Blood and stool tests

[Gillybabe48]

Does anyone know if Medway is slow with test results. I have been waiting a month. I have rang surgery and reception said they would look them up and ring back and they have not. Maybe because of Covid.

[Hay2016]

I wouldn’t have thought so. Was it normal bloods and stool culture or a biochemistry stool request?? Even a send away should only take 10-14 days. Tell your gp Reception to look on ilab. They can but don’t like to.

[Gillybabe48 in reply to Hay2016]

Yes she said she would look on Ilab and ring me back. Although she said it was very busy!! But she did not ring me back and closed at 6.30 Friday!!!!

[Hay2016 in reply to Gillybabe48]

Maybe you’ll be surprised by a call first thing Monday. Dr always say 5-10 days for pathology when in reality most of biochem is same day and it’s only micro that can take 3 days or more for some tests. Xx

[Gillybabe48 in reply to Hay2016]

I have rang doctors again and she checked ILab and they are still outstanding after 5 weeks. I imagine Covid has caused delay.

[bantam12 in reply to Gillybabe48]

Result will be out of date by the time you get it ! Maybe you need to send off another one.

[Gillybabe48 in reply to bantam12]

Apparently some can take six weeks if they need to grow a culture. Whatever that means.

[bantam12 in reply to Gillybabe48]

Calprotectin test looks for inflammation, did your doc ask for stool culture as well ? If they are growing cultures then they are looking for any bacteria that could be causing your problems.

[Gillybabe48 in reply to bantam12]

Not sure!!

[Gillybabe48 in reply to Gillybabe48]

I think they have lost tests myself but receptionist says it says outstanding on ILab tests.

[Hay2016 in reply to Gillybabe48]

Sorry she’s talking nonsense. In 20yrs of working microbiology I’ve never had a stool culture take that long. Tell them to pick up the phone.

[Gillybabe48 in reply to Hay2016]

Thank you for your help. Shall I ring them again. I think they are just fobbing me off and somebody has either lost it or they never sent it. Complete turn around of staff in last month at our practice. So who knows.

[Hay2016 in reply to Gillybabe48]

Definitely phone again! Could be they just arnt authorised for some reason and that’s why they can’t see the result on ilab. Quite perturbing that they don’t know basic turnaround times of tests and realise 5weeks is hugely over time. Stay on line while they phone. 😄

[Gillybabe48 in reply to Hay2016]

Thank you I will.

[Gillybabe48 in reply to Hay2016]

They have found them at Maidstone Hospital. I am in Medway and for some reason were sent to Maidstone and tested on 28th September and the results have been sitting there for a month. No doctor in our surgery today so they cannot read the results until Monday. At least they have been found. Probably good news then otherwise they would have rang through results.