Blood testing for 12 years and over :: Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Service available in:

All children aged between 12 years and over will have routine blood tests taken in the community by Mersey Care, instead of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

To access the service, simply use our online booking system.

Urgent blood tests for children with additional needs and/or autism that require reasonable adjustments, need to visit Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Please note that there are no children phlebotomy clinics in Knowsley. Parents and carers have to choose from one of the following:

South Liverpool Treatment Centre, 3pm to 7pm each Tuesday (12 – 16 years)
Old Swan Urgent Treatment Centre (Liverpool), 8.30am to 4.30pm each Wednesday (12 – 16 years)
Litherland Town Hall, 3.30pm to 7pm each Thursday (12 – 14 years)

Please ensure your GP practice provides you with a request form that you will need to bring along to your clinic appointment on behalf of your child.

Urgent blood tests for any age, will still be dealt with by Alder Hey.

What happens to my child’s blood sample?

Once the samples have been sent to the laboratory, and tests have been completed, the results are checked by a trained scientist or doctor. Comments may also be added to the results to explain their meaning. The results will then be reported to the doctor who asked for the sample to be taken.

How long do the tests take?

This varies according to which tests have to be performed. Some tests are completed on the same day the sample is received or by the following day. More complicated tests may take up to a few weeks, especially if the sample has to be sent to a specialist laboratory in another part of the country, which adds to the time required.

How your child’s test results will be sent to you

The results of the tests will be sent to the doctor who requested the tests. This is usually the consultant (or GP) in charge of your child’s care. Your doctor will usually inform you of the results by letter, occasionally by telephone or at your child’s next clinic appointment. Should you telephone the doctor for the results, please be aware that your child’s results can only be given to you by a doctor involved in your child’s care.