Understanding Your Test Results
Your GP record is written to help medical staff look after you, but this may mean that sometimes you may not understand everything you see. The information we have shared here is to help patients understand their test results.
If you have any further questions, please speak to a member of our team.
From November 2022 you may be able to view the results of your blood tests in the NHS app.
(If you have changed GP surgery since this date, the results from a prior surgery may not be visible).
You need to consider that having access to these records via the NHS app may mean seeing some results, that may be worrying, before your GP can speak to you.
If you tend to worry about what your results might mean, too much, you can:
- Ask for this feature to be turned off, or
- Learn what’s ‘normal for you.’ This is particularly important if you have a long-term illness, as your results may be different to other people’s, or,
- Use the reliable, high-quality websites we highlight below to check and understand your results.
Know your numbers – learn what’s ‘normal for you’
Important things to consider about your results
- A test result outside the reference range may not indicate a problem. Equally, if all results are within the reference range, this does not completely guarantee there isn’t a concern.
- Not all abnormal results will be flagged as abnormal on the report. This is because there are some results that laboratories cannot report an abnormal flag for. This is particularly true for text results.
- Always look out for comments attached to results. Often these have critical information about the test and how to interpret the result.
- Comments may have been added automatically by a laboratory computer or by a laboratory scientist or doctor. Generally, comments are written for the doctor requesting the test rather than the patient, and so they may not be particularly meaningful to you.
Recommended websites to help understand your results
Lab Tests Online-UK is written by practising laboratory doctors and scientists to help you understand the many clinical laboratory tests that are used in diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease. It is produced by the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine in collaboration with the Royal College of Pathologists and the Institute of Biomedical Science.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the reference ranges (normal ranges) for tests?
The reference ranges for your tests can be found on your laboratory report. They are typically found to the right of your results. These are standardised reference ranges, but they will not apply to everyone. They do not always take into consideration things like your gender, age, ethnicity or health conditions. The reference ranges mean a computer may flag a result as out of range or abnormal, but for you this might be a normal result. Whilst the ranges are helpful, it is important to follow the advice of the doctor who interprets the result.
What does it mean if my result is outside the reference range?
Your test results are interpreted by your health care provider within the context of other tests that you have completed. These results are also measured against other factors like your medical history. The medical significance of a single result that is slightly high or slightly low may be difficult to determine. This is why a doctor may repeat a test, and why they may look at results from your previous tests. However, a result outside the reference range may indicate a problem and warrant further investigation. Your doctor will evaluate your test results in the context of other relevant factors and determine whether a result that falls outside of the reference range presents a significant issue.
If my results are normal, does that mean I have nothing to worry about?
If your results are within normal limits, it’s certainly a good sign. But one set of tests offers a snapshot of certain aspects of your health rather than a guarantee. There is a lot of overlap among results from healthy people and those with diseases, so there is still a chance that there could be an undetected problem. If you’re trying to follow a healthy lifestyle, take test results that are within range as a good sign, and keep it up. However, normal results do not mean that unhealthy habits will not have consequences in the future. Your health care provider may want to monitor you with a series of tests to make sure you’re still on track and to document any trends. A rise or drop in results, even if they are still within normal limits, could provide meaningful information.
If my result is abnormal, does that mean I have a problem with my health?
Not necessarily. A test result outside the reference range signals to your doctor to further investigate your condition, but it may or may not indicate a specific problem. You can have a value outside the range and have nothing. It is possible that your result is within that 5% of healthy people who fall outside the statistical reference range. In addition, there are many things that could throw off a test without indicating a major problem, such as not preparing for the test properly. Your doctor may want to rerun the test. Some abnormal results may resolve on their own, especially if they are on the border of the reference range. Your doctor will also seek explanations for an abnormal result. Key points your doctor will consider include how far outside of the reference range the results are and whether repeated tests also produce abnormal results.
I have had a blood test or dropped a sample at the practice, but what happens now?
Blood tests and other samples must be sent away to a hospital laboratory for analysis. An NHS courier collects samples from us each day, but the time of this varies between our branches so please ask the team to check your sample will arrive in time.
- If your result needs urgent action we will contact you by phone to discuss what action needs to be taken.
- If your result needs action, but not urgently, we will contact you within an appropriate timescale to explain what action needs to be taken.
- If your result is normal, or if the doctor has some information for you following your test, we may send this by text message, however, we may not contact you if the clinician is satisfied with your test result.
- We aim to inform you of all results, but due to the volume we received, if no action is required the practice will not contact you but you are free to check your results on the NHS App or contact the practice to get your result; please allow 7 days before following up for your results, and call after 10:30am. See below about result timescales.
Why does the result take so long?
The person who asked you to have your test or the person who took your test will tell you approximately how long it will be for your test to be analysed. Most tests are analysed within 1 week, however, there are certain tests which require several weeks to be analysed. If you have a urine test, it may take several days to grow the bacteria and see which antibiotic will work.
Here are some of the results you may see, and what they might mean:
Normal - the clinician may make this comment if results are either entirely normal or within the normal range for the patient.
Normal, but unexpected - the clinician may make this comment if they had expected to see an abnormal result to explain your symptoms. For example, if infection was suspected but the result came back as normal.
Satisfactory - the clinician may make this comment if results are either entirely normal or within the normal range for the patient.
Borderline - a minor abnormality in the results. This might lead to a repeat test being requested.
Abnormal, but expected - a clinician may use this if they expected to see an abnormal result and a management plan has already been started for example, if a sample shows an infection and antibiotics have already been started.
Abnormal - a result is outside of the normal range. The clinician will make a comment around the next steps. If this is urgent your will be contacted the same day.
Specimen lost - there has been an issue with the sample and the lab have not been able to process it. The clinician will comment if this needs repeating.
Not responded to invitation - this is commonly used when a test has been sent directly to the patient and it has not been returned to the lab for example, bowel cancer tests.
Here are some of the follow-up actions you may see, and what they might mean:
Take no action – This means that the doctor has looked at the result and deemed it to be within the normal and no further investigation or treatment is needed.
Make appointment to see doctor – The doctor would like to speak to you to explain the result(s). The doctor may ask for this to be in person or by telephone. Usually, our admin team would be tasked to make contact with you to make this appointment.
Make appointment to see nurse – The doctor would like you to speak to a practice nurse regarding your results. The follow-up appointment with a nurse may be in person or by telephone.
Repeat test – Small fluctuations in test results are common and slightly abnormal results usually return to normal without the need for treatment. The GP would like to check your result has returned to normal or remained stable. We will tell you how long you should wait before rechecking your blood test.
Unfortunately, very occasionally samples are lost or damaged. Sometimes there is a delay in samples reaching the laboratory which can affect the quality of the specimen making it unusable. On other occasions an incorrect bottle or label may have been used. Occasionally an incorrect test is requested in which case a repeat may not be needed. The doctor will usually ask you to repeat the test.
Patient to pick up script – The doctor has started you on a medicine because of your recent test. For example, your test result has shown an infection, and the GP has prescribed antibiotics.
Other – The other action if 'other' will usually be outlined in the notes.
Occasionally, clinical staff will have their own template responses when giving results, so they may not be the above examples, but instead have specific instruction for 'your' results. This is normal, and the above is simply a select few to demonstrate what your results may say.
As stated above, if anything was urgent then the surgery would get in touch with you within a reasonable time frame as given by the GP reviewing the results.
If, after reading this information, you have ongoing concerns about your results, please call the surgery to seek further medical advice.