Getting your results
Frequently asked
questions:
I had some tests done today at Sandyford but I'm not
sure how I obtain my results?
Results for most tests for sexual infection can be obtained from
our automated telephone results line on 0141 211
8694. This is open 24 hours per day.
You can also access this from the main Sandyford line
0141 211 8130 option <4>.
To get the results you will need your clinic (NaSH) number. You
should have been given a small green card with this information on,
along with a tick next to the tests taken. You should keep your
clinic number safe and not share it with anyone.
What results are available on the telephone results
system?
Results for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, genital herpes
and hepatitis B can be obtained. If there are problems with certain
results you may be asked to talk to a nurse to discuss them, or
return to the clinic.
Other tests, such as urine cultures, hormone tests and pathology
results are not available by phone.
Smear test results are handled by a different national computer
system and you will receive a 'mailer' to your given correspondence
address
How long do I have to wait for the results?
Blood test results are usually available after 3pm two working
days after the tests were taken. Tests for gonorrhoea and Chlamydia
usually take longer and up to 10 days.
Positive results are acted on the same day they are received and
we will contact you to inform by your preferred method of
contact.
I've waited 10 days and there are still no
results…
We chase up any test taken where there is no result back after
10 days. Very rarely a specimen goes missing or a result cannot be
obtained, and you may be asked to repeat the test. If it is over 10
days and there are no results please call our helpline on
0141 211 8646 or 0141 211 8130 option
<3>
I phoned the telephone results line but have difficulty
entering my information ….
When you phone the results line it will ask for your NaSH number
and date of birth before you can proceed.
The NaSH number is the unique number starting with
AN contained on the results card. This is an eight
digit number and you need to start from the beginning even if it is
a 0.
Your date of birth is typed in as DD/MM/YY for example,
01/04/70.
If the date of birth and number do not match you cannot proceed.
If registered with an assumed date of birth you will need to
remember what this was.
I put in all my details as requested but the system
states there are no results available. What has
happened?
The system is updated at 3pm each day. If you have only had
tests taken in the 24 hours before that these will not yet be
booked onto the results system. If you are sure you should have
results available but the system cannot find any please call our
helpline on 0141 211 8646 during business
hours.
I have forgotten what my results were….
The phone system is updated daily with results for the last 6
months. You are welcome to access this as often as you wish. After
6 months the phone system will not relay your results, but we have
a copy of them on the Sandyford computer system.
I heard everything was negative then got a call saying
something was positive….
Positive tests can take longer than negative results to return
from the lab. Sometimes people collect their negative HIV result
and forget to listen for the other results. Very occasionally a
clinician may have not booked a test onto the computer system so we
get a positive result and have to add this test on manually.
Is this the only way I can access my
results?
You are more than welcome to return to the service for your
results if that is your preferred option to either the drop in
service or a booked appointment. There is no guarantee a
booked appointment will be available at 10 days meaning a delay in
your results being received.
If you opt to attend the drop in there is a question on the
triage form to tick if you are only here to obtain results. You
will have to wait to see a clinician.
I lost my telephone results card. What do I
do?
If you have lost your telephone results card you can phone the
professional helpline on 0141 211 8646 or
0141 211 8130 option <3> for your
results. You will be asked a number of questions before they
disclose your results. They may be unable to release your results
on the phone if they are concerned you cannot confirm your identity
and you may be asked to attend in person.
I'm worried that I have lost my card and someone else
will access my results.
You can only access results with a date of birth that matches a
NaSH number. The only information contained on your results card
should be your NaSH number and the tests that have been
ticked. No other information should be contained on your
card. No-one else should know your NaSH number and we do not
give NaSh numbers out over the phone. The phone system does not
read out your name so even if someone thinks they know your NaSH
number and date of birth they cannot prove it is you...
I believe someone may have accessed my results without
my permission.
Your telephone results card is your responsibility and must be
kept in a secure and safe place. If you think your
confidentiality has been breached by someone obtaining your NaSH
number please call our helpline and we will arrange to re-register
you and remove access to those tests. Unfortunately if you
have given someone your access details we cannot stop them using
them to access the phone system
Why was I asked to return for some results in
person?
Some results are too complicated or difficult to explain on an
automated system. This includes followup tests for syphilis, or an
HIV test where there is a very high chance that this test will be
positive.
Some test results are not available on the phone and we will
find an alternative route to get these results to you, including
asking you to come back in person.
Is it possible to have my results by email?
In general e-mail is not a secure method of communicating
sensitive information. We can deal with general enquiries about the
service through the website but cannot email people back with test
results.
Will the system tell me if I have a sexually transmitted
infection?
Yes, the results system will make some positive results
available to you so that you can phone and/or attend the service
again for treatment and/or further advice. For example the
system will inform you if you are Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes or
syphilis positive.
If I have a positive result, will you contact me in case
I forget to phone in?
In all cases, even if you call the telephone results line, you
will be contacted using your preferred method of contact if a
result is positive, and advised on any further action. We would not
do this where we can see that a positive result has already been
dealt with and you have been treated.
Will you tell my GP of my results?
When you attended the service you would have been given a
statement on confidentiality explaining what we mean by
confidentiality and some of the limitations. Part of your
registration process is to record your wishes about contacting your
GP.
We do not write routinely to GPs unless there is a clinical
reason to do so. GPs do not know your NaSH number.
If you do not collect an important positive test result and we
believe your health may be at risk as you remain untreated we will
occasionally contact your GP to ask them to help find you. Examples
include where your mobile number is dead or a letter is returned
saying you have moved away. This decision is made by a senior
clinician.
Can I make an appointment to come back?
If you want to collect your results in person you can make an
appointment to come back to the clinic. Sometimes the doctor, nurse
or sexual health adviser will ask you to collect your results like
this because they need to explain them to you as the telephone
results line is unable to do this.
You can come back to a drop-in clinic. If you attend the drop-in
clinic for your results please inform the receptionist when
checking in that you are there for results only and choose this
option on the yellow information sheet titled "What Can We Do For
You Today".