How Long Does Blood Work Take: A Guide to Common Blood Tests

How Long Does It Take to Get Blood Work Back: A Guide for Routine Tests

Waiting for blood work results can feel stressful, whether you’re seeking answers to symptoms or undergoing a preventive screening. But understanding what to expect can bring peace of mind. While timing varies by test type, most blood work results follow a general timeline.

Here’s what can influence how quickly you receive your lab results — and what it means for your next steps toward better health.

The Basics: What Happens After Your Blood Is Drawn

After the blood draw is completed, your blood will be examined in either an onsite lab or at an offsite facility. Most AdventHealth Primary Care+ locations offer blood work onsite for your convenience and faster testing.

After your blood has been analyzed, your care team will either upload the results to your health care portal or call you in for a follow-up appointment.

How long does it take to get blood work done? There are a few factors to consider, so remember that a delay in getting your test results doesn’t mean you need to worry.

• Additional processing: Some tests require extra steps or specialized equipment
• Lab location: Offsite labs will take longer to process
• Lab workload: The number of tests that the lab needs to perform can impact the timeline
• Result delivery: Your provider may wait until all test results are available before sharing them with you

Common Blood Tests

Here’s a look at some of the routine tests your primary care provider may order, what they check for, and how long results usually take.

1. Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

   A BMP checks kidney function and creatinine, as well as electrolytes and blood sugar levels. This makes it a helpful screening tool for diabetes risk. It’s often part of your annual health assessment, especially if you have chronic medical conditions. You may receive these test results in about a day.

2. Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP)

   A CMP will check everything that a BMP does, along with liver function. It’s not generally a routine test, but your doctor may want an overview of organ function. They can also evaluate your medications using this test. Results can take between one and three days.

3. Complete Blood Count (CBC)

   A CBC will look at your red and white blood cells, hemoglobin and platelets. As part of your annual wellness exam services, this test can help detect anemia, blood disorders and infections. The results take about a day.

4. Lipid Panel (Cholesterol)

   A lipid panel checks all cholesterol levels, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), as well as triglycerides. Your doctor might recommend it if you’re over 20 years old or have heart disease risk factors. Results can be available in less than a day.

5. Tests for Anemia

   These assessments test for hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, folate and hematocrit levels. These tests are usually included in a CBC, but they could also be ordered if you have unexplained fatigue.

6. Thyroid Tests (TSH, T4)

   Thyroid tests check thyroid hormone levels. Your doctor may order them if they suspect you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, whether due to symptoms like tiredness or weight changes, or your family history. The results take one to two days.

7. Cancer-Related Blood Tests

   These tests look for tumor markers and other factors that may indicate cancer. For example, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) can help screen for prostate cancer. These tests are usually ordered if you have risk factors or if your doctor is monitoring ongoing treatments. The results can take between one and two weeks, but the timeline can vary.

8. Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing

   Tests for sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs) are an option that your doctor may recommend depending on your sexual activity, age and risk factors. These tests check for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis and other conditions. The timeline can vary depending on the test.

Typical Turnaround Times for Common Blood Tests

Get a better idea of what you can expect after your primary care doctor orders blood work.

The actual time can vary based on your lab, provider and test complexity. Find primary care near you or schedule a Primary Care+ appointment to get started.

What to Do if You Haven’t Gotten Your Results

Lab testing can be complex, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing if it takes some extra time to get your results. If you’ve had blood work through AdventHealth Primary Care+, you can check your results on our patient portal. If three to seven days pass without results, contact your primary care provider. There’s usually no need to worry — most delays are administrative, not medical.

Schedule your annual wellness visit at AdventHealth Primary Care+ today.