Accessing your test results

There may be a number of reasons why a test result is not shown:

• Only tests that have been requested by the hospital will be shown. This means that you will not find any tests requested by your GP, homecare services or other doctors’ offices. This also applies if the test was done at the hospital, but requested by an external healthcare professional. 
• Test results entered into your patient record before 1 October 2021 will not be available on Helsenorge. You may still find certain older test results which were previously available in your patient record on Helsenorge. 
• For some tests, it may take some time before the results are ready and can be displayed at Helsenorge. 
• The date of the test result is the date the test was registered in your patient record – not the date on which the test was taken. 

Laboratory testing is a diagnostic tool used by medical professionals. The language used must therefore be precise in order to avoid any misunderstandings. This means that there will be come technical terms and phrases that may be difficult for people to understand. 

You will find results of from pathology, histology and cytology tests, as well as diagnostic imaging results. You will see a description of the images, but not the images themselves. You will also find certain other written descriptions of test results. 

This means that the test detected coronavirus in the sample, and you have Covid-19. 

This means that the test did not detect coronavirus in the sample. 

This means that it is not possible to determine whether the coronavirus is present in the sample, or if you are infected with Covid-19. 

The time it takes to complete the test results may vary, but you will be able to access them at the same time as they are sent to the doctor who ordered the test – usually within 1-4 days after taking the test.

No, the test results only show whether the test is positive, negative or does not provide a clear answer (is inconclusive).

Both viruses and bacteria can cause respiratory infections and sometimes your doctor orders additional tests on top of SARS-CoV-2. The purpose of this is to investigate if your symptoms have other causes than Covid-19. You will be able to access your test results when you log in. 

List of all current Covid-19 related tests: 

• SARS-CoV-2. Virus detection in nasal and/or throat samples.
  • SARS-CoV-2 RNA: The genetic material of the virus.
  • SARS-CoV-2 antigen: parts of virus molecules, normally detected via a rapid antigen test. 
• Influenza A/Influenza B
• Parainfluenza virus
• RS virus (respiratory syncytial virus)
• Human metapneumovirus
• Adenovirus
• Rhinovirus
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• Chlamydia pneumoniae
• Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough)

Coronavirus antibodies are detected in a blood sample. If antibodies are detected in your sample, this indicates that you have previously been infected by the virus or that you have been vaccinated. Your GP must assess what this test result means in your case. Examples of such analyses include:

• SARS-Cov-2 antibodies
• SARS-Cov-2 IgG
• SARS-Cov-2 IgM

Read more about the SARS-CoV-2 virus on fhi.no.

The national test result service is a new service that is currently in a trial phase. It will enable you to view your test results on Helsenorge regardless of where the test was done or examination was conducted. 

To access your test results, you must contact the doctor or healthcare professional who requested the test. Your doctor will always contact you if your test results need to be discussed. 

If the test was done at a laboratory that participates in the national test result service trial, you currently have early access to the results from your tests and examinations. You can view the following information when you are logged in to the Health Registries service (Helseregistre):

• The date when the test or examination was done 
• The type of test done 
• Who requested the test or examination 
• Who analysed the test or conducted the examination 

You will not be able to view the actual test result on Helsenorge, as the service is currently in a trial phase. The purpose of the testing is to do quality assurance on the service before it is fully implemented. When it is eventually launched, you will be able to view your test results on Helsenorge. 

The information that is stored includes: 

• The date you were tested 
• Who requested the test (the healthcare professional who ordered the test) 
• Who analysed the test or conducted the examination 
• The test result 

When a test is done or you are examined, the information is stored in three places: 

• With the healthcare professional who ordered the test or examination, such as your GP.
• With the healthcare professional who conducts the test or examines you.
• With the national test result service. 

When the trial phase is complete, a decision will be taken as to which categories of test results can be transferred to the service. 

You can opt out of your personal information being stored in the national test results service by logging on to Helsenorge. You can also opt in again if you have previously opted out.

Read more about how to opt out on nhn.no (in Norwegian)

If you are unable to log on to Helsenorge, you can submit a physical form to opt out or to opt in again. 

If you are a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16, you may also opt out on their behalf, or cancel a previous opt-out. 

Opt out of the national test results service (PDF)

Opting out of the national test results service for children under 16 years of age (PDF)

Please note that it may take 30 days from the time you opt out (or opt out for your child) until test result information is deleted. 

The healthcare professional who initially requisitioned the tests will still be able to access the results in their medical record system, as they are obliged to store this information in your patient record.

On Helsenorge, you may restrict access to all test results for all healthcare professionals, or restrict access only to test results for a specific period of time for all healthcare professionals. 

You may also block all test results, or results from a specific period of time, from being disclosed to specific (named) healthcare professionals. 

Restricting access for all healthcare professionals 

It is important for healthcare professionals to have easy and secure access to your test results for correct information when they provide you with healthcare services. If they do not have access to this information, blood samples or X-rays may have to be redone. 

If you do not want your personal information to be disclosed to healthcare professionals, you can RESTRICT (SPERRE) access. The healthcare professional who ordered a test will always be able to see the results, including in their own medical record system, while others will have to ask for your consent to access the test results. 

Healthcare professionals will always be able to access this information in an emergency. 

You can opt to restrict access for all healthcare professionals to: 

• All test results, always 
• All test results, limited to a specified period of time (From–To) 
• All test results BEFORE a given date (only set the “To” date) 
• All test results AFTER a given date (only set the “From” date) 

Blocking access for specific (named) healthcare professionals 

You have the right to BLOCK (BLOKKERE) your test result data for named healthcare professionals. 

A block will ALWAYS apply, even in emergencies. There is a risk that healthcare professionals will be unable to provide you with appropriate healthcare if they do not have access to your test result data. To register a block, you will need to know the Health Personnel Register (HPR) number of the person concerned, which can be found on the website of the Norwegian Directorate of Health. 

You can also call the Helsenorge helpline on (+47) 23 32 70 00, who can assist you in looking up the HPR number. You will still need to provide the name of the person you wish to block. 

You can opt to block access for specific (named) healthcare professionals to: 

• All test results, always 
• All test results, limited to a specified period of time (From–To) 
• All test results BEFORE a given date (only set the “To” date) 
• All test results AFTER a given date (only set the “From” date) 

If you wish to block access for multiple healthcare professionals, you must submit an application for each person.

You can restrict or block access to your test result data for healthcare professionals in the national test results service (“Pasientens prøvesvar”) by logging on to Helsenorge. You can also opt in again if you have previously opted out. 

See also how to set your privacy settings for the national test results service at nhn.no.

You can restrict access for ALL healthcare professionals and/or block access for NAMED healthcare professionals. 

Restricting access for healthcare professionals 

You can restrict access to all test results for all healthcare professionals, or for a specified period of time. 

You can block access to all test results for a specific (named) healthcare professional, or for a specified period of time. 

Restricting access for all healthcare professionals 

It is important for healthcare professionals to have easy and secure access to your test results for correct information when they provide you with healthcare services. If they do not have access to this information, blood samples or X-rays may have to be redone. If you do not want your personal information to be disclosed to healthcare professionals, you can restrict access. The healthcare professional who ordered a test will always be able to see the result, including in their own medical record system, while others will have to ask for your consent to access the test results. Healthcare professionals will always be able to access this information in an emergency. 

Form for restricting healthcare professionals access to the national test results service (“Pasientens prøvesvar”) (PDF)

Sjema Form for restricting healthcare professionals access to the national test results service (“Pasientens prøvesvar”) for children under the age of 16 (PDF)

Blocking access for healthcare professionals 

You have the right to block your test result data for named healthcare professionals. A block will always apply, even in emergencies. There is a risk that healthcare professionals will be unable to provide you with appropriate healthcare if they do not have access to your test result data. To register a block, you will need to know the Health Personnel Register (HPR) number of the person concerned. 

kjema Form for blocking healthcare professionals access to the national test results service (“Pasientens prøvesvar”) (PDF)

Form for blocking healthcare professionals access to the national test results service (“Pasientens prøvesvar”) for children under the age of 16 (PDF).

HPR number 

If you are unable to look up the HPR number yourself, you may call the Helsenorge helpline on (+47) 23 32 70 00, who will assist you in looking up the number. You will still need to provide the name of the person you wish to block.