Having a blood test
Having a blood test
When you are in the room about to have your blood test
- The nurse will ask you your name
- The nurse will ask you for your date of birth.
This is to check they have the right paperwork for you.
- The nurse may ask some other questions like "Have you had a blood test before?"
If you are wearing long sleeves the nurse may ask you to roll them up.
The nurse will put a stretchy band called a tourniquet around your arm.
The band will feel tight which might feel a bit uncomfortable.
The band is not dangerous.
It is important to stay as still as you can.
The nurse will clean your arm with a wipe (or your hand if you are having blood taken from your hand)
The nurse may put a numbing cream on the place where the blood is going to be taken from.
A numbing cream helps make the blood test less painful.
You might want to look away from your arm while the blood is being taken.
The nurse will put a needle into your skin.
The nurse might say that you may feel a 'sharp scratch' as they put the needle in.
It may hurt a little bit but it will not be in for very long.
The blood that the nurse takes goes into a special tube.
The nurse will remove the needle once the blood has been taken.
The nurse will put a plaster over the place where the needle was.
Sometimes the plaster is made of tape and a cotton pad.
The nurse will tell you when they have finished the blood test and you can go home.
You should be able to take the plaster off after 30 minutes.
After your blood has been taken, the nurse will send it to a laboratory to be tested.
The laboratory is a place where experts can look closely at your blood to check that you are healthy.
The test results are then sent to your doctor.
Your doctor may call you about your results or ask you to come in for an appointment.
Other Easy Reads about blood tests
This Easy Read Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing. was first published 19/03/2025
Last updated: 19/03/2025.