Understanding Your Blood Test Results: What to Expect

Question
hi -id just like to know how it works when you have bloodwork taken.Do you have to call your doctor for the results or do they call you?Are they required to look them over when the results come in?thank you

Answer
Hi Linda,

I am so sorry I didn't answer you sooner.  I have been working, and just didn't get a chance.

Every physician is different.  They ARE required to view lab work when it comes in.  I cannot imagine an office that the physician doesn't view incoming test results.

Every doctor has their own practice regarding informing the patient.  Some have the "if you don't hear from us, you know everything was okay" viewpoint.  Others, like a physician I used to work for, notify their patients by phone whether results were normal or not...what a lot of work THAT was..lol.  Some send out form letters saying the results were normal, or call the office, or followup in x amount of months or whatever.

My personal opinion is, if you don't hear anything, you call the office.  Lab results can be lost in transit, a lab may not report the results due to an error, the doctor may have signed off but missed something, someone may have placed the results in your chart and filed it away, etc.

I hope this answered your question.  Please let me know if I can be of any help to you!

Best wishes,

Andrea