Private HIV Test Cost UK: How Much Does Testing Cost?

Written by: Dr Kishan Dattani, Medical Doctor, specialist interest in Women’s Health and Preventative Medicine, Private Medical Clinic 

At Private Medical Clinic, a private HIV test costs £195, covering both HIV antibody and p24 antigen testing with next-day results. This test is most accurate from 28 days after a potential exposure, and it’s worth knowing that free NHS and charity testing options exist too, so paying privately is really a choice about speed and convenience rather than the only way to get tested.

How much does a private HIV test cost in the UK?

Across the wider UK private market, HIV-specific testing at other providers has been advertised from around £125, typically combining a lab test fee with a blood draw charge and a face-to-face consultation with a sexual health specialist. Prices vary depending on whether a consultation is bundled in, how quickly results are returned, and whether the provider uses a rapid point-of-care test or a full laboratory antibody/antigen test, which is generally more accurate in the early weeks after exposure.If you'd rather test for several infections at once, our sexual health testing page sets out our bundled STI panels alongside the standalone HIV test. 

What’s included in the Private Medical Clinic price?

The £195 fee covers sample collection, laboratory testing for both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen, and next-day results. Testing for both markers together, rather than antibodies alone, is what allows accurate detection from around 28 days after exposure rather than needing a longer wait. A clinician is available to talk through your result and, if needed, arrange onward referral for treatment and support without delay. Our guide to HIV and its symptoms explains more about what the virus does and why early testing matters. 

Are there additional costs?

The test price is usually the whole cost, but a couple of things can add to the total. If you test before the recommended 28-day window and want a repeat confirmatory test afterwards, that would be a separate charge. If a result is positive and you want a same-day consultation to discuss immediate next steps and referral options in more depth than the standard results conversation, that may also carry an additional fee depending on what’s needed.

Why do private HIV test costs vary so much?

The type of test used is the biggest factor: a rapid point-of-care test that gives a result in minutes is typically simpler and sometimes cheaper than a full laboratory antibody/antigen test, but a lab-based test is generally considered more reliable in the earlier weeks after exposure. Whether a face-to-face consultation with a doctor is bundled into the price, rather than charged separately, is another major variable across providers. Turnaround time also plays a part, with same-day or rapid results sometimes costing more than standard next-day or 1-2 day reporting.

How does this compare with the NHS and charity testing?

HIV testing is available completely free through several routes in the UK. NHS sexual health clinics offer walk-in or appointment-based testing across the country, and charities such as the Terrence Higgins Trust provide free or low-cost HIV self-test kits by post, particularly for people considered most at risk, through services such as freetesting.hiv, with a rapid result available directly from the kit. Where free postal kits aren’t available in your area, low-cost self-testing kits are offered instead. The main differences from private testing tend to be around speed, laboratory testing generally takes longer to process than a same-visit rapid result, and around access, since free postal kits depend on local commissioning and risk criteria rather than being universally available on demand.Our guide to HIV and testing for HIV covers these routes in more detail. 

What happens during a private HIV test?

You’ll provide a blood sample, which is sent for laboratory analysis testing for both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen. Results are typically available the next working day. If your result is negative and you tested within the recommended window, that’s generally considered reliable; if you tested earlier than 28 days after a potential exposure, a repeat test afterwards is usually recommended to confirm. If a result is positive, a clinician will contact you promptly to discuss the result confidentially and arrange referral for specialist HIV care and treatment.

Who may consider a private HIV test?

People who want a specific, fast answer without waiting for a free postal kit to become available in their area, or without a walk-in clinic visit, are the most common reason we see. It’s also a reasonable option for anyone who wants the accuracy of a full laboratory antibody/antigen test rather than a rapid point-of-care result, or who simply prefers to book on their own schedule with next-day results.Women concerned about exposure may also find our guide to early signs and symptoms of HIV in women useful background before testing. 

Many people booking an HIV test also want to rule out other infections at the same time. Common companion tests include:

• Chlamydia testing
• Gonorrhoea testing
• Syphilis testing
• Herpes test
• Hepatitis B testing
• Genital warts (HPV) testing
• Mycoplasma and ureaplasma testing
• Trichomonas testing
• Bacterial vaginosis testing
• Thrush testing
• Vaginal discharge testing

Is a private HIV test worth the cost?

Given that free testing is genuinely available through the NHS and charities like the Terrence Higgins Trust, the value of paying privately comes down mostly to convenience, speed and certainty of access on your own timetable. If a free postal kit is available in your area and you’re comfortable with a home test, that’s a reasonable free option. If you want the reliability of a laboratory test with a clinician available to discuss results, or you simply want to book an appointment now rather than wait for kit availability, private testing is a straightforward way to get that.

How to book an HIV test with Private Medical Clinic

You can book a private HIV test directly through our sexual health testing page. If you’d prefer a broader sexual health screen alongside HIV testing, our private STI test cost guide covers our combined screens. Full pricing for this and our other services is listed on our fees page.

FAQ About HIV Costing