Our test results are available electronically in NGEMR immediately after authorisation. All results are returned to the ordering clinician, who has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that results are communicated to patients and necessary action is taken, as appropriate.

We have procedures for notifying c​​linicians of critical test results which may require urgent action to prevent significant harm to patients. In the event that a particular clinician cannot be contacted, there is an established escalation procedure in place.

Refer to critical results list for more details and list of critical laboratory results.

Laboratory results are available electronically in NGEMR, we encourage users not to use hard copy of results.

Reference interval for any test are specific to that test and laboratory methodology. They are also often age- and gender-specific. Reference interval​s displayed with test results take these factors into account.

We continually monitor the turn-around times of our tests, to ensure that we comply with our responsibilities to the timely and efficient care of patients. We measure our turn-around times from the time when the test order is entered into the laboratory computer system (largely equivalent to the time of reception in the laboratory) to the time when the test result is authorised (at which point the test result is transmitted to NGEMR and is available through direct enquiry).

The expected turn-around times for each test are indicated in the test catalogue.