Blood Tests (morning appointments only)
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 child's 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.
Please note the Nurses will only perform tests that a doctor has specified. If you think you may need a blood test you will need to see a Doctor first so that the appropriate test can be carried out. Blood samples can only be taken in the morning.
Loughview Medical Centre can in certain circumstances take blood samples on behalf of the hospital. In order for us to do this, we require labels which you will get from your consultant. Please ensure that you tell our team that the bloods are for the hospital when booking your appointment and don't forget to bring your labels!
Please allow 5 working days for the result to come back and for the Doctor to view and add any comments if necessary. Results for hospital bloods will go directly to your consultant.