Test Results
When you attend for a test of any kind you will be told how long you should expect to wait for the results. Please bear this in mind and call the surgery once sufficient time has elapsed.
Our reception staff are not qualified to comment on results therefore it is 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.
Tests you have done are normally processed at the laboratories at University Hospital of North Durham. This will take a few days, following which they will be returned to our surgery for comment by your doctor.
The result should usually be ready for you 7 days after having your tests.
Please could you telephone the surgery for your results between 2.00pm and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday on 0191 3846171.
If your result is normal you will be given the result over the telephone by one of the reception staff. If the doctor needs to speak to you about the result, you will be asked to either make an appointment with the doctor or will be asked to ring back at a mutually convenient time.
The most common tests are described below:
- FBC- A test looking at the blood cells, often used to exclude anaemia
- ESR- A test that looks for inflammation in the body
- U & E- Testing for the kidney function and salts in the body
- LFT- Tests the liver function and inflammation
- TFT- Tests the activity of the thyroid gland
- CHOLESTEROL/LIPIDS- Measures the fatty levels in the blood
- LH/FSH- Measures hormone levels raised after the menopause
- MSU- A test looking for infection in the bladder
- URATE- A test for gout
- IM/GLANDULAR FEVER- Specific tests for glandular fever
- HBA1C- Measures the average sugar level over the last few weeks and months
- ANTENATAL BLOODS- Blood group/rubella immunity and specific infections
- AUTOANTIBODIES/RHEUMATOID FACTOR- Tests for proteins that result in damage to specific tissues in the body
- SWABS- Tests that detect whether an infection is present and if detected which antibiotic is appropriate