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Original poster

if anything worry - some is found in blood tests, will they call you immediately?

28 replies

loopylou6 · 26/03/2009 16:31

and how soon does blood get tested after its taken? for example if blood was taken in the gp surgery first thing in the morning, how long till it would be tested?
i am asking because as some of you may know from my recent post, my dad has a lump on his thyroid and he had a series of bloods taken yesterday, could they tell from the bloods if the lump is suspicious?
any answers gratefully recieved.

OP posts:

Juwesm · 26/03/2009 16:37

Most routine bloods will be analysed the same day. I believe thyroid function test results would be available in the lab the same day, but it generally takes a bit longer to filter back through to GP, then for GP to review, and then to report back to you. However, I'm sure if they came up with anything of concern your Dad would be contacted pretty swiftly.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 26/03/2009 16:40

They contacted me about my dd the same day her results were back. She had low iron levels.

My dad was contacted the next day. He has quite serious heart problems.

Original poster

loopylou6 · 26/03/2009 16:43

thank you juw, i expect the hospital would of called my dad direct then wouldnt they if a problem was found?
shesells, thank you, hope your ddd and dad are doing better now.

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smudgethepuppydog · 26/03/2009 16:44

My friend was contacted the same day (very late in the evening by the GP knocking on her door when her DD's results showed something that needed urgent treatment).

Original poster

loopylou6 · 26/03/2009 17:05

wow smudge really? hope your friends dd is ok

OP posts:

Milliways · 26/03/2009 17:27

If a result is abnormal but not life threatening, the GP gets them within around 48hrs depending on test, but you have to allow GP time to read, file, make comments etc.

If severely abnormal results are found the lab will phone the GP or your Out of Hours service to make contact.

Original poster

loopylou6 · 26/03/2009 17:33

thanks milly

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Original poster

loopylou6 · 26/03/2009 17:35

gotta dmit though, am so worried about him i can barely think straight

OP posts:

Vev · 27/03/2009 07:26

I had blood tests done in the morning - out of hours GP came to my house in the evening of the same day, advising me to get to hospital immediately.

whomovedmychocolate · 27/03/2009 07:34

Mine was taken at 9 am, received by the lab at 11 and I was called at 1pm with the result. So if it is urgent they will call. But most times it's up to 48 hours these days. Gone are the 'call us in seven days' tests thank goodness!

whomovedmychocolate · 27/03/2009 08:27

BTW you are asking about disease markers and yes they can sometimes tell from blood if the cancer is advanced.

Original poster

loopylou6 · 27/03/2009 08:42

thank you for the replys, would they look for signs of cancer automatically then? also when he was having the bloods done the nurse said they where testing for some sort of 'pain resistance' have never heard of that before? anyone enlighten me?

OP posts:

smudgethepuppydog · 27/03/2009 17:28

Sadly Loopylou she's not, she was in remission for a while but had the news just before Christmas 2008 that it's now terminal.

Any more news on your dad?

tiggerlovestobounce · 27/03/2009 17:32

Pain resistance? Was she being serious, or making some light hearted joke about the process of taking the blood?
Was that definately what she said? It couldnt have been "TSH" could it?

Poledra · 27/03/2009 17:33

The lab will look for whatever the GP has requested - they don't do any tests off their own bat, as it were, the doctor has to ask for them. How quickly the tests come back depends on what they are - thyroids would [robably be pretty swift as these tests are run on a daily basis.
The lab, BTW, would never contact you but would get in touch with the GP urgently in order that they could get in touch with you. (DH has worked in a hospital lab).

Can't enlighten you on the pain resistance thing, and DH isn't in so I can't ask him, sorry.

Original poster

loopylou6 · 27/03/2009 19:06

smudge am so sorry for your friends dd, how awful
tigger, no my dad swears she said something like that, am desperate to know what on earth it means, maybe she was joking about and he misheard her?
poledra, thanks for the info, if you remember and you get a chance could you ask your dh a few questions for me please?
1, would thyroid cancer be detectable by a blood test, and 2, has he heard anything about this strange sounding pain blood test thingy. thanks lots and lots.

OP posts:

lisad123 · 28/03/2009 11:00

my dh had a test at 11am on weds 2 weeks ago, we had a phone call at 9.30pm telling us to get to hospital NOW! very scarcy.

Some cancers are detectable on bloods, but not all. however, depending on what your GP is like he might be looking atother markers too. Hope your ok

archiejia · 28/03/2009 14:46

I dont think thyroid cancers can be picked up just by a blood test.I had a tumour on my thyroid over 10 years ago. It took a while to diagnose and that was only by biopsy. Was told at the time and dont think its changed that if you are going to have a tumour, your thyroid is one of the best places to have it as it rarely spreads. But most likely it is a goitre. The blood tests are prob for just checking thyroid function. Would have thought if the gp was remotely concerned, would have also arranged for an ultrasound.

Original poster

loopylou6 · 28/03/2009 15:40

thank you archiejia, that is very reasurring. he does have to have an ultrasound but i supposed that is routine really isnt it

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archiejia · 28/03/2009 20:46

Yes, an ultrasound is the best way to start to find out whats going on - could be lots of things and most of them completely harmless. I found the worst part of it all was having to take thyroxine and putting on loads of weight (obviously I blamed my thyroid not my excessive eating of chocolate!!!). Silly to say, but really, try not to worry!

ThingOne · 29/03/2009 18:48

And if you don't get a call, don't assume it's all ok. Make sure you get a result. Sometimes results go missing.

Hope all is OK.

Original poster

loopylou6 · 30/03/2009 17:18

my dad got his blood results today, they are all normal, is that a good thing or a bad thing? if the tests had of shown under/over active thyroid that would of explained the lump wouldnt it? he just has to wait for his scan now

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Poledra · 30/03/2009 17:52

loopylou, haven't been online much over the weekend, sorry. DH said that they would not detect cancer with a blood test, although it might indicate the need for a biopsy. Also, he had not heard of the pain resistance thing.

AFAIK, the blood tests all coming back normal is a Good Thing. He can have a goitre without having hypo/hyperthyroidism. For example, he might have viral inflammation causing it. Try not to worry too much.

archiejia · 30/03/2009 18:12

Hello - yes it is good news about your dad's blood results! My results when they found the tumour were also normal. What I was told was that if they had left the lump in, I would have gone hypo - which makes me think that if it is something dodgy it does affect the thyroid levels - so I would be reassured by the results if I were you!!!

Original poster

loopylou6 · 30/03/2009 18:23

thank you poldra and archie, it is soo helpful being able to talk about it

OP posts:

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