Tests and follow-up
Questions to ask about your private blood test results
A laboratory report gives values and reference ranges. What they mean in your circumstances, and whether anything needs to happen next, is for the clinician who requested the test to explain and discuss with you.
Contents
A report and an explanation are separate things
NHS guidance on blood tests sets out that which tests are appropriate depends on the clinical question being asked, that a clinician explains the results and what happens next, and that further tests are sometimes needed.
Where tests are arranged through Omniya Concierge, the doctor who requested them reviews the results and discusses them with you, usually by telephone or video. Blood tests at home and in hotels sets out how samples are collected.
What to ask when the test is arranged
Ask why this particular test is being requested and what it is expected to show. Ask when the result should be available, how it will reach you, and who to contact about it.
Preparation depends on which tests are requested, so ask what applies to yours rather than following a general rule. Laboratory fees sit outside the consultation fee, and they are quoted and agreed with you before anything is sent to a laboratory.
What to ask when the result arrives
Ask the clinician who requested the test what the result means in your circumstances and whether any further action is needed, including whether another test or a referral would be appropriate.
Mention anything that has changed since the sample was taken, and any symptom that is continuing, so that it can be taken into account. If you have read about the test yourself, bring the questions it raised to that conversation.
If a result does not arrive
If a result has not reached you by the time you were told to expect it, contact the team who arranged the test and ask. Do not assume that hearing nothing means there is nothing to report. Having the name of the test and the date of the sample to hand makes the enquiry quicker.
If you feel worse while waiting, say so rather than waiting for the result. NHS 111 can advise when you need medical help now and are unsure what to do, and 999 is for life-threatening emergencies.
Following up after you leave London
If you are due to leave London before the result is expected, say so when the test is arranged, so that the conversation can be planned. A written summary can be provided for your own doctor.
We can discuss results and answer questions by telephone or video consultation after you leave the UK, but we cannot prescribe for you or manage your care abroad. So if a result is likely to lead to treatment, ask what that would involve while you are still in London.
Common questions
How long do private blood test results take?
It depends on which tests were requested, so there is no single timeframe. The doctor who requests your tests explains when to expect yours and how they will reach you. If the timing matters to your plans, say so when the test is arranged.
Can I discuss results from a test arranged somewhere else?
A telephone or video consultation can be used to discuss a medical question, and previous results or reports that you are able to show us are taken into account. Whether an examination or a further test is needed first is a judgement made at that appointment.
Sources
Author and clinical reviewer
