Test Results

We will contact you either by telephone or letter only if a result is abnormal and you require further treatment or investigation.  You will not be contacted if your result is normal.

However if you wish to enquire about your test results we ask you do so at an off-peak time (11:30 - 18:00).  A member of our Reception Team may be able to give results to you, or you may be asked to speak to a clinican. 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 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.