Lab Results

Sometimes your doctor needs to take a sample of blood or urine either to discover what is wrong with you or to measure something in your blood so that the right medication is given to you. These tests could be anything from blood sugar to a full blood count or a sample of tissue to test for cancer.

While urine can generally be tested in the surgery, blood and other specimens are usually sent away for testing at a laboratory. Most results come back within 48 hours unless a very rare test is needed which has to go to a specialist lab further away when it might take a little longer.

Significant abnormal results are notified to the patient either by telephone, Email or by letter. Some results are also notified by Text message, Email  or letter when it is important for the patient to know the result - for example results of cervical smears, x-rays etc.