Why does it take so long to get test results from things like blood work when you go to the emergency room at a hospital
In: Biology
In all likelihood, the actual test took very little time to perform. What you are likely waiting around for is the samples to make it from a phlebotomist’s cart all the way down to the lab, where they need to be checked in, delivered to the correct department, and possibly spun down to separate the blood. Some tests are done within seconds, while others may take an hour or more. Then even after the lab scientists review the results and release them, it’s probably a good bit of time before a doctor has time to review the results, decide how urgently they need to get back to you based on the severity of your condition and the condition of their other patients, and then implement a plan of care based on your results. All in all, there are a lot of moving parts that simply take time!
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