Test Results

You are welcome to call after 14:00 to enquire about your test results as 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.

Blood Tests

For most tests, the results will be back within a week, but some take longer than this, so they may not all be available at the time you enquire.  Please remember that our receptionists are not medically trained, so they will only be able to tell you if the result is normal or not.  The relevant doctor may leave a message to be passed on to you, but please do not expect our receptionists to be able to explain test results in detail.  If you require further information, they will arrange for a doctor to speak to you, preferably the one who arranged the test(s).

Blood samples from children are usually taken after the skin has been anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream for about an hour.  Blood samples from older children and teenagers can often be taken in the Practice, but for younger children, the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People provides a phlebotomy service.  If the doctor requires a blood sample to be taken, he/she will explain how to go about this.  Please note that you cannot access this service of your own accord, without first consulting one of the doctors.

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

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 sometimes identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer, but they are of little use for most other problems affecting non-bony structures.

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.  For most X-rays and ultrasound scans, your doctor will refer you to Leith Community Treatment Centre, Junction Place, Leith (click here for map).

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