Private blood test London: cost, referral and results

Perhaps you want your cholesterol checked again, or you've felt run down for weeks and want to know why. Then you remember the GP appointment you'd need first, and how long it takes to get one.

The short answer is yes: most adults in London can book a private blood test directly, with no referral. A single marker costs from £33.75, a broad profile from £124, and the blood draw adds £50. You choose the test, you book it, and the results come to you, many within 24 hours.

If you'd rather skip the reading, you can walk in or book a private blood test in London at 117a Harley Street today.

Do you need a GP referral for a private blood test?

No. Private clinics accept self-referral for routine blood testing. The referral step belongs to the NHS, where a GP requests the test before the laboratory will process it. Privately, you pick the test or profile you want and book it yourself.

A doctor still has a part to play if you have symptoms that need examining, or you'd like someone to decide which tests make sense for you. There's more on that further down.

How much does a private blood test cost in London?

Three things set the price: how many markers you test, whether the analysis is routine or specialised, and the £50 phlebotomy fee, which is charged once per blood draw however many tests you add.

The four profiles, what each adds and how fast it reports

Add the £50 phlebotomy fee to each price. If you have one specific question rather than a general check, a single test keeps the cost down. These are the ones people ask for most.

Common single tests, price and typical turnaround

Specialist and genetic tests cost more because of the laboratory work behind them. An Ehlers-Danlos NGS panel, for example, is £1,375 with results in about 6 weeks.

Profile or single test: which is better value?

For a general health check, a profile is usually better value than buying each marker separately, because the markers are bundled, you pay one blood draw, and a GP review of your results is included. Gold at £250 covers the Silver markers plus thyroid, iron and HbA1c, which would cost more bought one at a time.

For one specific concern, such as a follow-up cholesterol or thyroid check, the single test is the cheaper choice. Our laboratory offers over 1,000 blood tests, so the lists above are a shortcut to the ones most people want. The most frequently booked are under commonly requested blood tests, and the full Silver to Platinum panels are on the blood test profiles page.

How fast are private blood test results?

Many core panels report within 24 hours, and most common single tests within 1 working day. Some markers take longer: folic acid takes around 3 working days, and genetic panels take weeks. Same-day reporting is available for selected tests when the laboratory confirms it at booking. Results are emailed to you once clinicians have verified the report.

How does a private blood test compare with the NHS?

Both use accredited laboratories, so the difference is access and speed rather than accuracy. On the NHS, a GP usually requests routine bloods as part of an assessment, and the test is free. Privately, you self-refer for most tests, usually have your sample taken the same day, and pay per test.

Which suits you comes down to one question: do you already know what you want tested, or do you need a doctor to work that out?

When is it worth seeing a GP before the test?

Going straight to a test works well when you know the marker you want, such as a follow-up cholesterol or thyroid check, or a general wellness profile.

If you have symptoms that need examining, you're not sure which tests are relevant, or you want the results explained against your medical history the same week they arrive, see a doctor first. A consultation with a private GP at Medical Express Clinic is £150, with no fixed time limit, seven days a week. It isn't included in the test price, and it means the test you book is the one that answers your question.

What happens on the day?

Walk in or book an appointment at 117a Harley Street. Most tests don't need fasting; a fasting lipid or glucose test does, and your booking confirmation tells you if yours is one of them. Arrive well hydrated, and a standard sample is taken from a vein, which is quick and routine.

Your sample goes to a UKAS-accredited laboratory, and the results are emailed to you. Profile results include a GP review; for a single test, a GP review is £150 extra. If a result needs action, a private GP can explain it, refer you or start treatment. If you like to browse prices online first, our sister clinic Blood London lists its most popular blood tests.