Test Results
Results of Tests and Investigations
Please allow 7 days for test results to come back. Smear tests usually take about 2 - 4 weeks.
Please telephone 01283 703318 after 10am to obtain details of your test results (e.g. blood, urine, x-ray) or visit the Practice.
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.
Please do not expect our reception staff to relay any other information regarding the test results.
If the doctor needs to speak to your personally, our reception staff will suggest the best possible time to ring, so as to avoid interruptions during the surgeries, which is upsetting for both the doctors and patients they are caring for.
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-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.