit 3
Closed on Mar 22, 2024
Mon-Thurs 9am to 5pm
Friday 9am to 1pm
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Vaughan - McNaughton Road

191 McNaughton Rd E, Vaughan, ON L6A 4E2, Canada
Unit 101
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sat: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Vaughan - Rutherford Road

2630 Rutherford Rd, Concord, ON L4K 0H2, Canada
A100
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early
Does: Lab Tests ECG
Wheelchair Accessible
Book an Appointment

Waterdown - Dundas Street East

255 Dundas St E unit 25, Waterdown, ON L0R 2H6, Canada
Waterdown
Unit 25
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon, Tue, Thur: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early Late
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Welland - Prince Charles Drive

555 Prince Charles Dr N suite 111, Welland, ON L3C 2T8, Canada
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Late
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment

Whitby - Anderson Street

5959 Anderson St, Whitby, ON L1M 2E9, Canada
Lower Level, L8
Closed on Family Day ( Feb. 17th and 19th)
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Closed Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Open: Weekends Early
Does: Lab Tests
Book an Appointment
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ECG FAQs

There are no risks as no electricity is sent through the body.

When the ECG test is complete, the data is sent to a lab where a report is created and returned to your doctor. Your doctor then uses the information provided by the ECG to diagnose and to recommend further treatment for you.

The ECG test takes approximately 10-15 minutes once you are called into the ECG Room.

An ECG is a painless, non-invasive procedure. The electrodes may feel cold when first applied. In rare cases, some people may develop a mild rash or irritation where the patches were placed.

You will need to bring a completed laboratory test requisition which has been signed by your doctor, and your health insurance card. If you were asked by your doctor to collect any specimen(s) at home, then also bring those with you at the time of your visit.

You do not require an appointment for an ECG test. The test is available at any of our Patient Service Centres (PSCs). Please see Patient Service Centre Locator for details of hours of operation, addresses, phone numbers and maps for our PSC’s.

You will be asked to lie down. The staff at our Patient Service Centre will clean several areas on your arms, legs, and chest, and then attach small patches called electrodes to the areas. It may be necessary to shave or clip some hair so the patches stick to the skin.

The electrodes are connected by wires to a machine that records the heart’s electrical signals .You usually need to remain still during the procedure. You may also ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds as the test is being done. Any movement, including muscle tremors such as shivering, can alter the results. So it is important to be relaxed and relatively warm during an ECG recording.

To locate Alpha’s Patient Service Centres click on Patient Service Centre Locator for a complete listing, including addresses, phone numbers, hours of operation, Google map and directions.

An electrocardiogram is a representation of the heart’s electrical activity recorded from electrodes on the body surface.

The ECG is widely used in patients with suspected or known heart disease. It can be used to measure any damage to the heart, how fast your heart is beating, whether it is beating normally, and effects of drugs or devices used to control the heart (such as a pacemaker).

A Holter ECG is a non-invasive test.

Special considerations:

  • The Holter Monitor may not be used in the shower.
  • Electrodes must be firmly attached to the chest – it is not allowed to remove the device or the electrodes so the equipment gets an accurate recording of the heart’s activity.
  • Avoid magnets, metal detectors, electric blankets and high-voltage areas while wearing the digital holter.

When a Holter monitoring study is complete, the data is sent to a lab where a report is created and sent to your doctor. Your doctor then uses the information provided by the Holter monitor to diagnose and recommend further treatment for you.

You will need to bring a completed laboratory test requisition which has been signed by your doctor, and your health insurance card.

It takes about 10-15 minutes for our staff to attach the electrodes to your chest and provide an explanation of the procedure. At the end of the continuous monitoring period requested by your doctor you must return to the same Patient Service Centre to disconnect the electrodes and return the Holter Monitor.

You must make an appointment for a Holter Monitor test. Please see Patient Service Centre Locator for details of hours of operation, addresses, phone numbers and map for our PSCs and call the location of your choice to schedule an appointment.

To locate Alpha’s Patient Service Centres click on Patient Service Centre Locator for a complete listing, including addresses, phone numbers, hours of operation, Google map and directions.

The Holter Monitor test allows your daily heart rhythm to be analyzed. A diary of routines is also kept to correlate activity to heart rhythm and rate. This test is widely used in patients with suspected or known heart disease. The extended recording period is used to identify occasional rhythm disturbances that would be difficult to identify in a shorter period of time as they come and go at various times throughout the day or night. The digital Holter is often used to find correlation between any abnormal rhythm and the patient’s symptoms, such as dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath, or chest pain.

The digital Holter Monitor records electrical signals via a series of electrodes attached to the chest.

Electrodes will be applied to your chest and connected to wires attached to an ECG machine. This small Holter ECG is carried in a small pouch worn around your neck or waist. The staff at our patient centre will attach the electrodes to your chest and explain the procedure to you.

You may be asked to keep a diary of activities (running, sleeping) you do while wearing the digital recorder. It is important that you accurately record symptoms and times they occur so that the doctor can match them with your Holter test findings.

The digital Holter Monitor continuously records and stores data for a one day period, or longer as requested by your doctor. When recording is obtained, you return the device to the same Patient Service Centre and all wires and electrodes are removed.

The Holter Monitor (also known as ambulatory electrocardiography device) is a device worn at home and at work which is used for continuous monitoring of heart rate and rhythm for 24, 48, or 72 hours.