Tests and Results

 

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Surgery policy is encourage patients to look up their results online using Patient Access.

If a result is abnormal we will inform you of your results by the use of SMS messages, or by telephone.

If you have had a test recently, whether it be a blood test, x-ray, sputum or urine sample etc and want to telephone to enquire about your result, please always call after 2pm.  Most test results can take up to a week to be processed and reported back to the surgery.  X-rays and other scans can take longer than 2 weeks. 

Image of patient receiving test results

If you are required to repeat your test, you will be offered an appointment but may not always be prioritised unless the GP states that this is an urgent request.

 

Test tubes

About Blood Tests

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.

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

 

X-Rays

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.

A doctor examining a x-ray

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 website.