If you live or work around Battersea, Vauxhall or Clapham, there are three realistic ways to get a blood test: through your NHS GP, at a private clinic, or with a home visit. A fourth option, a finger-prick kit you post off yourself, suits a small number of tests.
Which is right depends on why you want the test, how quickly you need it and what it is for. If your GP thinks you need a test, the NHS route is free and perfectly good. If you want a test your GP would not normally arrange, or you want it sooner, a private test makes sense.
Can I get a blood test on the NHS?
Yes, when there is a clinical reason for it. Your GP, practice nurse or a hospital team requests the test, and the blood is taken at your practice or at a hospital or community blood test service, usually by appointment. Results go back to whoever requested the test, and many people can then see them in the NHS App.
The NHS does not usually offer tests just for reassurance or general screening when you have no symptoms, outside national programmes such as the NHS Health Check for adults aged 40 to 74.
When does a private blood test make sense?
- You want a general check and have no particular symptoms
- You want a test your GP has not offered, such as vitamin D or a fuller thyroid profile
- You want results sooner than your practice can arrange
- You are monitoring something, such as hormone therapy or a fertility plan, and want the timing to suit you
A private test does not replace your GP. If a result needs treatment or follow-up, your NHS GP may still be the right person to look after it, and you can share private results with them.
What to compare between private services
The full price
Check whether the price includes the blood draw, any clinic or visit fee, and a doctor's review of your results. Some services charge separately for each.
Who reviews your results
A results report on its own can be hard to read. Look for a service where a doctor reviews every result and contacts you if something needs action.
The laboratory
Ask which laboratory processes the sample and whether it is UKAS accredited. Reference ranges vary between laboratories, so it helps to compare repeat tests from the same one.
A vein sample or a finger-prick
A sample from a vein, taken by a trained person, works for almost every test. Finger-prick kits are convenient, but some tests cannot be done that way, and samples are more often too small or damaged in the post, which means repeating the test.
Turnaround
Each test has its own processing time. Common tests often come back in a day or two. Specialist tests can take a week or more.
Regulation and privacy
Doctor-led services in England should be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It is also worth checking what appears in your emails and on your bank statement.
Which tests should I have?
That depends on why you are testing. If you have symptoms, it is usually more useful to test for the likely causes than to order the largest panel available. Some starting points:
- A general check with no symptoms: our annual health checks
- Tiredness or low energy: our fatigue and energy tests
- Weight gain, feeling cold or hair changes: our thyroid tests
- Periods, perimenopause or hormones: our women's health tests
If you are not sure, you can book a doctor's consultation first to decide what to test for.
Do I need to fast?
Most blood tests do not need fasting. Some, such as a full body check that includes glucose and cholesterol, are easier to interpret after fasting. If your test needs it, have water only from midnight and book a morning appointment. Keep taking your usual medicines unless a doctor has told you otherwise.
Our Battersea clinic: the facts
- Address: 28-29 Wilcox Close, Nine Elms, Battersea, London SW8 2UD, inside the Medirex Pharmacy building
- Nearest stations: Nine Elms (Northern line) and Vauxhall (Victoria line and National Rail)
- Appointments: between 08:00 and 19:00, by booking, up to 4 weeks ahead
- Clinic fee: none. You pay for your tests at your appointment
- Home visits: £80 on top of your tests, covering Zone 1, Battersea, Clapham, Balham and nearby
- Laboratory: The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), UKAS accredited
- Results: most are ready in 1 to 2 days, and each test shows its own time
Some examples from our price list: Thyroid Check £39, HIV Test £45, Vitamin D Test £59, Iron & B12 Check £89, and the Full Body Health Check £225. A few tests are clinic only and cannot be booked for a home visit. They are marked on the test. You can cancel a home visit free of charge up to 2 hours before.
See the A to Z of blood tests for every test and price, or read what is in a full body MOT blood test.
What happens with your results
Your sample goes to the laboratory the same day. A GMC-registered doctor reviews every result and adds a comment before you see it. If anything needs treatment or follow-up, a doctor contacts you directly. You can also book a doctor's consultation to go through your results, and share them with your NHS GP if you would like to.
More guides
- Same-day blood test results in London: what’s realistic
- How much does a private blood test cost in London?
- 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.