From mid-October patients will be able to see their pathology results in My Health Record much sooner.
The current seven-day delay will be removed for most common tests, such as bloods.
Some specialised tests, including anatomical pathology, cytopathology and genetic testing, will still have a five-day delay before patients can view them.
In February 2026, changes will also apply to diagnostic imaging with x-ray reports for limbs becoming available immediately, while other imaging reports – including CT, MRI, PET, ultrasound and chest/abdomen/pelvis x-rays – will move to a five-day delay instead of the current seven days.
It’s important to note delays are based on the type of test, not the result itself. A delay does not mean there is a problem with the result.
For practices, no system changes are needed as the timing is managed entirely within My Health Record.
What you may notice is patients can now see their results at, or even before, the time of their follow-up appointment. This may lead to more patients raising questions about their results sooner.
These reforms are part of the national Share by Default program. The aim is to improve continuity of care, reduce duplication of tests, and meet community expectations for faster, more transparent access to health information.
Further information and printable resources for providers and consumers are available:
Healthcare provider information Consumer information