Test results

Getting your test results

If your test results show that you need more tests or treatment, we will contact you.

Once a doctor has reviewed your test results, you can view them:

If the test has been requested by the hospital, the result will go to the consultant first and the consultant will then either arrange to see you in clinic or write to you or us with the result.

It is the duty of the hospital specialists to inform you of these results.

Questions about your results

If you want to talk to someone about your results, use the Rapid Health service and someone will be in touch.

The surgery will contact you if any action is needed following your result.

There is no need for you to telephone the surgery for your results unless you have been advised to do so.

The clinicians and the surgery have agreed to use standard comments in order to make the results clear to all, including you, the patient.

Results comments

All of your results are normal
The doctor has viewed your results and has indicated that they are happy with the result.

The laboratory may have marked your result as abnormal; however it is within an acceptable range for your current medical problems.
The doctor has viewed your results and has indicated that they are happy with the result.

The laboratory may have marked your result as abnormal, but this is because it is just outside of the laboratory normal range. This is not of any significance.
Your result was not completely normal and the doctor intends that this will be discussed with you at your next booked appointment.

This may be booked by you or by the doctor that organised the test. This may be a telephone consultation.

If the doctor was concerned and felt that you needed to be seen sooner then they would have requested/booked a sooner appointment.
Your result is not normal but the doctor has indicated that you are already taking/have taken the correct treatment.
Some investigations take longer to process. Please see above for our guidance on the average.

Further information

Although some blood test results are available within 7-10 days, it can take up to 3 weeks for some more specialised blood test results and you need to allow time for the doctor to see the result and decide what to do. Please allow 2 weeks as a minimum for the result to come back and be commented upon by the doctor or nurse.

If the result of the blood test is unclear, then you may be asked to book an appointment to have another blood test.

If the blood test is slightly abnormal then you may be asked to book another blood test in a few weeks or months’ time to see if it has returned to normal levels.
If the test shows an infection for which you have been given the correct antibiotic, we will not contact you.

If the test shows a possible infection then we may ask you to bring in another sample.
If the test shows an infection for which you have been given the correct treatment then we will not contact you.

If the swab shows a possible infection that we have not treated then we may contact you to see if you have symptoms and need treatment or simply ask you to collect a prescription.
It can take up to 4 weeks for the result to reach us.