Lab Tests Online – Informing Patients about Path Tests

Developed by the Association for Clinical Biochemistry with funding from the Health Foundation and The Department of Health

Do your patients ask about lab tests – why they are being done, what they mean?

Lab Tests Online UK (www.labtestsonline.org.uk) is an Internet resource designed to provide patients and carers with easy-to-understand, validated information about clinical laboratory tests. Millions of lab tests are performed every day in the UK, and patients often have little or no idea about what is being tested and what the results can show. The Healthcare Commission’s report “State of Healthcare 2005” commented “a third of patients said that results of diagnostic tests were not explained in a way they could understand. Lab Tests Online can help you with these explanations by providing simple answers to common questions, which can be accessed at the patient’s convenience and at their own pace.

Over 200 tests are listed, and patients can select the tests relevant to them, from a full blood count to a PSA. The site provides an overview of the purpose of the test and the sample that is required, a description of the limitations of the test and the possible significance of the results and the answers to frequently asked questions. The site emphasises throughout that the information supplied is intended to complement and not to replace the consultations with a doctor, giving additional background information and helping the patient to understand what was said during the consultation. We do not seek to offer specific interpretations of individual test results.

The site also contains general articles designed to give patients a better understanding of how laboratories work, including how samples are processed, information on the concepts of ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ as they relate to blood tests and the idea of reference ranges.

Lab Tests Online UK is produced by laboratory professionals, approved by the NHS Information Authority and partly funded by the Department of Health. Publicity material is available and consists of a poster giving basic information about the site, and a information card that can be given to interested patients. The card contains details on how to access the site and lists the most common tests with check-boxes. The patient can mark the card with the tests that have been requested on his/her blood sample, and then look the information up at leisure when they get home. Posters and cards may be obtained by emailing or writing to the address above.

There have been over 600 000 visitors to the site since it was launched in June 2004, and feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive (see below). Many health professionals such as phlebotomists and practice nurses also find it helpful in talking to patients and answering specific questions about testing.

Some comments from patients:

“Congratulations – this is a great resource”

“Helped with my peace of mind”

“Really simple and informative … wish it had been here long ago.”

Lab Tests Online UK, c/o Association for Clinical Biochemistry, 130-132 Tooley Street, London SE1 2TU.

Email: labtestsonline@acb.org.uk
www.labtestsonline.org.uk

 

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