Information for Patients
Patient FAQs
On this page:- Where do I go for a blood test at the hospital?
- I have been told to fast before my test. What does this mean?
- I have been asked to collect my urine for 24 hours. How do I do this?
Should I bring my sample to the lab myself? - Where is the laboratory?
- How long does it take to test my sample?
- How do I find out the results from my test?
Where do I go for a blood test at the hospital?
If you have been sent to the hospital for a blood test, please follow the instructions given to you by the doctor who sent you. The outpatient phlebotomy room (where blood samples are taken) is situated in the Neurology Outpatient Department (B9). The phlebotomy room opening times are:- Mon–Thu, 8.30am to 4.30pm (last patient 4.15pm)
- Friday, 8.30am to 3.30pm (last patient 3.15pm)
I have been told to fast before my test. What does this mean?
For most tests requiring 'fasting', a period of at least 8 hours without food is required. For this reason, blood samples for fasting tests are usually taken in the morning, so that most of the fasting period is when you are asleep. If you forget to fast and eat some food during the fasting period, it is important to tell your doctor, because the results of your tests will be affected and this may cause them to be misinterpreted if your doctor is not aware that the fasting period was not complete.I have been asked to collect my urine for 24 hours. How do I do this? Should I bring my sample to the lab myself?
We test 24 hour urine collections for several different substances, and the instructions for how to make the collection (i.e. how to collect the urine, when to start and stop, etc.) will be provided when you collect your bottle. These will be specific for the substance being tested. Please read the instructions carefully and inform your doctor of any problems you may have in following them.
It is possible to bring the 24 hour urine sample to the lab yourself, but it is usually preferable to take the sample to your GP, who will ensure that there is the correct documentation with it (a request form), before sending it to the lab.
If you have been asked by your doctor to bring it to the lab yourself, please come to Pathology Reception in Department B38 (Pathology Laboratory Building) - click on the link below to see where this is:Where is the laboratory?
The laboratories are located in the Pathology Laboratory Building (Department B38). To see these on the map of the hospital, click here:
How long does it take to test my sample?
This is very variable and depends on the tests that have been requested for your sample. Some tests only take a few minutes, some take a few days, and others are not performed at this laboratory at all, so have to be sent to a specialist lab, which can take several weeks. In addition to the time needed to do the test, time is also required for your doctor to receive the results, look at them, seek advice if required and interpret the results.How do I find out the results from my test?
It is not possible for anyone in the Pathology Departments to give results out directly to patients. To find out the results of your tests, please contact the health professional who requested the test (GP or consultant). They will look at your results and interpret them in relation to your own medical history. They may also contact a laboratory clinician to discuss your results in more detail and assist in their interpretation.
For some general information about laboratory tests, the Lab Tests Online website provides a good background to many tests and conditions: