Test results are usually available 5 days after a test is taken. Please use your online access via the NHS app or Systmonline to access these.

A doctor views them and interprets them in the context of your health. They will mark the result as normal or otherwise, indicating if a follow up action is needed. Please read any comments linked to your result which can help interpret their meaning.

If there is an abnormality requiring prompt action, you will be contacted directly.

If you require any further clarification or have any questions, or if your symptoms are still ongoing please submit an  online consultation with your doctor or book a telephone consultation. 

Occasionally results include a comment regarding Qrisk2 is a risk , this is an assessment tool which uses a range of information including your age, gender, weight, blood pressure, ethnicity and cholesterol level to give a score which enables us to identify people who would benefit from cholesterol lowering treatment, to reduce their future risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke or heart attack. If your cholesterol is high, but your Qrisk2 score is below the threshold for treatment,  no treatment would be recommended, but lifestyle changes, can reduce the level. More information can be found at: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyhearts/Pages/Cholesterol.aspx

You may also find this website helpful, it explains all the various NHS medical tests: http://labtestsonline.org.uk/

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.

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.