Enquiries for test results are best made after 14:00 by which time the doctor should have seen the patient's results and our receptionists are more likely to have time to deal with your enquiry. You will need to know the specific test result(s) that you require. (Some tests take longer than others to process and if you have had several tests done the receptionist will not necessarily know whether all the results are back unless you can identify them.)

The receptionist is only authorised to inform you if your test result is normal. If it is abnormal or you require further discussion or interpretation, then please refer to your doctor. The receptionists are not qualified nor permitted to enter into any discussion on these matters. Please remember, because we do so many tests we cannot contact each patient and for that reason it is the patient's responsibility to contact the surgery to obtain test results. These will only be given to the specific patient to whom they apply, so please, in the interests of confidentiality, be prepared to identify yourself. Also, please do not telephone to obtain results for a relative or friend without prior arrangement (which will require written consent).

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

• assess your general state of health
• confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
• see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The childs hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

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

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 often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have an 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.

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