TESTS & RESULTS

Results of tests and investigations

When wanted, we now routinely communicate test results via SMS text messages to your mobile phone. For those patients who do not wish to receive text messages we continue to respond to telephone queries about results.

If you have consented to do so, we now send you a text (SMS) message regarding your test results. You will not always receive texts for all tests taken. If you do not hear about a result after 7 days, please ring reception for your result.

Test results

Blood test

We will generally not communicate intimate investigation results (smears and sexually transmitted infection screening). Smear results will be directly communicated to you by the laboratory.
You will often receive more than one text as one blood test appointment can give many results.
You may get separate texts each time a result arrives at the practice and is looked at by a doctor. We will try to bundle these together to limit multiple texts. Some test results arrive from the laboratory quicker than others so there may be gaps between results.
Some results will be normal and will not require any action. Others may not be normal and you may be asked to contact the surgery to discuss the results with a member of our team.

If you have not consented to receiving you results by text please ring the surgery between 10.30a.m – 3 p.m to receive your results (Excluding Wednesday when we are closed for staff training between 12.00pm to 2.00pm)

Time frames for results:

Most blood results are available within 1 week. Some specific tests get sent to specialist centres by the lab which might take considerably longer
Urine culture reports take 4 - 5 working days
Fungal tests - microscopy results are usually available in 7 working days but culture results can take 4 weeks.
Biopsy and histology reports from minor surgery generally take 3 weeks.
X-ray, ultrasound and other scan results are usually available in 2 weeks time
Some urgent tests are returned to the surgery by telephone / fax by the lab so we might contact you based on the report.

X-ray

We would encourage you to ring and check for results if you haven't heard within these time frames and you don't have a follow up appointment to discuss the results with your doctor / nurse.

Results can only be given to the person who has had the test unless written consent has been given for someone else to obtain results on their behalf.

Please ensure that any specimens you leave at the practice are correctly labelled with your name and date of birth. Failure to do so may mean that the test will need to be repeated.

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. The usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface.

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.