Test results

Please note that it is the responsibility of all patients who have been for blood or other tests by the Practice.

• Please allow 5-6 working days for blood test results to come back. Some test results may take longer.
• Test results are given out after 11:00am each day.
• To ensure confidentiality and security, test results will only be given to the patient direct and not to relatives or friends, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in writing.
• We will, of course, make every effort to contact you should your returned result need urgent action. However, it is your responsibility in all cases to find out the result of your test.
• The doctors check the results before our Reception Staff are able to give any information to you. Our Reception Staff will only be able to state that the result is normal or that you will have to see the doctor.
• Please do not expect our Reception Staff to relay any other information regarding the 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 child’s hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.   For some children, it may be more appropriate for the doctor to arrange the test  within a hospital based clinic.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

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 a 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-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.