Sign inBlood 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, 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 child’s hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken, these are usually done at the hospital
Fasting Blood Tests
If you require a fasting blood test, you must not eat or drink anything from 9.00pm the night before. Priotity is given to patients who are fasting when appointments are booked. (Diabetic patients are not required to fast)..
Test Results
You are welcome to call any time in the day to book a telephone consultation regarding your blood results a nurse or Dr will ring you with your results. Our staff will have more time to help you at this time.
You will be told how long you should expect to wait for the results at the time of your test so please bear this in mind before calling. It is then your responsibility to check them and make any necessary follow-up appointment with the doctor.
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.
Please note that the reception staff are unable to give you a detailed result as they are not clinically qualified.
ECG
How is the ECG performed?
You will lie on an examination table, and 10 electrodes or leads are attached to your chest. The electrodes detect the electrical impulses generated by your heart, and transmit them to the ECG machine. The ECG machine produces a graph (the ECG tracing) of those cardiac electrical impulses. The electrodes are then removed. The test it self takes less than 6 minutes to perform.
For male patients only is it better if you shave your chest prior to your appointment due to electrodes or leads which are attached your you chest this makes the procedure less painful
You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.
