A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

• assess your general state of health
• confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
• see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The childs hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have an X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.

There is a federal law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) that sets out rules for health care providers about who can look at and receive your health information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule ensures that you have rights over your health information.

Under HIPAA your health care provider may share your information face-to-face, over the phone, or in writing if:

• You give your provider permission
• You are present when the information is given and do not object to sharing the information
• You are not present, and the provider determines, based on professional judgement, that it is in your best interest to share information

You have a right to confidentiality; however, you may wish other members of your family, a carer or a close friend who might be involved in your care, to be able to talk to the doctors and staff about your care on your behalf. This can be particularly useful if you find it difficult to get to the surgery, or if communication is difficult for you (such as hearing problems).

By completing one of these, this will allow you to enable us to share information about your care with the person you specify on the form. We need both you and the person who you would like us to share your information with to sign this form.

If you have more than one person you would like to give permission for us to share information with, please fill out a separate form for each one and return to the surgery.

On receipt of the completed form, your wishes, together with details of the nominated person will be recorded in your record.