Test Results

Results Of Tests And Investigations

If you have any medical tests done, such as blood or urine test or X-ray, you will need to telephone the surgery for the results. When test results come in your doctor will see these results and leave a message on your medical records for the receptionist to pass on to you when you telephone. If the doctor needs to discuss the results with you urgently, they will contact you by telephone.

Please note the receptionists can only pass on the message the doctor has left for you. It is your responsibility to make any necessary follow-up appointment with the doctor.

Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. We will only give out results to the person they relate to unless that person has given prior permission for their release or if they are not capable of understanding them.

As our phone lines are very busy in the early morning, please telephone after 11am for results, allowing 3-4 working days following submission of a specimen or as instructed by your doctor/nurse.

a close up of a glass

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