I also have patients do the labs 1 week before their follow up visit, based on "today's" visit. I give them the form or post it to Updox (this decreases the "lost form" phone calls) The can print them from Updox as needed. However I do not post the results prior to the visit as I have some patients that would then cancel their appointment and try to discuss them via the portal.
One benefit is that if there is an abnormal lab such as a newly elevated glucose or TSH I often have time to have the lab add an a1C or T4 prior to the visit, making the visit more productive.
Interestingly some patients have the lab send them a copy of their labs, which they bring to their visit.
Most of my patients are now used to my system and get the labs done as I request.
