We will contact you by text message to inform you of your test result, including normal, abnormal and negative tests. We will inform you if we need you to speak to the practice within a timeframe or to make a non urgent telephone call.
If you wish to enquire about the results of your tests please telephone at the end of surgery sessions. The administrative staff will give results to you or you may be asked to speak to the nurse or doctor. Adults' results will not be given to anyone other than the patient, except in exceptional circumstances.

Blood cholesterol tests (lipid profile)

Do not eat anything and only drink water for 10-12 hours before having blood cholesterol tests (lipid profile).

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that can build up in your arteries and increase your risk of conditions such as heart disease.

There are several different cholesterol tests. When these are done together it’s called a lipid profile. A lipid profile tests the levels of:

• ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol
• 'bad’ (LDL) cholesterol
• total cholesterol
• triglycerides (other fatty substances)

If you're just having a triglycerides test, do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before the test (you'll also need to fast

Fasting blood glucose test

Do not eat or drink anything except water for 8-10 hours before a fasting blood glucose test. These are used to diagnose diabetes, a condition caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have an X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners. If the clinician who you are seeing would like you to have an X-Ray we will create a referral and form that you can take with you to Hove Polyclinic or Royal Sussex County Hospital. 

You can find out more about X-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.