Blood Tests
Blood samples are taken by our phlebotomists. Our practice nurse also offers this service during her consultation hours on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays but we encourage you to make use of the phlebotomy services provided.
Please remember to make your appointments before 10:00 if your tests need to be sent to the York Hospital. Test done later in the day are sent to Scarborough Hospital.
Please take careful note of all the instructions given to you when making the blood test appointment such as the need to fast or to bring your record books with you.
Although we carefully monitor all tests done, it is advisable for patients to call the surgery after a week to enquire about their results.
About Blood Tests
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. www.nhs.uk