How long to get blood test results?

Twelve days is a rather long time. I would call the office of the doctor who ordered the labs and ask for the nurse to call you back with the results. Sometimes labwork can get lost in the shuffle at a doctor's office, especially if the lab hasn't flagged it as abnormal.

Another option is to call the lab that performed the tests to see if the results are in. If they are, you can usually go in to the lab in person and pick up a copy of your lab results. The downside of this approach is that you won't have the benefit of your doctor's interpretation.

Either way, I hope you don't have to wait too long. I know waiting for lab results is the pits!

Almost all of the doctors I've ever seen have standing orders that test results be reviewed by them before release to the patient -- frankly, I think this is a good practice that saves a lot of worrying.

Anyway, I know for certain that most labs will NOT release the results directly to the patient, but only to the doctor that ordered them. I believe it's a security and liability issue.

I'd start with calling the doctor's office!

Quest is NOT my favorite lab!

Regarding labs releasing test results-- HIPAA (the federal law governing release of medical records) gives all patients the right of access to their records, including lab results. However, I probably should have been more clear when I talked about getting results from "the lab." I meant the lab that drew the bloodwork. For example, all my bloodwork is drawn and sent out (or tested in house, depending on what the test is) by my local hospital's outpatient lab. When they get test results back, they forward them to my doctor. However, if I am antsy for results, I can go in to the outpatient lab where the blood was drawn and show picture ID and get a print out of my results.

When blood is sent to an outside lab (like Quest or Mayo), I don't call the performing lab (Quest or Mayo) for results, but I can get them from the hospital lab as soon as they're back instead of waiting for my doctor's office to call. Again, I do have to go in in person and show ID to get the results.

I agree that it is best to wait for your doctor's interpretation, especially when you're waiting for something diagnostic. You can stress yourself unnecessarily by trying to interpret labs on your own. For me, my dad is a doctor and I'm very familiar with the implications of my lab work, so I like to get it as soon as I can.

Sorry for any confusion on this topic!