Before your blood test
Before having a blood test at the Royal Free London
If you're coming for a blood test at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital or the Royal Free Hospital, there are some things you should tell us.
For example, if you:
- have had any problems with blood tests in the past, such as feeling faint
- take medication that thins your blood, such as warfarin or aspirin.
The blood rooms are at their busiest between 9am and 1pm. If you are having routine blood tests, please try to avoid these times if possible.
We must have the request form in order to perform a blood test. Please check the forms to ensure that your details are correct.
If you miss your turn while waiting for your blood test, you will need to take another ticket and wait for your turn again.
Taking your blood sample
When you enter the blood room, a member of staff will check your forms. One blood test request may require several different small bottles of blood, but these can be taken from a single skin puncture.
After we take your blood sample, we cover the puncture with a dressing. Apply pressure to this for at least three minutes to reduce the risk of bruising, and keep the dressing on for one hour. Avoid heavy lifting with that arm for several hours.
Fasting blood tests, glucose tolerance tests and other special blood tests
If you are having a fasting blood test, the doctor will ask you not to eat or drink on the day or your blood test.
For a glucose tolerance test, you should not eat or drink anything except plain water for at least 12 hours before the test. Please arrive at the blood room before 9.30am as this blood test takes two hours to perform. We will take a blood sample when you arrive and then ask you to drink a glucose drink, such as Lucozade. After the drink you need to wait for 2 hours, then we will take a second blood test. During this time you must not eat, drink or take any vigorous exercise.
After the blood sample has been taken, you may eat and drink as normal.
Please note that at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital and Edgware Community Hospital, all glucose tolerance tests are carried out by appointment only.
Royal Free London blood test results
Most blood tests results will be sent to the requesting doctor 7-10 days after your blood test. Your doctor can obtain urgent results from the laboratory.