Knowledge Centre
Providing rapid medical guidance and expert health insights for informational purposes. Our guides come from a Harley Street clinic, but they do not replace a professional consultation.
What happens after an abnormal screening result?
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam · Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470) on 19/10/2026
One line on the six-page report has a small flag beside it, and everything around it looks normal. It is the line you keep going back to.
A flag asks a question, and the next test answers it. Most flags lead to a repeat test or one more check, and the doctor at your results review tells you which. Every Health Body MOT includes that review in person at 117a Harley Street, so you hear it from a doctor rather than a PDF.
Had your screening somewhere else? A private GP appointment lets a doctor go through the report with you, and the steps below apply in the same way.
Step 1: a doctor goes through the report with you
The flag is a prompt for a closer look. Doctors read it against your age, your history and your other results, because the same reading can mean different things in different people.
The flag can come from any part of the screening: an ECG, an ultrasound, a chest X-ray, an MRI, a mammogram, a PSA or a smear. For blood results, our guide to the blood test GP review covers that visit. A flag on a body scan is a prompt for a closer look too, and our note on what full-body MRI shows explains how doctors read one.
At the end of the review you know three things: what the flag might be, what check comes next, and roughly when.
Step 2: a repeat or one further test
Many readings settle on a second look. Diet, medicines and a recent illness can all nudge a number, so the doctor often asks for the same test again before drawing any conclusion.
When a different test is the better question, Medical Express Clinic arranges it for you. An MRI is available within a few days, a chest X-ray the same day, and renal ultrasound too. The results go back to the same doctor.
Step 3: a specialist, when one is needed
Some flags need a specialist's eye. The doctor explains why and names the specialty. A standalone specialist referral appointment is £150, Monday to Sunday, and covers the consultation and the referral letter.
Step 4: the recheck, with a doctor who already knows your result
A repeat test is only useful if someone reads it against the first. On Advanced, Elite and Ultimate MOTs, four GP appointments run over the 12 months after screening. They have no time limit, and immediate family can share them, so the review of a repeat test sits inside those appointments. Any repeat lab test is charged at its own price.
The doctor sets the timing of the recheck for your result and books it with you at the review.
How the steps fit together
| Step | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Results review with a doctor | 117a Harley Street |
| 2 | Repeat test, or MRI, chest X-ray or renal ultrasound | Arranged by the clinic, usually within days |
| 3 | Specialist referral if needed | £150 appointment, or as the doctor advises |
| 4 | Recheck, using the GP appointments on Advanced and above | 117a Harley Street |
We are open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00, and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 14:00.
Book your results review
The Health Body MOT puts the screening, the in-person review and the follow-up with one team. If you have a flag and want to know what comes next, a doctor can go through it with you at 117a Harley Street. Our sister site, Health Screening Clinic, also has a guide to what follows an abnormal MOT result.
“Most abnormal results lead to a repeat test or one more check. If you do need a specialist, I'll send you to someone I've worked with for years.”
Mr Stephen Lingam
Managing Director
Executive leadership
Frequently asked questions
Does an abnormal result mean something serious?
It means a value sits outside the usual range for that test. Plenty of flags turn out to be explained by the factors above, and the doctor treats the report as the start of a conversation rather than a verdict.
Can someone else in my family use my GP appointments?
Yes, on the tiers that include them. Immediate family can share the four appointments, so a partner or parent can see the same doctor for a repeat test of their own.
Need Professional Advice?
While our Knowledge Centre provides expert insights, it does not replace a face-to-face consultation with a doctor.
