After your appointment

Guidance after your Orchis IV service.

Read the section that applies to your appointment. Follow any personal instructions given by your nurse because they take priority over this general guidance.

Diagnostic and screening services onlyOrchis IV does not diagnose, prescribe, provide treatment or advise medication changes. A normal screening result does not rule out illness. Follow the results pathway explained for your service and seek medical care for symptoms that concern you.

Blood collection

Look after the collection site.

Keep firm pressure on the site for as long as your nurse advises and keep the dressing in place for about one hour.
Keep the arm straight while applying pressure. Avoid heavy lifting with that arm for the rest of the day.
A small bruise can occur and should usually settle over several days.
If bleeding restarts, apply firm continuous pressure. Seek medical advice if it does not stop, or if you develop marked swelling, increasing redness, severe pain, numbness or signs of infection.

For a kit or a GP, consultant or clinic request, the requester normally receives and explains the result. For an Orchis IV package, follow the result instructions in your confirmation.

Packages and Health MOTs

Follow your agreed results pathway.

Keep any measurements, reports or next step information sent to you.
Do not start, stop or change prescribed medicine because of a screening result without speaking to an appropriate prescriber.
Arrange GP or specialist follow up when advised. Seek medical help sooner if symptoms persist, worsen or concern you.
Contact Orchis IV if you are unsure who is responsible for receiving or discussing your results.

Resting 12 lead ECG

No special recovery is usually needed.

You can usually return to normal activities. You may notice temporary redness or mild irritation where the adhesive pads were placed. Contact Orchis IV or seek medical advice if a skin reaction is severe or does not settle. Follow the agreed pathway for receiving and discussing the ECG report.

24 hour blood pressure monitoring

Complete the recording as instructed.

Keep the monitor dry and keep your arm still when the cuff inflates.
Record sleep, medicines, symptoms and relevant activities in the diary provided.
Do not remove, switch off or alter the equipment unless your nurse has instructed you to do so, or it is causing significant pain, persistent numbness or marked swelling.
Return the monitor and diary at the agreed time so the recording can be processed.

Safety information

When to seek help.

For a question about your appointment, sample, equipment or results pathway, contact Orchis IV on 07399 177445 or email joyediran@orchis-iv.co.uk.

Use NHS 111 or 999 for urgent medical advice as appropriate.