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Most blood test results normally take about a week to come back. X-ray, scan and other investigation results can take ten days, sometimes longer.

As our telephones are very busy in the early morning, we ask you to telephone in person for test results after 10.00 am.

To ensure confidentiality, we only release results to the patient, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in writing. Sometimes the doctor will suggest you make an appointment to be given a result or that he/she needs to speak to you directly. The receptionist will advise you if this is necessary.

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 childs 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.

There are a multitude of different types of scans and investigations that doctors can arrange to help with diagnosis and management of various conditions. 

However it's important to remember that very often a scan or 'test' won't tell you exactly what's right or wrong, and they should only be used in appropriate cases and interpreted by trained clinicians.

If your doctor has referred you for an X-Ray, he or she will normally give you the request card and you can then go to the sit and wait clinic at the radiology department at St Luke's Hospital. This runs every week day.

We have also recently arranged to have ultrasound scanning services running from our main Leylands branch. With the free parking and quick appointment times, we hope this will be more convenient for patients, instead of having to go to hospital.

Most other scans and tests will be arranged at a local hospital and once referred by your GP, you will normally receive a letter through the post.

The majority of investigation results will be sent to us within ten days of the date of your examination, so please wait until after this for contacting us about the result.

Why not register for our text message service to get a notification when your result is back?

Find out more about different types of scans on the NHS Choices Website