Results for blood, stool, urine and other samples that have been requested by the surgery usually take 2-3 days to come back to us, although some blood results may be available sooner. Unusual or specialist tests can take longer. All results are reviewed by a clinician, typically within 48 hours of us receiving them.

We proactively contact patients about abnormal results: usually by text message or phone call, depending on the urgency. If necessary, we may book you an appointment to discuss abnormal results, or invite you to do so yourself. Not all abnormal results need discussion or further action: in such cases we may just send you a brief explanation and/or links to further information.

We receive hundreds of results every day, and do not have capacity to routinely contact patients about normal results.

You can request your test results via our online platform Footfall. Alternatively, please phone between 2.00-3.00pm Monday to Friday for test and investigation results.

Due to confidentiality issues, results can only be given to the patient concerned, or to the parent/guardian of a child.

You are welcome to collect and return samples via our practice reception. This will typically be:

• Urine samples (red-topped pot if looking for blood or infection; otherwise white-topped pot)
• Stool samples (blue-topped pot for infection; small green-topped pot for inflammation, blood or bowel cancer screening)
• Swab tests from the skin or elsewhere. Please see here for advice on how to self-take a vaginal swab.

All specimens need to be sent to the lab in a clear plastic specimen bag, with a name label on the sample and an accompanying paper request form in the bag. Without this, samples are likely to be rejected by the lab and you may need to repeat the test. Please speak to reception staff if you are unsure whether your specimen is properly labelled when returning it.

We ask patients to drop samples back to us before 2pm, so that the courier can take them to the laboratory on the same day. Samples dropped later than this, especially on a Friday, may become inaccurate due to the long waiting time before they get to the lab.

We can request for patients to have x-rays performed via the walk-in services at the Royal Free Hospital or UCLH. This means you do not need an appointment: you can go direct to the x-ray department between Monday and Friday 9am-4pm. You do however need us to request the x-ray before you attend: if we are seeing you face to face, we will typically give you a paper copy of the form. If it is a remote consultation we will usually email it to you or to the department. Please do not attend  the hospital unless you are sure our clinician has requested the x-ray, otherwise they will not perform it.

Other types of medical imaging, such as ultrasound, MRI and CT scans, are by appointment only. Our clinician will typically refer for these to be done via InHealth, the Royal Free Hospital or UCLH, who will contact you directly with an appointment. Please inform us if you have a preference for provider and we will try to accomodate; however some investigations needs to be done at specific centres, so we cannot guarantee the location of your scan.

X-ray reports typically come to us in around 2 weeks. Ultrasound reports are usually quicker; CT and MRI scans can take longer, depending on level of urgency.

As of early 2026, there is a significant backlog in reporting imaging at the Royal Free Hospital and x-rays are taking around 4 weeks to be reported.

Medical laboratories send results to the person or department that requested that test. As an NHS GP practice, therefore, we do not routinely receive results requested by hospitals, private or other specialists (ideally they should send us a letter informing us of those results, but in reality this does not always happen). 

From a medico-legal perspective, the onus to action a test result lies with the person who requested it. It is therefore not our responsibility to obtain or action the results of tests requested elsewhere, particularly in the private sector or abroad, and would strongly encourage you to discuss the results with the requesting clinician in the first instance.

Nevertheless, in some situations we may be prepared to discuss results of your tests done elsewhere: if you would like to do this, please ensure you provide this paperwork prior to your appointment. Do not assume we will automatically have the results, as this may end up wasting an appointment. 

The next steps will ultimately be at the clinician's judgement and discretion: they may direct you back to the external provider to interpret the results, or ask you to repeat them within a local NHS laboratory, depending on the circumstances.

We offer discrete, simple testing for sexually transmited infections (STIs) for patients aged 14+. There is a sample collection and drop-off area in reception, where you can provide a urine sample to test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. We can also arrange blood tests for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C: please book an appointment if you would like to discuss these.

Free, at-home STI testing is available via Sexual Health London.