Same-day blood test results are possible in London for some common tests, but they depend on the test, the time your sample reaches the laboratory and how the service works. For most private blood tests, a realistic expectation is one to two days. Specialist tests take longer.

If you need a result today because you feel unwell, a private blood test is the wrong route. Hospitals run urgent tests in A&E and get results within hours, and that is where urgent problems should be checked.

Why can't every result come back the same day?

A blood test result goes through several steps:

Your blood is taken and labelled.
The sample travels to the laboratory by courier.
The laboratory processes it. Common tests run on large automated machines. Some specialist tests are run in batches on set days, or sent to other laboratories.
A result is released, and with a good service a doctor reviews it before you see it.

A sample taken early in the morning and processed straight away can produce common results by the evening. A sample taken in the late afternoon will usually be processed the next day.

Which tests are usually quick?

Routine tests such as a full blood count, kidney and liver function, cholesterol, HbA1c, thyroid function, vitamin D, testosterone and many hormone tests are processed quickly by most large laboratories. Results are often ready within a day.

Which tests take longer?

Some vitamin and mineral panels, which can take around a week
Some specialist metabolic or genetic tests, which can take a week or more
Some cancer risk tests, which can take two to three weeks
Tests that need two blood draws on particular days, such as some fertility panels

Any service should show the expected time for each test before you book. Treat a promise of same-day results for every test with caution.

How the NHS handles results

On the NHS, results go to whoever requested the test, usually your GP practice. How long it takes to hear depends on the test and on your practice. Many people can see results in the NHS App once the practice has filed them. If a result is urgent, the laboratory or practice should contact you.

How to get your results as quickly as possible

Book a morning appointment. The earlier your sample reaches the laboratory, the sooner it can be processed.
Check the turnaround for each test, not just the headline for the service.
Fast if you need to. If a fasting test is taken after a meal, it may need repeating, which costs you time.
Drink plenty of water unless told otherwise. It makes your blood easier to take.
Choose a vein sample over a finger-prick kit if speed matters. Posted kits add delivery time, and a sample that is too small has to be repeated.

Is faster always better?

Not always. Some tests need to be taken at a particular time to mean anything, and a quick result from a badly timed sample can mislead you. For example:

testosterone is usually checked before 11am, when levels are highest
some female hormone tests are timed to days 2 to 5 of your cycle
a progesterone test to check ovulation is timed to about 7 days before your next period

It is worth waiting a few days for the right day rather than testing straight away on the wrong one.

Weekends and bank holidays

Laboratories, couriers and reviewing doctors may work reduced hours at weekends and on bank holidays. A sample taken on a Friday afternoon may not be reported until after the weekend. If timing matters, ask the service how weekends affect your result.

Do not wait for a blood test result if you have chest pain, sudden breathlessness, a painful swollen leg, coughing up blood, fainting, heavy bleeding, confusion or a high fever and feel very unwell. Call 999 or go to A&E. For other urgent worries, call NHS 111. We do not offer urgent tests such as D-dimer or troponin.

What to expect with us

We do not offer same-day results. Most of our results are ready in 1 to 2 days, and each test on our site shows its own time. For example, our Thyroid Check, Vitamin D Test, Testosterone Test and HIV Test show 1 day, and our Full Body Health Check shows 2 days. Some specialist tests take longer, and we say so on the test.

Clinic: our Battersea clinic, 28-29 Wilcox Close, Nine Elms, London SW8 2UD, near Nine Elms (Northern line) and Vauxhall (Victoria line and National Rail) stations
Appointments: between 08:00 and 19:00, by booking
Home visits: £80 on top of your tests, in Zone 1, Battersea, Clapham, Balham and nearby
Laboratory: The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), UKAS accredited. Your sample reaches the laboratory the same day
Payment: at your appointment

If you are not sure what to test for, see our guide to blood tests for tiredness, or browse the A to Z of blood tests, where every test shows its price and turnaround.

What happens with your results

A GMC-registered doctor reviews every result and adds a comment before you see it. This step adds a little time, but it means you are not left alone with a page of numbers. If something needs treatment or follow-up, a doctor contacts you directly. You can book a doctor's consultation to go through your results, and share them with your NHS GP if you would like to.

More guides

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Every result is reviewed by a doctor, who explains what it means for you.

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Same-day blood test results in London: what’s realistic