Key takeaways
- At Blood London, most routine blood tests report in 1 day, some report in as little as 6 hours, and specialist or genetic tests can take days to weeks.
- Of the 932 tests bookable online at Blood London, over 200 report in 1 day and around 195 more report in 5 days.
- The turnaround shown on each Blood London test page is counted from when your sample reaches the laboratory, and samples reach the lab on the day they are taken, including at weekends.
- Results are sent to you by email once they're ready, whatever they show, so there's no need to wait for a phone call to know your report has arrived.
- A doctor review of your results can be added to any test at Blood London for £75, and a full consultation about an abnormal result can be booked as a private GP consultation at Medical Express Clinic for £150.
- You can walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street seven days a week without a GP referral.
At Blood London, most routine blood tests report within 1 day of the sample reaching the laboratory, and samples reach the lab on the day they are taken. Some tests report in as little as 6 hours, while specialist or genetic tests can take several days to a few weeks. Every test page shows its turnaround, and our popular blood tests page is a good place to start.
Book a blood test at 117a Harley Street: over 200 tests report in 1 day. Each test price is plus the £50 blood draw.
Typical turnaround by test type
Turnaround depends on the individual test, but most of the catalogue clusters around a handful of common windows.
| Turnaround | Roughly how many tests |
|---|---|
| 6 hours | 10 (the FAST chlamydia and gonorrhoea PCR tests and screens) |
| 1 day | over 200 |
| 2 days | around 150 |
| 3 days | just over 50 |
| 5 days | around 195 |
| 10 days | around 40 |
| 2 weeks | around 45 |
| 3 weeks | around 25 |
The remaining tests have other stated windows, such as 4 days, 7 days or a range like 2 to 4 days.
Common examples: a full blood count, results in 1 day, costs £63.75 plus the £50 blood draw. Vitamin D (25-OH) also reports in 1 day, at £108.75 plus the £50 blood draw. Complex PSA takes 3 days, at £75 plus the £50 blood draw.
When does the turnaround clock start?
The turnaround clock starts when your sample reaches the laboratory. At Blood London, samples reach the lab on the same day they are taken, so the turnaround on the test page is counted from the day of your visit. The same applies at weekends: samples taken on a Saturday or Sunday are collected the same day, so they do not wait until Monday to reach the lab.
Why some tests take longer
Turnaround varies because different tests are processed in different ways and sometimes at different laboratories. A routine chemistry or haematology test, such as a full blood count, is run on equipment that gives a same-day or next-day result. Tests that need a specific method, a sample to be sent to a specialist laboratory, or a slower biological process such as bacterial culture, naturally take longer to complete and report. Complex PSA, for example, is listed at 3 days, longer than a routine test such as a full blood count at 1 day, because of how and where it is processed.
How you receive your results
Results are sent to you by email once they're ready. This applies whatever the test shows, so you don't need to wait for a phone call to know that your report has arrived. If you would like a doctor to talk you through your results, you can add a doctor review to your test for £75.
Will a doctor explain my results?
Yes, if you add a doctor review to your test, which costs £75 at Blood London. For a full consultation about an abnormal result, or to plan any next steps, you can book a private GP consultation at Medical Express Clinic, which costs £150. You can self-request a blood test at Blood London without a GP referral, though staying under a doctor means someone can properly interpret your results and arrange treatment if needed.
Private vs NHS result times
Once a sample reaches the laboratory, many routine tests are processed in a similar way whether the request is NHS or private. The main difference is usually access rather than laboratory processing: an NHS blood test usually follows a GP or hospital request, and the results go back to the person who requested them, who then contacts you or shares them, for example through the NHS App. At Blood London you can self-request a test, book online or walk in seven days a week without waiting for a referral, and your report is emailed to you directly.
Tests with same-day or 6-hour results
A small number of tests at Blood London report in 6 hours, all of them FAST sexual health PCR tests and screens, such as the 6-hour chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine test. Beyond that fastest group, the tests that report within 1 day make up the largest single group in the catalogue, covering many of the most commonly requested tests. The Silver blood profile costs £124 plus the £50 blood draw and reports within 24 hours. The Gold blood profile costs £250 plus the £50 blood draw, also within 24 hours. Blood London is a walk-in and book-ahead option for private blood tests in London.
Browse Blood London's popular blood tests and book online, or walk in seven days a week at 117a Harley Street.
Frequently asked questions
Does no news mean good news?
Don't rely on it. Every result at Blood London is emailed to you once it is ready, whatever it shows, so if nothing has arrived by the stated turnaround, contact the clinic.
Can I get results the same day?
Yes, for some tests. The FAST chlamydia and gonorrhoea PCR tests report in 6 hours. Most other tests take 1 day or longer, and the exact turnaround for each one is shown on its test page.
Do weekend samples wait until Monday?
No. Blood London is open seven days a week, and samples taken at the weekend are collected the same day and reach the laboratory that day, as on a weekday. The turnaround on the test page is counted from then.
Why does my PSA take 3 days?
Turnaround varies by test because different analytes are processed in different ways. Complex PSA is listed at 3 days, longer than a routine test such as a full blood count, which is 1 day.
Can I get results by phone?
Results are sent to you by email. If you would like a doctor to talk you through them, you can add a doctor review to your test for £75, or book a private GP consultation at Medical Express Clinic for £150.
What if a result is abnormal?
If a result falls outside the laboratory's reference range, you can add a doctor review to your test at Blood London for £75, or book a private GP consultation at Medical Express Clinic for £150 to discuss it and plan any next steps.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can self-request a blood test at Blood London without a referral. The clinic recommends staying under a doctor so your results can be properly reviewed.
References
- NHS: Blood tests
- Lab Tests Online UK
- UKAS: Medical laboratory accreditation (ISO 15189)