How do I get a blood test through Abby?

How to get an online blood test referral in Australia

To get an online blood test referral in Australia, book a telehealth consult with an Abby GP or Nurse Practitioner. Your clinician will discuss your symptoms or screening goals, decide which tests are clinically appropriate, and issue an electronic pathology referral. You can take that referral to any approved collection centre, including the major Australian pathology providers, and the result comes back to your clinician for review.

What happens during the consult?

The consult is a real clinical conversation. Your clinician asks why you are seeking a test — current symptoms, screening, monitoring a known condition, fatigue, an iron query, a fertility plan — and works backward from there to the right tests rather than ordering everything possible.

Abby AI, our medical decision-support tool, surfaces your past pathology and recent visits before the consult begins, so your clinician can see whether any of these tests have been done recently and avoid unnecessary repeat draws. Read more in what Abby AI is — decision support explained.

What blood tests can be ordered online?

The vast majority of routine pathology can be ordered through a telehealth referral, including:

• Full blood count, iron studies, ferritin and vitamin B12
• Liver and kidney function
• Lipid profile (cholesterol)
• HbA1c and fasting glucose
• Thyroid function
• Vitamin D
• STI screening including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C
• Hormone panels including reproductive and stress markers
• Inflammatory markers and standard rheumatology screens

Some tests need an in-person clinical examination first or a specialist's involvement; your clinician will say so honestly and arrange the right pathway. For more on what telehealth pathology covers, see telehealth pathology tests explained.

Where can I get the test done?

An Abby pathology referral is universally accepted — you can use it at any approved Australian pathology collection centre. The major providers include Australian Clinical Labs, Healius (with brands like Laverty, QML and Dorevitch) and Sonic Healthcare (Douglass Hanly Moir, Melbourne Pathology, QML and others). All operate hundreds of collection centres nationally and most accept walk-ins.

Some tests need fasting (lipids, glucose) and your clinician will tell you during the consult. Others, like cortisol or some hormones, are time-of-day sensitive. The collection centre will check the referral and confirm the prep before drawing.

How long does the referral last?

A pathology referral from a GP or Nurse Practitioner in Australia is generally valid for up to 12 months for non-pregnancy-related testing, though your clinician may set a shorter window if it is part of a monitoring plan. If it is past the date on the referral, the collection centre will ask for an updated one. To request a same-day refresh, see how to get a same-day pathology referral online.

How do I get my results?

Results come back to your Abby clinician first — usually within 1 to 3 working days for routine bloods. Once your clinician has reviewed them, you will receive an SMS to book a brief follow-up to discuss what they mean. For privacy reasons, raw lab values are not sent by SMS or email until the clinician has had a chance to review them in context. The privacy framework around health information is set out by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

For the timeline by test type, see how long does it take for results to come back. To learn about the result-sharing flow, see online pathology results explained.

What does it cost?

The Abby consult that produces the referral is covered by Medicare for eligible patients. The pathology test itself is bulk billed by the lab when the test sits within the Medicare Benefits Schedule and you meet eligibility — see MBS Online for the schedule. Some specialised tests are not on the MBS and have a private fee; the collection centre will tell you before drawing the sample.

How do I prepare for my blood test?

Most patients ask the same handful of preparation questions, and getting these right on the first visit means you do not have to come back. The instructions vary by test, so your clinician will spell out what is required at the end of your consult. As a general guide:

• Fasting: A standard fasting blood test means no food or drink (other than plain water) for 8 to 12 hours beforehand. Lipid studies, fasting glucose, and some iron studies usually require fasting. Black tea or coffee without milk is not "fasting".
• Medications: In most cases, take your usual medications as prescribed. If a test could be affected — for example, thyroid medication or hormone therapy — your clinician will tell you whether to delay the morning dose.
• Hydration: Drink a normal amount of water. Mild dehydration makes it harder to draw blood and can shift some results.
• Time of day: Cortisol, testosterone, and prolactin are time-sensitive. Most collection centres prefer an early-morning sample for these.
• Recent illness or vaccination: A recent infection or vaccine can affect inflammatory markers. Mention it at the collection centre so it is noted on the form.

If you are unsure about any preparation step, call the collection centre before going in or message the Abby Health team for written confirmation.

How Abby can help

If you have been putting off bloods because the GP queue feels too long, an Abby clinician can usually see you within minutes through the First Available queue, talk through what you actually need tested, and issue the referral by email. Start at abbyhealth.app/services/pathology. Our clinicians are AHPRA-registered. Abby appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card.