Test Results

We will contact you by telephone, or by letter, only if a result is abnormal and you require treatment or further investigations. You will not be contacted if your result is normal. If you wish to enquire about the results of your tests please telephone at the end of surgery sessions. The administrative staff will give results to you or you may be asked to speak to the nurse or doctor.

Adults' results will not be given to anyone other than the patient, except in exceptional circumstances.

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.

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.

1. Tests Done by Others: If you had a test done by someone who is not a clinician from our practice (like a private provider or a service abroad), please contact the person who ordered the test for its interpretation and any further action. It is their responsibility to manage your care based on that test. 
2. Sharing Test Results with Us: If you bring test results from another provider to your appointment with us, we will consider them as part of your assessment if we think they are relevant. However, if it is a test we are unfamiliar with or would not have recommended, we may ask you to go back to the person who ordered it for further advice. 
3. NHS Guidelines on Tests: NHS guidelines advise us not to order tests that we believe are unnecessary or to repeat tests that have already been done. Therefore, we usually cannot repeat tests on the NHS that were arranged privately. If we find those private test results important, we may use them in your care, but it is your responsibility to provide us with the complete results. 
4. Do Not Send Test Results for Interpretation: Please do not send us test results expecting a response or interpretation. If you feel unwell and need support, call our practice to discuss booking an appointment.