Test Results

Please call our dedicated test results line on 01462 453232 (Option 2) between 11:00 - 12:30 and 14:00 - 15:00 to enquire about your test results as our reception staff will have more time to deal with your request between these times.

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.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice.

Once it has been assessed by your GP, our team will be able to let you know if the test is satisfactory.  If you need to phone the doctor to discuss the result or if you need to book an appointment to see the doctor about the result.

Please note when you are asked to speak to a doctor, or to book an appointment, this is a routine matter and does not imply you need to be seen urgently. If there is an urgent problem, the doctor will phone you directly. Please remember it is your responsibility to phone and find out the results of your tests.  

Taking Tests

The Phlebotomist (a specialist who takes blood from patients for examination in laboratories) is available at:

Location	Times
The Surgery	Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (at different times)
Bedford Road Clinic	Tuesday (all day)
Lister Hospital	Monday to Friday (08.00 - 17.30)
	Saturday (09.00 - 10.45)

All appointments for blood tests taken at both the Surgery and at Bedford Road are booked through the surgery - 01462 453232 (Option 1).

If you prefer to visit Lister Hospital for your blood test, please collect the Blood Form from the surgery prior to your visit.

Specimens for testing

Specimens for testing can be left at the surgery between 08.15 - 16.30 each day. They will be collected by the courier and taken to the Lister Hospital Pathology Laboratory. If you try to deliver a specimen after 16.30, this will be refused as specimens stored overnight may deteriorate and no longer be suitable for testing.

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.