Ask and you shall receive…. Sometimes, it really is that easy. At least when it comes to a list of authorized labs in Panama.
If you are an expat who has gotten your Panama driver’s license, then you probably know that there are a couple of different ways to go about it. On one hand, you can go to Panama driving school, and then take a driving test. But most people opt to instead have their foreign driver’s license validated by their Embassy, and then to get a Panama driver’s license on that basis.
You can read all about the process here: How to Get Your Panama Driver’s License.
Either way, one of the steps involves going to an authorized lab to have your blood taken to confirm your blood type (“tipaje de sangre“). That’s because your blood type goes on you driver’s license to facilitate medical care in case of an emergency. That seems pretty logical—but a lot of people say they never even knew their blood type until they got their Panama driver’s license!
And for something as important as this, it also seems logical that the labs are subject to some regulation, and that only certain labs are authorized to confirm the data that will ultimately go onto your driver’s license.
So, an obvious next question is, “Which are the ‘authorized labs’ where I can do the blood work?” In fact, the question is so obvious that you might think that you could find the list of approved laboratories by visit the SERTRACEN website. SERTRACEN is the private company with an exclusive long-term contract with the Panamanian government to administer the driving tests and issue the Panama driver’s licenses.
But when you go to the SERTRACEN website and click the link for “Authorized Labs”, this is what you see:
Believe it or not, most people don’t find this very helpful.
This isn’t too much of a problem—especially if you are getting your driver’s license at SERTRACEN’s Albrook location. That’s because Laboratorio Clínico Fernández is an authorized lab, and they have a location right there in the same complex. And Laboratorio Clínico Fernández also has labs conveniently located all around Panama City.
Another one with numerous locations in Panama City is Laboratorio Raly, but they seem to take a little bit longer to deliver the results.
Anyway, a couple of our clients were at SERTRACEN today and politely asked about where they can see a complete list of labs in Panama that are authorized to confirm blood type for a Panama driver’s license. And you wouldn’t believe it—but the nice folks at SERTRACEN provided them with a 39-page PDF document listing labs in alphabetical order and by province. HERE IS THE LIST they received.
Bottom Line?
Would it be relatively simple to publish a list online for the public to identify labs that are authorized to confirm blood type for a Panama driver’s license? We assume it probably would be.
Is it possible that this list exists elsewhere on the internet, even though it isn’t on the SERTRACEN website on the page calle “Authorized Labs”? Yes, it is possible—even likely. But now it is here as well.
And we should also point out that this list is meant to be helpful, but not definitive. We have absolutely no idea how often and consistently this list is updated. So, if you see a lab listed here that no longer exists or that appears not to be authorized, then let us know so that we can add a note to the PDF.
If you have feedback here, be sure to drop us a note at info@theindependentlawyer.com.
