Blood tests are often needed for your doctor to work out what is causing your symptoms.
They are also sometimes needed to check that treatment you are on is being effective.
There are a very large number of things that can be tested from a blood sample and the ones your doctor is testing for will be written on the form you were given. If you want to know more about these tests, you can visit Lab tests online ( www.labtestsonline.org.uk
) where you will find a wide range of information.
You will normally have your blood taken in the Out-patient Phlebotomy area located in clinic
4 of the out-patients department.
If attending the out patient phlebotomy department:
 You do not need to register at the reception desk.
 In the phlebotomy area you need to take a ticket from the ticket machine and wait to be called to the appropriate cubicle by the number display and automated voice.
The display in the area will tell you the average wait time. If this is prolonged, you can leave the area and return nearer the expected time for your blood test.
The Out-patient Phlebotomy is open Monday to Friday from 08:30 until 16:45. We operate an open access policy. This means that you do not need to make an appointment for a blood test.
This is often convenient as you can come for a blood test as soon as you want after seeing your doctor. It does have the disadvantage of there often being large numbers of people arriving for a blood test at the same time.
We know that some patients would like to have a blood test earlier in the morning or in the evening. These patients are welcome to attend the GP Blood Test unit at NMH which is open from 7:30 in the morning and up to 19:45 Tuesday and Thursday. If you are attending the GP unit, you will need to take a ticket from the machine in the unit.
In the morning there can often be long waits for a test and we do try to reserve this time for fasting patients who can not eat until after they have had a blood test . If you can come in the afternoon please do so. You will find that waiting times are much less and you can often be seen in less than ten minutes.
Out-Patient Blood Test Patient Information v5 September 2013

Your blood will be taken by a group of people called phlebotomists. These people are very skilled in taking blood as it is their only job. Because of this it is very unusual for them to have trouble when taking blood and it is normally an almost painless and very quick procedure. Some people are more difficult to take blood from, and a small minority of people can bruise easily. This can often look alarming but will normally fade within a day or two. The phlebotomist will take the blood from the crease of the elbow of the arm you use least. This normally has a vein that can be accessed easily (you can normally see this vein as a blue line if you look at your arm).
A strap is placed above the elbow and tightened slightly to increase the size of the vein. A needle is placed in the vein and blood is sucked into an attached tube. The phlebotomist may wear gloves, but this is not essential as they will be carrying out very good hand hygiene techniques
After taking the blood the phlebotomist will use a cotton wool pad or gauze and tape to cover the spot the needle entered to prevent any bleeding. The phlebotomist may need to take the blood from a different site if the veins in your arm are difficult to see.
If you have a child (Under age 16) who needs a blood test between you need to attend the
Childrens Out-patient department in the main hospital building on Level -1 between 13:00 and 16:45. Children will need to come with a relative or carer who will stay with them when the blood sample is taken. The phlebotomist will spray a pain killing aerosol on the arm to make the process as easy as possible. The blood will then be taken. Where possible we do treat children as a priority and see them as soon as possible.
For children who are fasting by appointment.
*For children who are fasting by appointment.
For children who are fasting by appointment.
If your child needs to have a fasting blood taken, you can make a morning appointment. To do so please ring any of the following numbers:
0208 887 2366
0208 887 2238
07587883773
07841737987
Out-Patient Blood Test Patient Information v5 September 2013

We begin testing your blood on the day it is taken. Most results are ready on the same day but some can take several days to be completed. All the results are sent to the person who wrote your request form, usually your consultant.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received, please ask to speak with one of the
Phlebotomy managers. If they are not available, or if you not wish to speak to them you can contact the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) near the main hospital entrance (Tel:
0208 887 4172). You can also contact PALS if you would like this leaflet translated. You can also write a formal letter of complaint. Details of this process can be found in the Trust
Complaints Procedure (a separate Leaflet is available).
Out-Patient Blood Test Patient Information v5 September 2013