A private blood test in London can cost anything from under £50 for a single test to several hundred pounds for a full health screen. At Blood Tests Direct, for example, a Thyroid Check (TSH) is £39, a Testosterone Test is £45, a Vitamin D Test is £59 and our Full Body Health Check is £225.
The price depends on three things: which markers are measured, where your blood is taken, and what happens to your results afterwards. Two prices that look similar can include very different things, so it is worth checking what is in the box before you book.
What makes one blood test cost more than another?
Most of the cost is the laboratory work. A routine marker such as cholesterol or a full blood count runs on large automated machines and is relatively cheap. Specialist tests cost more because they need different equipment, are run in smaller batches, or are sent to a specialist laboratory. That is also why they can take longer: some results are back the same day, while a few specialist tests take a week or more.
Other things that affect the price:
- How many markers you need. One hormone or vitamin on its own is usually the cheapest option, but a group of related tests is often better value than buying each one separately.
- Who takes your blood. A clinic appointment is usually the cheapest way. A home visit costs more because someone travels to you.
- Doctor review. Some services send you a list of numbers. Others have a doctor look at every result and comment on it. That clinical time is part of the price.
- The laboratory. We use The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), a UKAS accredited laboratory used by many private clinics and hospitals.
Is a single test or a panel better value?
It depends on the question you are trying to answer. If you know exactly what you need, for example a repeat vitamin D level or a TSH check while you take thyroid medicine, a single test makes sense.
If you are trying to find out why something is wrong, such as tiredness, a single test can miss the answer. Panels group the markers that are usually looked at together, and the price per marker is often lower. Ferritin on its own costs £60 on our A to Z list, while our Iron & B12 Check costs £89 and includes ferritin plus iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation, active B12 and red cell folate.
Some examples from our current price list:
| Test | What it covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Thyroid Check | TSH | £39 |
| Testosterone Test | Total testosterone | £45 |
| Vitamin D Test | 25-OH vitamin D | £59 |
| Basic Cholesterol Check | Total, HDL, LDL, non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides | £59 |
| Iron & B12 Check | Iron studies, ferritin, active B12, red cell folate | £89 |
| Full Body Health Check | Blood count, kidneys, liver, bone, sugar, cholesterol, iron, thyroid, vitamins | £225 |
Prices change from time to time, so the A to Z page and each health screen page always show the current price and how long results take.
Clinic or home visit: what is the difference in price?
Having your blood taken at our Battersea clinic in Nine Elms costs nothing extra. You only pay for your tests.
A home visit is £80 on top of your tests. We come to your home or office in Zone 1, Battersea, Clapham, Balham and nearby areas. Your sample travels in a sealed box and reaches the laboratory the same day. A few tests are clinic only, because the sample has to be processed very quickly, and these are marked on the test.
If you are booking for two people at the same address, or you find it hard to get to a clinic, a home visit can be worth it. If you can get to Nine Elms, the clinic is the cheaper option.
What should be included in the price?
When you compare prices, check whether these are included or charged as extras:
- Taking the blood. Some services list a low test price, then add a separate fee for the blood draw.
- Laboratory analysis at an accredited laboratory.
- A doctor reviewing your results. Numbers on their own can be hard to read, and a result just outside the range does not always mean something is wrong.
- Follow-up if something is abnormal. You want to know that someone will contact you if a result needs action.
With us, the test price covers your sample being taken at the clinic, analysis at TDL and review of every result by a GMC-registered doctor, who adds a comment before you see it. If anything needs action, a doctor contacts you directly. You can also book an optional doctor's consultation if you would like to talk your results through.
You book online and pay at your appointment, so there is nothing to pay upfront.
What about finger-prick kits?
Postal finger-prick kits can be cheaper and convenient. But not every test works well on a few drops of blood, and samples can be rejected if there is not enough blood or the sample is damaged in the post, which means doing it again. A sample taken from a vein by a trained person is the standard way most tests are designed to be done.
How to avoid paying for tests you don't need
- Start with your question. "Why am I so tired?" needs different tests from "Is my cholesterol OK?"
- Look at health screens first. Our annual health check screens group the common tests. Our article on the full body MOT blood test explains what a general check covers.
- Check timing rules before booking. Some tests need a fasting or morning sample. Getting this wrong can mean a misleading result and paying twice.
- Use your NHS GP where it makes sense. If you have symptoms, your GP can arrange tests that are clinically needed. Private testing is useful when you want a check that is not offered, or you want it sooner.
What happens with your results
Most results are ready within one to two days, and each test shows its expected time. A GMC-registered doctor reviews every result and explains what it means for you. If something needs treatment or follow-up, a doctor contacts you directly, and you can share your results with your NHS GP.
To compare prices for a specific test, search our A to Z of blood tests, or browse the annual health check screens.
More guides
- Same-day blood test results in London: what’s realistic
- Where to get a private blood test near Battersea, Vauxhall and Clapham
- Ferritin blood test: what low, normal and high ferritin mean
Ready to check?
Every result is reviewed by a doctor, who explains what it means for you.