Skip to content

Pathology results in My Health Record, explained

How to see your pathology results in My Health Record

You had a blood test and you would like to see the results now, not next week. In Australia, most pathology reports reach My Health Record soon after they are finalised. Here is where to look, when to expect them, and what to do next.

What you need first

You need a myGov account with My Health Record linked to it. myGov is the Australian Government's secure sign-in for its online services.

Linking is easier if Medicare is already linked to your myGov account, because My Health Record uses your Medicare details to check who you are. If you would rather confirm your identity by phone, the My Health Record help line is 1800 723 471.

  1. Sign in to myGov.
  2. Choose to view and link services, then select Link on the My Health Record tile.
  3. Follow the prompts to confirm your identity.

Where to find your pathology reports

From that list you can open a report, print it, control who can see it, or remove it. Each report is a PDF that names the clinician who ordered the test and the lab that ran it.

You can also view My Health Record in the government's 1800MEDICARE app once your record is linked in myGov.

  1. Sign in to My Health Record through myGov.
  2. Choose the record you want to view.
  3. Open the Documents tab.
  4. Choose Clinical Records from the drop-down menu.
  5. Select Pathology Reports to see the list.

When results appear

The lab first finishes the report and sends it to the clinician who ordered the test. Depending on the test, that can take days or even weeks. The report is then generally uploaded to My Health Record within 24 hours, unless an exception applies.

Most pathology reports, such as routine blood and urine tests, can be opened as soon as they are uploaded. Some types of report stay closed for 5 days after upload, to give your healthcare team time to review them. This waiting period is standard for those report types and says nothing about your result.

If one report holds several results with different waiting periods, the whole report waits the 5 days.

Why a report might be missing

  • You or your representative asked for it not to be uploaded.
  • Your details on the test request do not match your My Health Record.
  • A system problem prevented the upload.
  • The provider has an extension of time to meet the upload rules.
  • Your whole record is hidden from healthcare organisations.
  • The type of test is not required to be uploaded, such as workplace drug and alcohol testing.

If a result worries you

Your report still goes straight to your GP or the clinician who ordered it. The Australian Digital Health Agency recommends booking a follow-up appointment to go through your results and agree on next steps.

A result marked high or low is not always a problem. It depends on your health and history, which is why your GP is the right person to read it with you.

If you feel unwell, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for advice at any hour. In an emergency, call 000.

Call 000 in an emergency. For health advice at any hour, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). For questions about what your results mean for you, talk to your GP.

Keep your reports in one place

Take a photo or screenshot of your pathology report, or upload the PDF, and Vita explains each number in plain words, suggests what to ask your GP, and keeps it with your past results. Vita does not connect to My Health Record or any Australian health record system. Hospital connections work with US hospitals, not Australian ones.

Vita Health Coach on the App Store

Questions

Why can I see some results but not others?

Most blood and urine test reports open straight after upload. Some report types wait 5 days so your healthcare team can review them first. The wait applies to that type of report, whatever the result.

Can I keep a report out of My Health Record?

Yes. You can ask the practice or lab not to upload a particular report. If it is already there, you can remove it, hide it, or restrict who can see it using the privacy and access settings.

My report is there but I don't understand it. What now?

Book a follow-up with your GP to talk it through. The Pathology Tests Explained website, which My Health Record points to, also describes each test in plain language.

Do I need a myGov account?

Yes, to see your record online you need myGov with My Health Record linked. If you get stuck, the My Health Record help line is 1800 723 471.

More for Australia

Sources

General information, not medical advice. VitaMedas is not connected with any government health service. Vita Health Coach explains; it never diagnoses. In an emergency, call 000. Read the medical disclaimer.