Test results

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:
– assess your general state of health
– confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
– see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The childs hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.
 
You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed here.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body.

An MRI scanner is a large tube that contains powerful magnets. You lie inside the tube during the scan.

An MRI scan can be used to examine almost any part of the body, including the:
– brain and spinal cord
– bones and joints
– breasts
– heart and blood vessels
– internal organs, such as the liver, womb or prostate gland

The results of an MRI scan can be used to help diagnose conditions, plan treatments and assess how effective previous treatment has been. 

You can find out more about MRI scans, their purpose and the way they are performed here.

A CT scan is a test that takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body. It’s usually used to diagnose conditions or check how well treatment is working.

You may be referred for a CT scan to:
– check your bones or internal organs after an accident
– find out if symptoms you’ve been having are caused by a condition, such as cancer
– see how well a treatment is working, such as checking the size of a tumour during and after cancer treatment
– help doctors see inside your body during a procedure, such as taking a sample of cells (biopsy) or draining an abscess

A CT scan is usually done in hospital by a healthcare professional called a radiographer. It usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes.

You can find out more about CT scans, how they are performed, their function and the risks here.

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have an X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-rays, how they are performed, their function and the risks here.