Test Results
All laboratory tests are collected by 13:00 hours and delivered to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for analysis. There is no need to routinely ring for your results – if you already have a follow-up appointment with your doctor or are due to be seen in one of our special clinics, e.g. diabetes, this will be the best time to discuss your results.
The results of blood and swab tests are usually available within 7 working days. X-rays tend to take 10 days and smear tests take approximately 4 weeks.
If you have not heard about your test results within the time frames indicated above, but are still experiencing symptoms, please do contact the surgery either to make an appointment or to ask to speak to a doctor on the ‘phone to discuss things further.
If your result is absolutely normal, the receptionist will be able to advise you of this. Under any other circumstances, it may be necessary for the doctor to contact you – it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is anything seriously wrong.
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 website at www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-tests/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 website at www.nhs.uk/conditions/x-ray/Pages/Introduction.aspx