Test Results

If you have been sent for a test the results will be reviewed by a doctor.

When you are sent for a test (blood, X-ray, ultrasound etc) the doctor may arrange another appointment for them to see you once the results are back.

Alternatively, when the result comes back, the doctor may then request for you to be contacted for an appointment to be made to review your results. If the result is satisfactory and you are no longer unwell, the doctor may feel that they do not need to see you again. Obviously if the problem persists you will need to make another appointment to see the doctor.

Results of tests are available through our Enquiry telephone line. As this line is very busy in the early morning we request that you phone for results between 11:00 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 16:00. Please telephone 08444 120023

Blood tests, urine and swabs take at least 5 days, X-rays and Ultrasounds 14 days.

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

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 Choices website.

X-Ray

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.