When you attend for a test you should be told how long you should expect to wait for the results
- Most blood test results are received within 48 hours
- Samples that need checking for infection usually take at least 3 working days
- X-rays and scans may take a week or more to be reported
The GP may have requested you make a follow up appointment to discuss the results in more detail, or they may choose to contact you with the results via phone or text messaging.
It is your responsibility to make the follow up appointment to discuss the test results.
If you have registered for online access to your medical notes, you will be able to see results this way.
Our reception team are not qualified to comment on results, therefore it is your responsibility to check them and make any required follow up appointment with the requesting Doctor.
If the test was arranged by your hospital consultant
If your test has been carried out at a Clinic or Hospital please call the Clinic or Hospital for the result, as we cannot action tests which have been requested by other Clinicians outwith the practice. If the consultant’s secretary or colleague inform you they will send the results to your GP, explain that you want the results from the specialist who arranged them who is in by far the best place to give appropriate advice. The Consultant’s secretary number can be found at the top of your clinic letter.
Please note you will be asked for some personal details when calling, this is to confirm your identity. The receptionist has the right to refuse the release of medical information if he/she feels that it does not pertain to the person calling. We hope that our patients find our high standards of confidentiality satisfactory with regard to releasing this type of information.
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.
Information about your laboratory tests
For information on what your laboratory test results mean please visit Lab Tests Online.
Specimens
These can only be accepted if first discussed with a clinician. Our reception team are NOT able to accept specimens that have NOT been requested by a clinician.
If requested to bring in a specimen for testing, it must be provided in a suitable container and marked clearly with name, date of birth, date provided and reason for the specimen.
Failure to do so may mean that the test will need to be repeated – Please note that when bringing in a sample to the surgery, only samples in the correct container can be accepted. These are available from reception.
Specimens must be dropped off before 11 am, so they can be transferred to the the lab, unless by prior agreement with the clinician.