The vein on the inside of your elbow, occasionally on the back of your wrist, is the usual site for taking blood. A tourniquet (tight band) is placed around the upper part of your arm. This allows the vein to fill and so makes it easier to take the blood sample. Once the vein is prominent or can be felt by the taker a needle is inserted into the vein. The needle is connected directly to a pre-vacuum blood sample bottle. There are a number of different bottles for different tests. Once the required amount has been taken the needle is removed. Following removal it is recommended that you press on the small puncture wound for a few minutes in order to stop any bleeding and prevent bruising.

Complications

• a bruise may occur at the site of the needle insertion, but is less likely to do so if you press over the site with the cotton wool provided and keep your arm straight
• Rarely infection could be introduced, seek help if the site becomes red and inflamed
• Some people feel faint during a blood test. If this is your experience please tell the person who is doing the test so that they can lie you down.

There are many different sorts of blood test and they can be taken for many different reasons:-

• Help to exclude or confirm certain conditions
• To monitor the progress of certain conditions
• To ensure that the medicines you are taking are not causing side effects.

What Tests?

The most common blood tests are:-

• Full blood count
• Kidney function
• Liver function
• Blood sugar
• Blood clotting tests, INR
• Tests for inflammation, ESR or CRP
• Hormone levels
• To monitor the blood levels of certain drugs.

Obtaining your blood test results

On many occasions the patient has previously found themselves unaware of what blood tests have been taken and often do not contact the surgery for the result assuming the surgery will contact them if anything was amiss. From September 2005 we have introduced a new system which will hopefully resolve these two issues. We have produced a form which is to be given to the patient to explain what tests have been requested using a tick box. Once the blood is taken there is an further tick box and finally a third tick box to prompt the patient to contact the surgery for their results.

We hope that this system will enhance the service we offer to our patients.

Blood Test Form | PDF format