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You had the blood draw, ticked the box on the app, and now you’re doing that thing where you refresh your patient portal every few hours like it’s going to change something. It’s a strange kind of limbo, waiting on results that could be nothing or could be something, especially when the whole process started with a video call rather than a face in front of you.
If you are typing who gets my blood test results into a search bar wondering where things stand, you’re not the only one. So let’s clear up exactly who gets your blood test results, who’s supposed to act on them, and what your part in the story actually is when it comes to telehealth test results follow up.
The Quick Answer
The clinician who requested the test is the one responsible for receiving it, reviewing it, and following up with you if anything needs attention. That doesn’t change just because the referral came from a telehealth consult rather than an in-person one. What has changed recently is that you, the patient, may also see the report yourself, sometimes before your doctor has had a chance to look at it, thanks to updates to Australia’s My Health Record system. More on that shortly.
What Happens After a Pathology or Imaging Request Is Issued Online
An online pathology referral works the same way a paper one from your local GP always has. Once a doctor decides testing is appropriate based on your symptoms and history, they issue the blood test referral online, you take yourself off to a collection centre at a time that suits you, and the lab does its work. The result then goes back to the requesting clinician through their clinical software, the same secure pathway used across Australian general practice, regardless of whether the referral itself started online or in person.
A blood test referral doesn’t disappear into the ether once it’s issued either. It’s tied to you and to the clinician who requested it, which is precisely why that doctor remains in the loop for whatever comes back.
Read: How to Get Online Referrals in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Requesting Clinician’s Follow-Up Responsibility
This is the part worth genuinely understanding, because it protects you more than people realise. The Avant Mutual guidance for practitioners puts it plainly: the clinician ordering the test is generally responsible for following it up, unless that responsibility has been clearly handed to someone else. Practices should also have systems in place to recall patients when needed.
This obligation isn’t limited to dramatic or alarming results either. Good practice means having clear systems for flagging clinically significant results rather than relying on the patient to chase them.
How My Health Record Access Changed in July 2026
Here’s where things have genuinely shifted, and it’s worth knowing about even if you’ve never gone looking for it. From 1 July 2026, new “Share by Default” rules mean most pathology and diagnostic imaging reports are available to patients immediately after they are uploaded. Before these reforms, patients often had to wait longer to see certain reports in My Health Record; the new rules have reduced those delays for many report types. Some simpler pathology results are viewable almost as soon as they’re uploaded, while some categories, such as anatomical pathology, cytopathology, and genetic testing, may still carry a short delay of around five days. This is genuinely one of the biggest recent changes to how online pathology results Australia-wide are accessed, and it’s reshaped the experience for almost everyone getting tested.
None of this replaces your doctor’s usual process. Results still land in their clinical system exactly as before. What’s different is that you might now have your own window into the same report, sometimes before anyone has had a chance to talk you through it.
Why a Patient May See a Report Before Speaking With a Doctor
This is genuinely one of the more disorienting parts of the new system, and it’s worth being upfront about it. Because reports can appear in My Health Record quite quickly, you may see a result before your doctor has reviewed it or reached out to explain what it means. That gap can feel unsettling, particularly with unfamiliar terminology or numbers that look concerning out of context. It’s not a sign something has gone wrong procedurally, and it’s genuinely not something you’re expected to interpret alone. Reports can include partial or preliminary information, and a clinician’s context matters enormously in making sense of what you’re looking at.
Normal Results Can Still Require Follow-Up
Here’s a nuance that’s easy to miss. A result marked as “normal” doesn’t automatically mean the conversation is over. Sometimes normal results still need discussing in light of your symptoms, medication changes, or what the test was actually looking for in the first place. Not every result needs a phone call, but not every “all clear” is the end of the story either, because the interpretation depends on your symptoms and the reason the test was ordered and that judgement sits with your clinician rather than with the report alone.
Also read: Getting A Specialist Referrals Has Never Been Easier With Doctor Help
What to Do if No Result or Contact Arrives
If a reasonable amount of time has passed, generally more than what your pathology provider quoted for turnaround, and you’ve heard nothing, it’s entirely reasonable to reach out yourself rather than assume no news is good news. Contact the practice or telehealth service that issued your referral and ask directly whether your results have been received and reviewed. This isn’t being a nuisance. Following up your own care is a completely normal part of the system working properly, especially with online services where you may not have an established, ongoing relationship with one specific doctor.
When Another GP Can Help, and When the Original Requester Is Preferable
For general questions about a result, many GPs can review a report and talk you through it, particularly if it’s straightforward. But the GP who originally ordered the test usually has the fullest picture of why it was requested and what they were looking for, which can make them the better person to speak with for anything nuanced or ongoing.
If you’re using a telehealth referral for blood tests, checking whether the same platform can arrange a follow-up consult with a clinician who has access to your history is usually the smoothest path.
Red-Flag Symptoms That Should Not Wait for a Report
Regardless of when a report is due or what a portal shows, some symptoms deserve immediate attention rather than waiting on paperwork:
- Severe or worsening pain, anywhere in the body
- Chest pain, breathlessness, or a fast or irregular heartbeat
- Sudden confusion, fainting, or difficulty staying awake
- Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling in face or throat, or difficulty in breathing
If any of these apply, don’t wait for a result to come through. Seek urgent, in-person care or call triple zero.
How to Prepare for a Telehealth Results Discussion
A few small things make a results conversation far more useful. Have your original symptoms and their timeline ready to describe again, note down any new symptoms since your test, and jot down specific questions rather than trying to remember them mid-call. If you’ve already seen the report yourself through My Health Record, it’s completely fine to say so and ask your doctor to walk you through what it actually means in context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my blood test results before my doctor does?
Sometimes, yes, depending on the type of test and current upload timeframes, but your doctor is still the one responsible for reviewing and explaining them.
Does an online pathology referral work differently to one from a GP clinic?
Not in any way that affects your care. The referral, the testing, and the follow-up responsibility all work the same regardless of how the referral was issued.
What if my result looks abnormal on the portal before anyone has called me?
Try not to interpret it alone. Reach out to the requesting practice and ask for a proper explanation rather than searching the number yourself.
Is my information safe under the new My Health Record rules?
The system includes privacy protections and exceptions where sharing certain reports isn’t appropriate, though it’s worth reading the specifics if this concerns you.
Waiting on results is rarely comfortable, and now that you might see them before anyone’s had the chance to explain them, a bit of context goes a long way. If you’re waiting on results, unsure who’s meant to follow up, or simply want someone to talk you through what a report actually means, you can book a consultation through Doctor Help.
References:
- RACGP – Testing initiated by other health care clinicians. (n.d.).
https://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/position-statements/view-all-position-statements/clinical-and-practice-management/non-gp-initiated-testing - Patient follow-up and recalls – Avant. (2026, May 5).
https://avant.org.au/resources/patient-follow-up-and-recalls - Better access to health information. (2026, July 1).
https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/healthcare-providers/initiatives-and-programs/better-access-to-health-information. - Better and Faster Access to your health information. (2026, June 30).
https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/better-and-faster-access-to-your-health-information - Criterion GP2.2 – Follow-up systems. (2023, February 24). RACGP.
https://www.racgp.org.au/running-a-practice/practice-standards/standards-5th-edition/standards-for-general-practices-5th-ed/general-practice-standards/gp-standard-2/criterion-gp2-2-follow-up-systems
Reviewed By: Dr. Momal Ahmad.
