We will contact you by telephone, or by letter, only if a result is abnormal and you require treatment or further investigations. You will not be contacted if your result is normal. If you wish to enquire about the results of your tests please telephone at the end of surgery sessions. The administrative staff will give results to you or you may be asked to speak to the nurse or doctor. Adults' results will not be given to anyone other than the patient, except in exceptional circumstances.

A blood test involves taking a small sample of your blood for testing in a laboratory. They are one of the most common medical tests and can be used to:

• Check your general health
• Confirm if you have a bacterial or viral infection
• Assess how well certain organs (such as your liver or kidneys) are working

How it’s done

Most blood samples are taken from a vein in your arm—usually from the inside of the elbow or the wrist, where veins are close to the surface.
For children, samples are often taken from the back of the hand. To make it more comfortable, a special numbing cream is applied first.

You can find more information about blood tests, their uses, and how they’re carried out on the NHS website.

An X-ray is a common test used to look inside the body. It’s especially useful for detecting bone problems, such as fractures, but can also help identify issues with soft tissue—for example, pneumonia or breast cancer.

What To Expect

During the test, you may be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so the part of your body being examined is positioned between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

X-rays are usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional trained in using imaging equipment such as X-ray machines and ultrasound scanners.

For more information about X-rays, how they work, and any possible risks, visit the NHS website.