Test Results

Results of Tests and Investigations

Test results are usually available 7-10 working days following submission of your sample. Some results take longer than others, due to the way samples are tested in the lab.

You can view your test results at www.patientaccess.com or on the NHS App. For some normal test results, you will also receive a text message to inform you. However you should still check Patient Access or the NHS App, to see if there are any other test results to check.

If you do not use the internet, call the practice between 3pm-6pm 10-14 days after your test to ask for the results. 

It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if you are advised to do so.

Please note that if there is any urgent action needed following a test result, we will attempt to contact you as soon as possible.

There is a delay in the results being reported from radiology at Northwick Park, Central Middlesex and Ealing Hospitals. The current delay is over 1 month. 

Blood Tests

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.

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 an 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.