Blood test results typically take from a few minutes to several days to come back, depending on the type of test. Most common routine blood tests, such as Complete Blood Count (CBC) or Basic Metabolic Panel, usually return results within 24 hours to 3 days. Some more specialized tests, like vitamin deficiency or thyroid function tests, might take 2-3 days or longer, and others such as diabetes blood tests can take about a week. In some cases, rapid tests can provide results within minutes. Generally, labs send results to the doctor, who then discusses them with the patient, though some labs provide direct online access to results.