Blood Tests

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
• check if you have an infection
• see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are working
• screen for certain genetic conditions

Most blood tests only take a few minutes to complete and are carried out at your GP surgery or local hospital by a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist (a specialist in taking blood samples).

Read about some common types of blood test.

For more information about a wider range of tests, search the blood test A-Z index on Lab Tests Online UK.

X-rays

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.

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.

NORMAL results 

Results filed as NORMAL are just that! The values for blood tests or the report if it’s a swab, x-ray or scan fit within the expected ranges for normal healthy people. 

SATISFACTORY results

Results filed as SATISFACTORY may be very slightly above or below normal values for blood tests or in the case of scans and x-rays have very slight variations in how things should look. However in the context of the overall clinical picture they can be regarded as normal. They do not require further tests or discussion.

REPEAT test required 

Sometimes it is necessary to repeat a test, reasons for this include laboratory equipment failure, an unsuitable sample or suspicion that the test result is “spurious” this means that the result is so far out of kilter that it is likely to be wrong (it is well recognised that even the best laboratory equipment can produce random odd results).

Make an appointment to see a GP/ANP

Your results are back and have been reviewed by one of our Clinicians (GP, ANP or Practice Nurse) who has decided that it is best for you to come and discuss the results. This does not necessarily mean that there is something to worry about; it may mean that the Clinician who requested your tests in the first place wants to see you, it may mean that there are further tests that could be useful or it may mean that the tests have found the cause of your problem. 

Make an appointment to see a Practice Nurse 

Your results are back and have been reviewed by one of our Clinicians (GP, ANP or Practice Nurse) who has decided that it is best for you to come and discuss the results. This does not necessarily mean that there is something to worry about; it usually means that the results are related to a long-term condition that you may already have (such as diabetes or high blood pressure) and that we need to improve the control and treatment of that condition.