Price: £195
Turnaround: 3 working days
Appointment: 15 minutes
General Health
Can You See a Private GP While Registered with the NHS?
We get asked all of the time, “Is it OK that I have an NHS GP?” It absolutely is! It’s
July 7, 2026
No extra fees, and no phlebotomy fee.
Blood tests are essential for diagnosing diseases and assessing your overall health. If you are considering getting an ACTH blood test, our clinic offers quick and easy testing with no hidden costs, ensuring your results are promptly available for you and your doctor to review.
If you prefer to have your ACTH blood test done independently, we are here to support you every step of the way, always with no extra fees.
ACTH, short for Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, is produced by your pituitary gland (a pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base of your brain, below your hypothalamus, responsible for releasing important hormones). ACTH stimulates your adrenal glands (a triangular-shaped gland located on top of each kidney) to release cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.
Why? Because cortisol affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It helps your body respond to stress, reduce inflammation, regulate your blood glucose, metabolism, blood pressure, and immune function. Cortisol is essential for maintaining your overall health and well-being, therefore ACTH (the hormone responsible for stimulating the production of cortisol) is exceptionally important too.
An ACTH blood test holds significant importance in clinical practice due to its role in diagnosing adrenal gland disorders, evaluating pituitary gland function, and monitoring treatment effectiveness for specific conditions affecting your cortisol levels.
Adrenal gland disorders, such as Addison’s disease (that produces low cortisol levels) or Cushing’s syndrome (that produces high cortisol levels), can also be accurately diagnosed through ACTH testing.
If you suspect any adrenal or pituitary gland issues, consult with your healthcare provider, who can guide you through the process of undergoing an ACTH blood test. Remember, timely diagnosis and treatment play a vital role in maintaining optimal health and well-being.
You may need an ACTH blood test if you received abnormal results on a cortisol test or if you have symptoms of either too much or too little cortisol.
Signs of having too much cortisol in your body could include: Weight gain, a round face, thin arms and legs, increased fat around the base of your neck (or even your shoulder blades), you bruise easily, developed wide purple streaks on your stomach, breasts, or hips, and muscle weakness
Signs of having too little cortisol in your body could include: Long-lasting fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, belly pain, or muscle weakness.
Use our online booking engine or book your test by giving us a call.
On the online booking engine select the “appointment type” you need.
You will be seen by one of our friendly phlebotomists or trained clinicians.
Your healthcare provider will give you all the instructions you need on how to prepare for your ACTH blood test, which may include fasting for several hours beforehand. Your ACTH blood samples may be collected in the early morning when your ACTH levels are typically at their highest. You may also need to temporarily discontinue certain medications before your ACTH blood test, but do not stop taking any medications unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
ACTH blood tests are straightforward procedures that involve taking a blood sample and typically only take a few minutes to complete. Your healthcare professional will first clean the area where some of your blood will be drawn (usually your inner elbow or at the back of your hand) with an antiseptic.
They will then insert a fine needle into your vein to collect a small sample. This sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis, where medical experts will measure the levels of ACTH in your blood to provide you with valuable ACTH blood test diagnostic information (typically reported in picograms per milliliter, i.e. pg/mL).
Your results will be emailed to you within three working days. You can then provide these directly to your doctor or discuss them with one of our City Walk-In Clinic GPs.
Depending on your diagnosis, your healthcare provider will either discuss various treatment options and management plans to address your specific needs and help manage your condition effectively or recommend further diagnostic tests to gain more detailed information about your condition. If necessary, your healthcare provider may refer you to an endocrinologist (a specialist in hormone-related disorders) for a more comprehensive evaluation and care.
No
Hidden Charges
Transparent fees. The price you see is the price you pay.
No GP consultation
needed
No GP appointment requirement for blood tests
Established
since 1998
Experienced doctors & a professional team.
Strictly
confidential
Your medical records are kept private at all times.
We offer a wide range of private blood tests in London. Same-day appointments are available 5 days a week.
We work with experienced consultants & healthcare professionals who have received positive feedback from our patients, and with whom we have established long-term relationships.
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