'Return a list of the metadata dictionaries saved by the check -if any-
and clears them out of the instance\'s service_checks list
@return the list of metadata saved by this check
@rtype list of metadata dicts'

def get_service_metadata(self):

    if self._instance_metadata:
        self._roll_up_instance_metadata()
    service_metadata = self.svc_metadata
    self.svc_metadata = []
    return service_metadata
