Digitise Old Paper Blood Test Results
Have years of pathology reports in a drawer? Photograph or scan them, upload to SmarterBlood, and turn a shoebox of paper into a searchable, graphed health timeline.
Free to use · No credit card · Works with any Australian lab
The Quick Answer
Most Australians have years — sometimes decades — of blood test results on paper, tucked in a folder or a drawer. These results are not in any digital system. My Health Record does not have them. Your current GP does not have them. They are invisible.
SmarterBlood can read a photo or scan of any paper pathology result — even faded faxes and old thermal prints — extract every marker, and add it to your personal timeline at the correct date. Once uploaded, those results are searchable, graphable, and available to you anywhere.
Why Digitise Old Results?
Paper results fade and get lost
Thermal fax paper starts fading within a few years. Paper gets lost in moves, floods, and office clear-outs. Once digitised, your results are stored safely and never degrade.
New GPs and specialists have no history
Every time you change GP or see a new specialist, they start from scratch. A consolidated digital history lets you bring your entire background to any appointment.
Long-term trends are invisible without history
A creatinine of 95 looks normal. But if it was 68 five years ago and 82 two years ago, the upward trend is significant. You can only see that pattern with historical data.
My Health Record is incomplete
My Health Record relies on GPs and labs to upload consistently. Many do not, older results are rarely there, and private results are often absent. Your paper drawer is often more complete.
What You Will Need
You do not need any special equipment. Everything required is already in your pocket.
Your old paper results
Any paper pathology reports, including faxes, photocopies, and printouts from old portal systems.
A smartphone (or scanner)
A modern phone camera is sharp enough to capture all the text on a blood test result. A flatbed scanner is slightly better but not required.
Good lighting
A well-lit room is all you need. Natural daylight near a window, or a ceiling light directly above. Avoid direct flash.
A free SmarterBlood account
Create a free account to securely store and access your results from any device. No credit card required.
Step-by-Step: From Paper to Timeline
Sort and flatten your paper results
Go through your drawer and pull out all pathology reports. Unfold any folded pages. Group multi-page reports together. You do not need to put them in date order - SmarterBlood reads the date from each page automatically.
Photograph or scan each page
For phone photos: lay the paper flat on a dark surface, hold the phone directly above, ensure all text is in frame, tap to focus, then shoot. One photo per page. For PDFs: use a scanner app (like Adobe Scan or Microsoft Lens) or a flatbed scanner at 300 DPI or higher.
Create a free SmarterBlood account
Sign up at smarterblood.org - no credit card required. Your account is where all your results will be stored securely.
Upload your files
Go to the upload page and select your photos or PDFs. You can upload multiple files at once. The AI processes each page, extracts the test date, lab name, and every marker with its value, unit, and reference range.
Explore your timeline
Once processed, each marker has its own trend graph. Select any marker to see its history across all the dates you have uploaded, with plain-English explanations and Australian reference ranges.
Add new results as they arrive
From here on, upload each new result when you receive it. Your timeline grows automatically, making it easy to see how recent results fit into your long-term picture.
Tips for Getting a Good Photo
These six habits make the difference between a clean extraction and a partial result.
Use natural or overhead lighting
Avoid direct flash which creates glare and washes out text. A well-lit room with the overhead light on works well. Natural daylight near a window is ideal.
Lay flat on a dark surface
A dark desk or floor gives good contrast. Hold the paper flat - creases and curls cause shadows that obscure text. Gently unfold folded pages before photographing.
Shoot straight down, not at an angle
Hold your phone directly above the paper, parallel to the surface. Angled shots cause trapezoid distortion that makes text harder to read.
Capture all text edge to edge
Make sure the full result, including lab name, patient name, date, and every marker, is within the frame. Crop out only blank margins.
One page per photo
If the result is two pages, take two photos. Upload them both. The AI reads each page and links them to the same test date.
Avoid blurry photos
Tap the screen to focus on the text before taking the shot. If the camera struggles, rest the phone against something steady rather than holding it freehand.
Handling Old, Faded, and Scanned Documents
SmarterBlood is specifically built to handle documents that other systems struggle with. Here is what to expect from different document types.
Modern colour PDF from lab portal
Best quality. Direct download from HealthNow, MyResults, 4Me, or emailed PDF.
Laser-printed paper result
Sharp text, good contrast. A phone photo in good light works as well as a scan.
Inkjet-printed paper result
Usually good. Older inkjet prints may have minor smearing but text is still extractable.
Scanned PDF (from a home or office scanner)
300 DPI or above gives best results. Lower-resolution scans are still usually readable.
Thermal fax print
Faxed results are common for older records. Thermal paper fades over time - the sooner you digitise, the better.
Photocopied result
Depends on copy quality. High-contrast copies are fine. Very light or skewed copies may extract fewer markers.
Old handwritten or typed result
Machine-printed typed forms from older systems can usually be read. Fully handwritten values are harder but may still extract correctly.
Screenshot from a computer screen
Works well for portal screenshots. Use the highest screen resolution available and avoid glare across the screen.
What You Get After Digitising
Once your old results are uploaded, SmarterBlood builds a structured, searchable record of your health history. Each marker gets its own trend graph showing every result across all the dates you have uploaded — from your oldest paper result to your most recent digital PDF.
Every marker comes with a plain-English explanation and Australian reference ranges, so you can understand what each number means without needing a medical degree. You can also generate a personalised health report or a “Dear Doctor” summary to take to your next appointment.
You can also add results for family members — parents, children, a partner — using separate profiles, all from the same account.
Privacy and Your Old Records
Uploading decades of health data is a significant trust decision. SmarterBlood stores your records securely on AWS infrastructure in Australia. Your data is private to your account and is never shared with insurers, employers, or any third party.
You can delete individual records or your entire account and all associated data at any time. SmarterBlood is a personal health tool — not a clinical system, insurer portal, or government database.
Digitising Old Blood Test Results - FAQ
Can I photograph a paper blood test result and upload it?
Yes. SmarterBlood accepts photos (JPG or PNG) as well as PDFs. Take a photo with your phone camera in good lighting, lay the paper flat on a dark surface, and make sure all text is visible. The AI reads the image and extracts your results just as it would from a PDF. Multi-page results just need one photo per page.
What if my old results are very faded or came from a fax machine?
SmarterBlood is specifically designed to handle degraded, faxed, and scanned documents. The AI uses multiple extraction attempts at different orientations and image adjustments. Faded faxes and thermal-printed results can usually still be read, though very heavily degraded documents may extract fewer markers. If a result is partially unreadable, you will see which markers were successfully extracted.
How far back can I go with old blood test results?
There is no time limit. You can upload results from 20 or 30 years ago and they will be placed at the correct date in your timeline. Long-term historical data is particularly valuable for tracking slowly changing markers like HbA1c, cholesterol, and kidney function (creatinine and eGFR) over decades.
Do I need a scanner or will a phone photo do?
A phone photo works well for most paper results. You do not need a dedicated scanner. For best results: use good natural or overhead lighting, lay the paper flat on a plain dark surface, hold the phone directly above (not at an angle), and make sure all text from edge to edge is in frame. If the print is very small, zoom in slightly or take two overlapping photos.
Why should I digitise old blood test results?
Paper results can fade, get lost, or be unavailable when you change GP or see a specialist. Digitised results are searchable, never degrade, and can be shared as a clean summary report. More importantly, having 10 or 20 years of results lets you see long-term trends that no single test can reveal - slowly rising creatinine, drifting HbA1c, or declining haemoglobin that would be invisible when looking at results one at a time.
Can I upload a multi-page PDF of old results?
Yes. Multi-page PDFs are supported. If you have scanned several old paper results into a single PDF, upload it as one file and SmarterBlood will process each page. If a single PDF contains results from multiple dates, the AI extracts each test date separately and places each on the correct point in your timeline.
Is it safe to upload sensitive old medical records?
SmarterBlood stores your data securely on AWS infrastructure in Australia. Your records are private to your account and are never shared with insurers, employers, or third parties. You can delete any record or your entire account at any time. The platform is designed for personal health management, not clinical or insurance use.
Related Reading
Rescue Those Old Results Today
Take a photo of your paper results, upload them to SmarterBlood, and turn years of scattered history into a clear, searchable timeline — free to start, no credit card needed.
SmarterBlood provides personal health record management and general information. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always discuss your results with your GP.