If you choose to opt out of any national routine screening schemes you may be asked to discuss this decision with a health care professional and sign an informed dissent. This is to ensure that you are aware of the need for screening and the risks that you may be exposed to by declining.
Test Results
If a test is performed at a hospital it is advisable to ask when you can reasonably expect the test results to be available with your GP or surgery health care professional. Tests results often take longer than has been advised. We will chase-up results after a ‘reasonable time lapse’.
Please ask about your results in advance of your expected results review appointment.
You can telephone for results between 14:00 -17:00 Monday – Friday. Please note, results will only be given to the patient.
Most blood tests will be done at Guys & St Thomas’ Hospital phlebotomy service after you have been given the request form.
Some blood tests are done with the Consulting Clinician at the appointment. This is at the clinician’s discretion.
Approximate Time for Return of Test Results
| Blood Test: | 2-5 days (some blood tests take longer) |
| Urine/Stool: | 3-4 days |
| Sputum: | 7 days |
| Nail Clippings: | 14 days |
| Skin Scraping: | 14 days |
| Semen Samples: | Up to 21 days |
| Smear Samples: | 4 – 8 weeks |
| Scans: | 14 – 21 days |
| X-rays: | Up to 10 days |
| Histology/Biopsies: | 4 – 6 weeks |
| Swabs (from any body area): | 3-4 days |
Please note, these are all approximations; we have no control over the speed of results from Secondary Care.
Tests Performed Outside of the NHS Including Abroad
These results will not appear on any NHS systems, therefore are not accessible to NHS clinicians (unless the referral was made by your NHS care provider). If you have had tests outside of the NHS it is your responsibility to provide us with copies or originals of all the test results in order that we do not duplicate tests. If you are unable to do so you may be referred to an appropriate UK setting for the same test. This is to ensure we comply with best practice care standards. If you do not wish to have a repeat test you will be asked to give informed dissent.
Delivering Samples to the Surgery
All daily samples must be delivered to the surgery no later than 13:00 as there is no specimen collection after this time!
