If a doctor fails to review or act on a blood test result, this may amount to medical negligence if a reasonably competent clinician would have taken further action and the failure caused avoidable harm. Whether you have a claim will depend on the result, your symptoms and medical history, the action that should have been taken, and whether earlier treatment would probably have changed the outcome.

Sometimes, a patient only discovers months or years later that an earlier blood test contained information that may have required follow-up. If this has happened to you, the key question is not simply whether the result was abnormal, but whether the failure to act fell below an appropriate standard of care and caused harm. These issues are central to claims involving a doctor who does not act on a blood test result and other forms of medical negligence.

How an overlooked blood test result may come to light

A potential problem with an earlier blood test may not be obvious at the time. You may only become aware of it after:

• receiving a later diagnosis or having further blood tests;
• being treated by another clinician;
• reviewing your medical records;
• being told that an earlier result was significant; or
• looking back at your medical history after your condition worsened.

This can be particularly difficult if you were previously reassured that your results were satisfactory. Discovering that an earlier result may have needed follow-up does not automatically prove negligence, but it can justify a closer review of the care provided.

When failing to act may amount to medical negligence

A potential claim usually depends on two linked questions:

• Breach of duty: did the care fall below the standard expected of a reasonably competent healthcare professional?
• Causation: did that failure probably cause additional or avoidable harm?

Depending on the result and the information available, appropriate action might have included repeating the test, arranging another investigation, making a referral, starting treatment or ensuring follow-up. An abnormal result alone is not enough: the result must be assessed in its full clinical context.

Why the result must be considered in context

A blood test result may not have an obvious meaning in isolation. Its significance can depend on why the test was requested, the symptoms reported, the patient’s medical history, previous results and other clinical findings.

Independent medical experts may therefore be asked whether the information available at the time should reasonably have prompted further investigation, treatment or follow-up. The assessment must be based on what the clinician knew or should have known then, rather than only on what became clear later.

Whether the delay caused avoidable harm

A later diagnosis does not, by itself, show that an earlier blood test was mishandled. The key questions are whether the earlier result should have prompted further action and whether earlier diagnosis or treatment would probably have led to a better outcome.

The effect of a delay depends on the condition involved. Earlier intervention may have enabled treatment to begin sooner, prevented progression or reduced the extent of the harm. Medical experts can assess when the condition could reasonably have been diagnosed, what treatment would then have been available and whether the delay changed the outcome.

Evidence needed to investigate a claim

Medical records are often central to the investigation because they can establish a reliable chronology of:

• the symptoms reported and the reason for the test;
• the result and its clinical interpretation;
• any follow-up, referral or treatment;
• subsequent symptoms and investigations; and
• the eventual diagnosis and outcome.

The records may also show whether you returned for further medical attention because symptoms continued. A solicitor and an independent medical expert can then review the sequence as a whole, rather than treating the blood test result as an isolated event.

What to do if you are concerned

If you have continuing or worsening symptoms, seek medical advice promptly; a legal investigation is not a substitute for current medical care. If you are concerned about how an earlier result was handled, practical steps include:

• asking the healthcare provider to explain the result and any action taken;
• requesting copies of the relevant medical records;
• preparing a chronology of symptoms, appointments, tests and diagnoses;
• keeping evidence of treatment, expenses and the effect on daily life; and
• obtaining specialist legal advice promptly.

You do not need to prove that medical negligence occurred before speaking to a solicitor. An initial review can help establish what the records show, what independent evidence may be needed and whether the circumstances justify further investigation.

At Macks Solicitors, our specialist medical negligence solicitors can listen to what happened, review the circumstances and explain your options clearly.

If you are concerned that a blood test result may not have been acted upon appropriately, call our specialist medical negligence solicitors on 01642 843 667; alternatively, complete our online contact form and one of our solicitors will be in touch.