---
title: "Delaying Display of Test Results"
canonical: "https://wiki.patientsknowbest.com/space/DEPLOY/3543859201/Delaying%20Display%20of%20Test%20Results"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (excerpt)
> 
> > Macro (toc)
> 
> # Test Results
> 
> The content of a test result can be withheld from a patient for the number of days specified in the sending HL7 message. However, this does not:
> 
> - Stop a professional viewing the full details during this time.
> - Prevent a patient from seeing which test result has been sent into their PKB record (but it does show them the date the result will be made available to them).
> - Prevent a patient from being notified of a test result being sent to their record.
> 
> # Recommended Delays
> 
> If customers wish to use the delay capability, PKB recommends this is applied only to results with text and for no more than 2 weeks. Text results may include distressing information, for example "possibility of cancer", so the delay provides time for the medical team to counsel the patient about the test result.
> 
> We recommend that the delay should not exceed 2 weeks because after that time the danger of the patient not knowing the result is greater than the harm of receiving bad news without counselling.
> 
> To support our customers with reviewing the need for delays and privacy labels with their own test results, the table below (<u>[download here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12XbuaZUH-wXnNGnM6Cy4YRYjJPDPYix1vhWlUwxNpEQ/edit?usp=sharing)</u>) shows common delay periods and privacy labels used across PKB in existing integrations.