If you are looking to book a cat vaccination, please be aware that there is an ongoing shortage of some cat vaccines affecting all UK Veterinary practices. Find out more here.

Lab Samples

Laboratory sample protocol and FAQs

I was told that the results would be back today, so why haven’t I received a call yet?

Results may not be received until the end of the day (6pm).

If results are back, your pet’s vet must first analyse and interpret them before discussing them with you.  In many cases this takes time to do, but afterwards they will contact you as soon as possible around their other clinical commitments for the day.

In the case of external samples, there may have been a delay with collection by the courier, or in processing by the lab.  If this is the case then the receptionist will investigate the reason for the delay and keep you informed. 

Why can’t the receptionist tell me the results?

Receptionists are not clinically trained, and so are unable to interpret or provide context to the results.

To receive results without any explanatory information is not fair on you, especially if the results are sensitive and/or carry a poor prognosis. 

Therefore, for the safety of your pet and your peace of mind, it is much better to wait for the case vet to discuss the results with you.

Why can’t another vet or nurse tell me the results?

Results need to be interpreted by your pet’s vet based on their knowledge of your pet’s history and health problems.  In so doing, the context of the results can be properly understood, and a treatment and/or further investigation plan safely formulated around this. 

Other vets or nurses in the practice will of course be able to understand the results, however they will not easily be able to interpret them or discuss treatment and/or further investigation options without a thorough knowledge of your pet’s history.  To do so would add considerable time to the reporting process, and could result in errors being made.

 I have been told that some of the results are back, so why hasn’t the vet contacted me?

Results may come through in stages, however it is likely that your pet’s vet will require receipt of the complete set of results before being able to analyse and interpret them properly.  Therefore, they will contact you once full testing is complete. 

My pet’s vet is off today, so who will report the results?

At Congleton Vets, full-time staff members work a 4-day week.  As such, vets are off one weekday per week (or two if working the weekend).

On receipt of results you pet’s vet will contact you on their next working day. 

If the vet has deemed the results to be urgent, then they will have requested that a named colleague will report the results on their behalf. 

My pet’s vet is on holiday, so do I need to wait until they’re back at work to receive the results?

No.  In this situation your pet’s vet will have discussed the case with a named colleague, and requested that they contact you once results have been received by the clinic.

We apologise in advance if this causes any delays to the reporting process, however your pet’s results will be in addition to the named colleague’s own caseload.

My pet was seen by a locum vet, so who will report the results?

If the locum vet that saw your pet is working again when the results are received, then they will contact you in the same way as one of our permanent vets would.

If however the locum vet is not scheduled to work with us again once the results are received, then they will have discussed the case with a permanent vet on duty on the day of sampling, and this vet will contact you with your pet’s results. 

Once again, please accept our apologies if this causes slight delays in the reporting process on account of increased caseload. 

Am I able to receive a copy of my pet’s laboratory results?

Yes. Your pet’s vet will happily email you a copy of their results if you wish, or we can print one out for your collection in person if you prefer.