It can be a bit scary waiting for results of a medical test. But life doesn’t need to go on hold. 

How long do I have to wait?

It depends on what test or examination you’ve had.

The most common test taken by a doctor is a blood test. The pathology lab should have these results back to the doctor within 24-48 hours.

But some blood tests are really quick. If you’re on blood thinning medication and need a test for blood stickiness, you’ll get results within a couple of hours.

But examining blood, urine, stool and swab samples for bacteria is not so straightforward. After the pathologists test the samples, they’ll have to test the resistance of the bacteria to antibiotics. This might take more than a couple of days.

If you’ve had an operation and you’ve had tissue samples taken for further analysis, you can expect to wait several days for results – depending on what is being analysed.

However x-rays and scan results are available within minutes. After analysis, the radiologist will send your doctor a letter explaining your results – your doctor might get the letter the next working day. The radiologist might even ask you to take the scans home with you. Remember to bring these to show your doctor at your next visit.

Can I get my results directly?

In short – no. The results are always sent back to the doctor who requested the test. They will review them, and then explain them to you at your next appointment – or on the phone if it’s urgent.

So, unless you like to play the waiting game, the next time your doctor schedules some tests make sure you ask how soon you’ll get the results.