Information about partnering with InHealth to provide fixed or mobile diagnostic services

Blood Test

InHealth Centres offering Blood Tests:

Greater London
refer a patient refer a patient

Blood tests are used to help doctors diagnose a wide range of conditions.  The vein on the inside of your elbow or the one on the underside of your wrist is usually used for taking blood samples.

 

Before your appointment

No preparation is required for your appointment.  Please ensure that you bring with you any request card or other documentation that you have been given by your doctor.

 

During your appointment

When you arrive, you should hand over the request card from your GP if you have one, and our staff will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may have.

We will put a tight band around your upper arm to make the vein fill with blood. This makes it easier for us to take the blood sample.  We then clean the skin over the vein with an antiseptic wipe and put a needle into the vein through the cleaned skin. The needle is connected either to a syringe or directly to a blood sample bottle.

When we have taken the amount of blood we need, we remove the needle. We will ask you to press on the small wound with cotton wool for a few minutes to stop the bleeding and prevent bruising. We may also put a plaster on the wound.

 

After your appointment

Once we have taken a sample of blood, we will send it to a laboratory for analysis.

The doctor who referred you will receive the results of your blood test from the laboratory. You should telephone your doctor to confirm that they have received your report before arranging an appointment, unless the doctor has made different arrangements with you.
 

Frequently asked questions about blood tests

Are there any side effects?
Sometimes a bruise develops where we put the needle in. This is much less likely to happen if you press over the site with cotton wool for several minutes with your arm kept straight (not bent). Very rarely, as with any wound, an infection may develop where we put the needle in. See your doctor if the wound site becomes red and swollen. Some people can feel faint during a blood test. Tell the person doing the test if this happens to you.

How long will it take?
Taking a sample of blood usually takes about five minutes.