Bloods Direct

No, you can book a blood test at Bloods Direct without a referral from your GP. You can book online or call your local clinic to make an appointment.

For most blood tests you do not need to fast and you can eat and drink as normal. Some blood tests, such as fasting glucose tests, do require you to avoid food (usually for 8-12 hours beforehand). You can still drink water as normal. If you do need to fast before your test, this will be explained at the top of the service page, or ask your clinic when booking your appointment.

We encourage everybody to attend well hydrated and ensure that the area we are drawing blood from is easily accessible. If you are on anticoagulation medication, we recommend taking this after the appointment unless absolutely essential.

It's not unusual for some bleeding under the skin following your blood test and sometimes this can extend a little further around the puncture site. If this causes you concern, check with your clinician.

Your appointment will usually take around 10 minutes, making the process quick and convenient.

It's common to be nerwous about blood tests and our staff are used to helping people who feel this way. Let the staff member know that you're feeling anxious and they will reassure you. Look away and focus on your breathing to feel calmer. The procedure is usually very quick and for most people it's faster than they expected.

If you start to feel unwell or faint, let us know immediately. Our team will pause the test and look after you until you feel better.

Absolutely! Every scan at Ultrasound Direct is performed by a fully qualified sonographer whose primary interest is your health. All our sonographers are fully trained and appropriately qualified to perform ultrasound scans. Many of our team also work in the NHS locally.

All our sonographers are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and/or the Register of Clinical Technologists and follow the latest safety guidelines.

We are also registered with the Care Quality Commission, an independent regulator, to make sure you always receive the highest possible standards of care. 

All our sonographers who take blood for blood tests are phlebotomy trained.

The time in which you receive blood test results will vary based on your location and the type of blood test. We have courier services available at some clinics which can provide results in 1 - 2 working days. Some lab tests take longer. You can call your clinic to find out the most likely timeline for your results.

If you book multiple blood tests or a blood test package you may receive the results for each blood test at different times.

Your results will be analysed in the UK by our laboratory partner, The Doctors Laboratory.

Every test at Ultrasound Direct has the option to be reviewed by a GP, with a clear, easy-to-understand extended GP report provided.

Where your results & GP report indicate a high risk outcome, a GP will contact you directly for a consultation at no extra cost.

If you’d like additional reassurance or a more in-depth conversation about your results, you can also choose to book a GP consultation at a convenient time for a small additional fee. 

Sometimes we cannot take a blood sample from you. This can be for many reasons, such as not being hydrated enough, feeling cold or having another blood test recently. We will always offer you another appointment so we can try again.

Yes, your data is completely secure. We follow strict UK data protection regulations to ensure your personal and medical information is always kept safe and confidential.

If you book one individual blood test we will charge a £49.00 blood draw & GP reporting fee in addition to the listed price. If you call your clinic and book two or more blood tests in the same appointment, you will not be charged this additional fee.

We recommend that you telephone the clinic using the number on your email confirmation as soon as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you. Our clinics are busy, and lateness does impact those who are waiting to be seen after your appointment. It may not always be possible for us to see you on the day, but we will do our best in these circumstances. 

We recommend that you leave in plenty of time and check traffic prior to setting off for your journey.

On occasion the clinic might be running late due to unforeseen circumstances. We understand that this can cause stress and anxiety. Our staff will keep you informed if a clinic is running late and this will be done as soon as possible.

Yes, it’s a good idea to bring your hospital notes with you if you have them. If your notes are online, make sure you can access them on your mobile device. Our sonographers then have access to them if we need to make an onward referral into the NHS.

If you don’t have any notes yet, you can still book a scan.

No, we will only discuss your blood test appointments directly with you. With your consent, we can send a copy of your report and images to your preferred healthcare professional if you provide their contact details.

Any feedback about your experience with Bloods Direct can be sent directly via email to feedback@ultrasound-direct.com.