I can see all kinds of possibilities, but with modern information
systems the results don't get "lost". They may have been mailed to the
wrong doc (lab error), the doc's office misplaced them (not a lab error).
You were expecting that the doctor would automatically contact you when
your results came back, but they didn't. I hear this a lot from people
in my family. When you contacted the doc he probably had his staff hunt
down the report and couldn't find it - and then blamed the lab. Once
they called the lab a report was reprinted and mailed.

The new regulation say that if you want to see your report you have
every right to do so. You probably won't understand it unless you have
some kind of medical background.

John

Multiply header groups removed.

Well, this sounds a bit like the excuse the ED / ER is always giving
patients, and that is:  "We are waiting for the lab results".  This despite
the fat that the location had the result 45 minutes ago and within 1/2 of
the specimens being drawn.  It is a catch all excuse that the patient has no
way of disproving and is willing to believe.  It saves one from telling to
patient or a patient's relatives that the doctor is busy with another
patient, or they are trying without success to get another doctor to take
the case. E.g., mother ask this question about my father having been in the
ER 4 hours with no apparent discussion she was told "oh the lab results are
not back yet".  This I knew to be an out right lie.  Although who can say
what happened in your case, I frequently catch physicians in explanations
that are mere creative fiction.

It is definitely reasonable to request a copy of your test results,
for your own personal records. You are in charge of your health.
Especially since so much time had gone by without them contacting you,
I think for your own peace of mind having the report in your hand
should reassure you the tests were completed.  If you are still
concerned, you may want to contact the lab.
Linda C.

Begin by asking your physician which pathology lab received the tissue
samples from your colonoscopy.  Ask if a specimen log is kept in his/her
office to track tissue samples sent for path consult.  If there is a log,
ask to see the entry for your endoscopy and biopsy.  If there is a log and
your name does not appear, then the biopsy was mishandled at your
physician's office.  If a log exists and your name and information are in
it, then the pathology lab is responsible for the biopsy.

Ask these questions, reasonably but insistantly and see how rapidly results
may be found.  Demand a hard copy and compare the demographic data to your
own.