Most blood tests are taken in the morning. A few blood tests have to be taken during the early afternoon, either because the tests have to arrive at the laboratory within a specified period of time or the bloods need to be taken a certain number of hours after a medication has been taken. We are unable to keep most blood samples overnight, as they are then unsuitable for testing.
We will always try to offer you an early appointment if the doctor has requested that you starve overnight prior to the test.
All nurses and Health Care Assistants will take blood according to the procedure displayed in each treatment room.
The nurse or HCA will tell you how long we expect it to be before the results are available. Most results come through within a few days, but some can take considerably longer. In certain cases, if a specialist test is required, the sample may be referred to another hospital outside the area. In these cases, it can be a number of weeks before a result is obtained.
You should telephone the practice for the results, ideally after 2pm. The receptionists will be able to tell you if the result is normal or whether the doctor wishes to discuss the results with you, either by phone or at an appointment.
In many cases, following a blood test, your doctor will have agreed with you how the result will followed up eg a further appointment or perhaps telephone call to the doctor. Please ensure you do keep any arrangements made with your doctor.
If a result requires urgent action, the doctor will contact you as soon as possible. Please ensure that we always have an up to date contact number for you. However, due to the high volume of blood tests done daily, it is not possible for them to contact you with individual results if they are normal or require no further action.