If you are asked to hand in a specimen, please ensure that we receive it in the correct container obtained from the surgery, and that you have handed it in by 11:00 am. The container should be marked with the following:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Date of sample

Similarly, if you need a blood test please make a morning appointment.

Test Results

Please telephone the surgery for the results of any tests that you have had. 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 call after 10am on 0191 371 0232 to enquire about your test results. 

When you take your test you may be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice, but as a guide please allow one week for blood tests, two weeks for X-Rays and at least six weeks for cervical smears.

Please note:

1. Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results. In the interest of confidentiality please be prepared to identify yourself.
2. Please do not expect the reception staff to have any medical knowledge. They are instructed only to tell you if your test is normal. If the test is abnormal or you require further discussion or interpretation then please refer to your Doctor.

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.