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Table of Contents
Getting Results for Blood Tests
Results Given in Person
Results via Telehealth
Results via Patient Portal
Setting Expectations
If you’ve recently had a medical test, such as blood work, you may wonder when to expect a call from your healthcare provider and how quickly you’ll receive results.
This article will look at how long it takes to get certain blood test results. It also covers when you might need an appointment to discuss results, when you don’t, and what questions to ask your healthcare provider.
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Getting Results for Common Blood Tests
After you get a blood test, the turnaround time for results can depend on the type of test and where the lab is based. If you’re a patient in a hospital, test results from the hospital lab will usually take less time than an outside lab.
You may or may not be asked to come in for an in-person appointment depending on the type of test and why it’s being done. For routine tests, you might receive a phone call or letter, or you may be able to access results through your patient portal.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Acomplete blood countmeasures the different parts of your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, to detect different conditions like anemia and blood cancers.
Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
A basic metabolic panel (BMP) gives information about your body’s electrolytes, fluid levels, kidney health, and blood sugar.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A comprehensive metabolic panel gives the same information as a BMP test in addition to information about your liver function and protein tests.
Lipid Panel
Alipid panelmeasures total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides to help determine your risk of heart disease.
Thyroid Panel
Thethyroid panelchecks levels of hormones such as TSH and T4 in the blood. This helps determine how well the thyroid gland is working and diagnose any thyroid conditions.
Thyroid panel results usually take a few days. Your healthcare provider may have you come in for a follow-up appointment to get your results. They may also call you or put the information on your online patient portal.
Cancer
Blood tests can be ordered to detect leukemia (cancer of the blood cells). They can also detect chemicals and proteins in your blood that could indicate different types of cancer.
Results for these blood tests may take a week or more.You may get results through an in-person appointment or a phone call with your healthcare provider.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Blood tests can help detectSTIssuch as HIV, syphilis, and herpes.Some of these blood tests, including HIV and herpes, look for antibodies that your body makes in response to the infection.
The turnaround time for the results may vary. For some rapid HIV tests, it may take just a few minutes. Other tests can take up to one to two weeks.You may have an in-person follow-up appointment or your healthcare provider may call you with the results.
How Long Should You Wait for STI Testing?
In some cases, an in-person appointment isn’t all that necessary for getting results. Often, routine blood or imaging tests are part of preventive care. That includes things likecholesterol tests,mammograms, orPap smears.
If results are normal, they can usually be delivered via a phone call. If results are abnormal, your healthcare provider may call you and ask to set up a separate follow-up appointment.
Test Results Given in Person
Sometimes your healthcare provider will want to meet with you in person to discuss your results, whether it’s blood work, a biopsy, or other medical tests. Even if the news is “good,” it may be important for them to explain what the results do and don’t mean. The test results may be simple and straightforward—say, positive or negative. Or they may be more nuanced or open to interpretation.
Your healthcare provider may have ordered tests to provide a diagnosis. Or they may want to monitor a condition, including tracking its progress or checking for a recurrence.
Getting test results may prompt new questions, which you can ask at this appointment.
Initial Diagnosis
News of a new diagnosis should usually be given face-to-face. That’s because your health is at risk in some way. That could be from aninfection,cancer, genetic disorder, or chronic health condition likeheart diseaseortype 2 diabetes.
An appointment gives you an opportunity to talk about:
It can also help avoid confusion over what the results mean. Sometimes you need to know more than just “positive” or “negative.”
For example, if you test negative forHIV (human immunodeficiency virus), you may assume you don’t have it. All it really means, though, is that the test didn’t detect the virus. You may have just been tested too early—before your immune system had a chance to make the antibodies the test detects.
At an appointment, your healthcare provider can explain options and tell you whether more testing is needed.
Plus, if a disease is contagious, your provider will want to talk in person about how to help you avoid future risks and protect other people.
Monitoring Chronic Illness
With chronic illness, follow-ups are often necessary to monitor the illness or see if a treatment is working.
For example, if you haveprediabetesorhypertension(high blood pressure), you may not need treatment right away. The first steps may be to use diet and exercise to stop or reverse the disease.
If you’re taking medications for chronic conditions, regular in-person appointments can help you stick to the treatment regimen. You can also discuss side effects and dosage changes that may be needed.
For diseases that can relapse, such as cancer and someautoimmune diseases, regular visits may help identify and treat a relapse early.
It is always okay to ask your healthcare provider about treatment guidelines or why a test or appointment is being recommended.
Test Results Given via Telehealth
Telehealth appointments may be a good compromise between delivering results in person versus a phone call, letter, or secure message. You still have to pay for it, but it can save you a lot of time.
Telehealth appointments allow you to meet with your healthcare provider over a video chat rather than an in-person appointment. Your healthcare provider might suggest this option if you’ve tested positive for an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, to limit the spread of the virus.
However, there may be some instances where you will need an in-person appointment instead. For instance, you may not be able to have a telehealth appointment if your healthcare provider needs you to have more tests done, or if they need to perform a physical examination.
Test Results Available via Patient Portal
Practices can send electronic messages (or post results to a patient portal) if they have a secure means of doing so. They’re an easy way to view detailed test results as soon as they’re available.
While having access to your electronic medical records can ensure that you receive results, it may cause anxiety for those who get an abnormal result without a phone call.Your healthcare provider may prefer to send you a message about normal results through the patient portal and call you with abnormal results.
If your healthcare provider uses a patient portal, ask them about how you’ll be receiving results and when you should check the patient portal.
When first meeting with a new healthcare provider, ask about their test result policies. In some cases, they want you to get tested a week or two before an appointment. Or you may be tested during or after your appointment and get the results later.
If you’re tested during or after your appointment, ask:
Be wary of any office that says they only contact you “if there is a problem.” First, you have the right to see the results of every test you undergo. Second, mistakes happen. You won’t know whether you’re fine or the results were somehow lost or not properly communicated to you.
You can also:
Remember there are many reasons why a healthcare provider will contact you after a medical test. If results are concerning, they may call you or have a receptionist call to schedule an appointment.A healthcare provider may also call to assure you everything is okay or discuss any needed follow-up tests.
Telehealth, What It Is, and Its Pros and Cons
Summary
The turnaround time for test results depends on the type of test, the location of the lab, and whether you need a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider.
Your healthcare provider may suggest a follow-up appointment to go over test results. This could be if you’re just being diagnosed or monitoring a chronic illness.
Your healthcare provider could also call or send a message through the online patient portal to let you know the results. You probably don’t need an appointment for preventive tests or if your condition is well-controlled.
Ask your healthcare provider about how test results will be delivered. If follow-up appointments are expected, check with your health insurance to make sure they’re covered.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Complete blood count (CBC).Labcorp Oklahoma, Inc.Complete blood count (CBC).Children’s Minnesota.Blood test: Basic metabolic panel.Testing.com.CMP blood test (Comprehensive metabolic panel).Children’s Minnesota.Blood test: Lipid panel.Testing.com.Thyroid panel test.Nebraska Medicine.Can blood tests help detect cancer?Norton Healthcare.How long does it take to get results of blood tests?MedlinePlus.STD tests.Delaney KP, Hanson DL, Masciotra S, Ethridge SF, Wesolowski L, Owen SM.Time until emergence of HIV test reactivity following infection with HIV-1: Implications for interpreting test results and retesting after exposure.Clin Infect Dis.2017;64(1):53-59. doi:10.1093/cid/ciw666Bazzano LA, Green T, Harrison TN, Reynolds K.Dietary approaches to prevent hypertension.Curr Hypertens Rep. 2013;15(6):694-702. doi:10.1007/s11906-013-0390-zKirwan JP, Sacks J, Nieuwoudt S.The essential role of exercise in the management of type 2 diabetes.Cleve Clin J Med. 2017;84(7 Suppl 1):S15-S21. doi:10.3949/ccjm.84.s1.03Health Resources and Services Administration.Telehealth and COVID-19.Giardina TD, Modi V, Parrish DE, Singh H.The patient portal and abnormal test results: An exploratory study of patient experiences.Patient Exp J. 2015;2(1):148-154.Litchfield IJ, Bentham LM, Lilford RJ, Greenfield SM.Test result communication in primary care: clinical and office staff perspectives.Family Practice. 2014;31(5):592-597. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmu041
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Complete blood count (CBC).Labcorp Oklahoma, Inc.Complete blood count (CBC).Children’s Minnesota.Blood test: Basic metabolic panel.Testing.com.CMP blood test (Comprehensive metabolic panel).Children’s Minnesota.Blood test: Lipid panel.Testing.com.Thyroid panel test.Nebraska Medicine.Can blood tests help detect cancer?Norton Healthcare.How long does it take to get results of blood tests?MedlinePlus.STD tests.Delaney KP, Hanson DL, Masciotra S, Ethridge SF, Wesolowski L, Owen SM.Time until emergence of HIV test reactivity following infection with HIV-1: Implications for interpreting test results and retesting after exposure.Clin Infect Dis.2017;64(1):53-59. doi:10.1093/cid/ciw666Bazzano LA, Green T, Harrison TN, Reynolds K.Dietary approaches to prevent hypertension.Curr Hypertens Rep. 2013;15(6):694-702. doi:10.1007/s11906-013-0390-zKirwan JP, Sacks J, Nieuwoudt S.The essential role of exercise in the management of type 2 diabetes.Cleve Clin J Med. 2017;84(7 Suppl 1):S15-S21. doi:10.3949/ccjm.84.s1.03Health Resources and Services Administration.Telehealth and COVID-19.Giardina TD, Modi V, Parrish DE, Singh H.The patient portal and abnormal test results: An exploratory study of patient experiences.Patient Exp J. 2015;2(1):148-154.Litchfield IJ, Bentham LM, Lilford RJ, Greenfield SM.Test result communication in primary care: clinical and office staff perspectives.Family Practice. 2014;31(5):592-597. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmu041
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Complete blood count (CBC).Labcorp Oklahoma, Inc.Complete blood count (CBC).Children’s Minnesota.Blood test: Basic metabolic panel.Testing.com.CMP blood test (Comprehensive metabolic panel).Children’s Minnesota.Blood test: Lipid panel.Testing.com.Thyroid panel test.Nebraska Medicine.Can blood tests help detect cancer?Norton Healthcare.How long does it take to get results of blood tests?MedlinePlus.STD tests.Delaney KP, Hanson DL, Masciotra S, Ethridge SF, Wesolowski L, Owen SM.Time until emergence of HIV test reactivity following infection with HIV-1: Implications for interpreting test results and retesting after exposure.Clin Infect Dis.2017;64(1):53-59. doi:10.1093/cid/ciw666Bazzano LA, Green T, Harrison TN, Reynolds K.Dietary approaches to prevent hypertension.Curr Hypertens Rep. 2013;15(6):694-702. doi:10.1007/s11906-013-0390-zKirwan JP, Sacks J, Nieuwoudt S.The essential role of exercise in the management of type 2 diabetes.Cleve Clin J Med. 2017;84(7 Suppl 1):S15-S21. doi:10.3949/ccjm.84.s1.03Health Resources and Services Administration.Telehealth and COVID-19.Giardina TD, Modi V, Parrish DE, Singh H.The patient portal and abnormal test results: An exploratory study of patient experiences.Patient Exp J. 2015;2(1):148-154.Litchfield IJ, Bentham LM, Lilford RJ, Greenfield SM.Test result communication in primary care: clinical and office staff perspectives.Family Practice. 2014;31(5):592-597. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmu041
MedlinePlus.Complete blood count (CBC).
Labcorp Oklahoma, Inc.Complete blood count (CBC).
Children’s Minnesota.Blood test: Basic metabolic panel.
Testing.com.CMP blood test (Comprehensive metabolic panel).
Children’s Minnesota.Blood test: Lipid panel.
Testing.com.Thyroid panel test.
Nebraska Medicine.Can blood tests help detect cancer?
Norton Healthcare.How long does it take to get results of blood tests?
MedlinePlus.STD tests.
Delaney KP, Hanson DL, Masciotra S, Ethridge SF, Wesolowski L, Owen SM.Time until emergence of HIV test reactivity following infection with HIV-1: Implications for interpreting test results and retesting after exposure.Clin Infect Dis.2017;64(1):53-59. doi:10.1093/cid/ciw666
Bazzano LA, Green T, Harrison TN, Reynolds K.Dietary approaches to prevent hypertension.Curr Hypertens Rep. 2013;15(6):694-702. doi:10.1007/s11906-013-0390-z
Kirwan JP, Sacks J, Nieuwoudt S.The essential role of exercise in the management of type 2 diabetes.Cleve Clin J Med. 2017;84(7 Suppl 1):S15-S21. doi:10.3949/ccjm.84.s1.03
Health Resources and Services Administration.Telehealth and COVID-19.
Giardina TD, Modi V, Parrish DE, Singh H.The patient portal and abnormal test results: An exploratory study of patient experiences.Patient Exp J. 2015;2(1):148-154.
Litchfield IJ, Bentham LM, Lilford RJ, Greenfield SM.Test result communication in primary care: clinical and office staff perspectives.Family Practice. 2014;31(5):592-597. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmu041
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