Downfield Surgery - About medical tests and how to get your results

Test Results

The doctor or nurse who requests the test will check your results when they are received from the lab. We would only contact you if further action was needed (e.g. change to medication) or if the doctor wishes to see you. If you have not heard from us within 10 days of the test then feel free to ring the surgery to confirm that the results were indeed normal.

Hospital Tests

If the tests are carried out in hospital, it is the responsibility of the consultant looking after you to advise you of the results. They will write to us if further action needs taken and we will then get in touch with you. Always make sure we have your correct contact details, especially your telephone number.

Confidentiality

Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. In this respect we will only give out results to the person they relate to unless that person has given prior permission for their release or if they are not capable of understanding them.

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

doctor examining an 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.

Test Results

Hospital Tests

Confidentiality

Blood Tests

X-Ray

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