Test Results
When you attend for a test of any kind you will be told how long you should expect to wait for the results.
We understand that waiting for test results can be a worrying time. We rely on the timescales provided by the laboratory for when we receive the results, which we then have to review before we can release them to you.
If we are concerned about any of your results then we will contact you to discuss them, or we may invite you in for an appointment if it would be more appropriate to discuss them in person.
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.
Our reception staff are not qualified to interpret results and will only read to you any comments added by the doctor.
Sometimes the laboratory will indicate a result is outside a normal reference range for that particular test, even if only by a little bit. Our clinicians review the results alongside the other clinical information they have and may not be concerned about a minor change from the normal range.
The majority of blood test results are back within a couple of days, however, some tests can take up to a week.
Below is a guide to common tests that are done and the expected time that results are normally back.
| TEST | WAIT |
|---|
| Cervical smear | 2-3 weeks |
| Faecal examination | 4-7 days |
| MRI scan report | 1-2 weeks |
| Swab culture and sensitivity | 1 week |
| Ultrasound report | 1-2 weeks |
| Urine examination | 4-7 days |
| Xray report | 2-3 weeks |
You can view your test results using online services. For more information about how to get setup, visit our Do It Online page.