Tests and Results

 

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Phlebotomy: Blood Tests at Connaught Square Practice

Phlebotomy clinics run only on weekdays (Monday through Friday, except Bank Holidays) from 8am till 12pm.

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

Image of test tubes

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.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

 

Who is the phlebotomy service for?

The phlebotomy service is for patients of the Practice over the age of 16 who need to have their blood drawn for diagnostic testing or monitoring, on the request of a Practice clinician.

 

Where do we provide our phlebotomy service?

Our phlebotomy team is based in the Practice.

 

Who works on our phlebotomy team?

Our phlebotomy team includes two Healthcare Assistants.

 

How can housebound patients access our phlebotomy service?

Housebound patients over the age of 16 can be referred by a Practice clinician to the Community District Nursing team who will arrange to see a patient at home, in order to obtain a blood sample.

 
Image of patient receiving test results

Blood Test Results

Please access blood test results using the NHS App. Please note that printing and postage fees will apply for paper copy requests.

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.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice.

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

 

X-Ray

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 a 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.

Image of an x-ray

You can find out more about X-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.