Concierge pH monitoring · London
Private 24-hour pH monitoring in London, the reference test for reflux.
The reference test for reflux — catheter or wireless Bravo capsule — with a proper DeMeester score and a pre- or post-fundoplication pathway if needed.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Straight about catheter vs Bravo
Catheter for 24 hours or a wireless Bravo capsule for 48-96 hours — we walk you through the trade-offs so you can pick.
- 02
High-volume consultants
We route to consultant gastroenterologists who read pH studies to BSG-aligned standards, with impedance capability for non-acid reflux.
- 03
We chase the DeMeester score
A proper report with DeMeester score and symptom correlation — read, explained, and linked to a next step if you need one.
Indicative pricing
What a private 24-hour pH study costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A 24-hour catheter pH study in our network: £850-£1,700, with a full DeMeester report in 3-5 days.
| Study | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-hour catheter pH study | £850–£1,700 | 24 hrs | 3–5 days |
| 24-hour pH + impedance | £1,000–£2,000 | 24 hrs | 3–5 days |
| Bravo wireless capsule (48-96 hrs) | £1,400–£2,800 | 48–96 hrs | 5–7 days |
| Pre-fundoplication work-up bundle | £1,600–£3,200 | Half-day | 5–7 days |
| Post-fundoplication surveillance | £900–£1,800 | 24 hrs | 3–5 days |
| Paediatric pH study (specialist) | £1,400–£2,800 | 24 hrs | 5–7 days |
Prices vary by unit, whether impedance is included, and whether a Bravo capsule is used. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Reflux that won’t settle - and no one has proved it.
Many people are given a PPI for years without objective evidence that reflux is the cause. A 24-hour pH study gives you the answer — and, if surgery is on the table, the piece of evidence a surgeon needs.
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Still refluxing on a PPI?
An on-PPI study with impedance shows whether acid or non-acid reflux is breaking through.
-
Thinking about a fundoplication?
Surgeons want objective proof before offering a wrap. A pH study is the first step.
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Endoscopy came back normal?
Non-erosive reflux disease is common. Only a pH study can confirm it.
The journey
From enquiry to DeMeester score - what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to the trace being explained - including the bit after the recorder is handed back.
Phase 1 · Before your study
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · During
24-96 hours at home
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, timeline, referral or insurer if you have them, and whether you are on a PPI.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which study (catheter or Bravo), off-PPI or on-PPI, which unit, indicative price. If a pH study isn’t the right step, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within a week. We explain the PPI washout if you are diagnosing GORD, and review any other reflux medication.
- 04
During
Arrival, consent and placement
You change, meet your consultant, and the catheter is passed through the nose — or the Bravo capsule is clipped to the oesophageal wall during a short OGD.
- 05
During
Living with the study
24 hours for a catheter study, 48-96 hours for Bravo. You eat normally, keep a symptom diary, sit up during meals, and go about your day.
- 06
During
Return and download
You come back to hand in the recorder. The Bravo capsule falls off on its own within 7-10 days and passes naturally.
- 07
After
DeMeester score and next steps
Your consultant reads the trace with the diary, generates a DeMeester score, and explains whether it points to GORD, non-acid reflux, functional heartburn, or a surgical route.
Typical end-to-end: 1-2 weeks. Urgent cases: days.
What it shows
Find the reason that matches your symptom.
A pH study answers a specific question about reflux that endoscopy cannot. These are the reasons people come to us.
-
Atypical or refractory reflux
Confirms or excludes acid reflux when symptoms don’t settle on a PPI.
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Laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms
Hoarseness, throat clearing, chronic cough — objective evidence of reflux.
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Non-cardiac chest pain
After a normal cardiac work-up, links chest pain to acid or non-acid reflux.
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Pre-fundoplication work-up
Confirms pathological reflux before any anti-reflux surgery is considered.
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Post-fundoplication surveillance
Checks whether reflux has returned after a wrap.
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Atypical asthma cough
Separates reflux-driven cough from primary respiratory causes.
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Non-erosive reflux disease
The definitive test when the endoscopy is normal but symptoms persist.
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Red flag: dysphagia, weight loss, GI bleeding
Not a pH study — urgent endoscopy first. We reroute you the same day.
Study types
Not all pH studies are the same.
What each option on your referral is actually for.
-
24-hour catheter pH study
A fine catheter passed through the nose records acid exposure in the lower oesophagus for 24 hours. The reference standard.
-
24-hour pH + impedance
Adds impedance to detect non-acid and weakly acidic reflux — essential when someone is on a PPI.
-
Bravo wireless capsule (48-96 hrs)
A capsule is clipped to the oesophageal wall during a short OGD, recording for up to 96 hours with no catheter.
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Pre-fundoplication work-up
Combined pH study, manometry and endoscopy so the surgeon has objective evidence before a wrap.
-
Post-fundoplication surveillance
A repeat pH study after anti-reflux surgery, to check the wrap is doing its job.
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Off-PPI study
PPI held for 7 days — the setup when you are trying to confirm or exclude GORD.
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On-PPI study
PPI continued — the setup when you are asking whether the PPI is actually working.
-
Paediatric pH study
A specialist paediatric protocol, done in a paediatric gastroenterology unit.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly - introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant gastroenterologists
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BSG-aligned pH-monitoring standards
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Impedance capability for non-acid reflux
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Onward endoscopy or surgery pathway
Safety and eligibility
Very safe - but the setup matters.
pH monitoring is very safe. The important bits are the PPI setup, the diary, and picking catheter vs Bravo well.
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Catheter for 24 hours
The catheter sits behind the ear and clips to your clothing. Most people manage it comfortably and sleep through the night.
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Bravo capsule
Spares the catheter but has a small dislodgement rate. The capsule falls off naturally within 7-10 days and passes without you noticing.
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Off-PPI, one week before
If we are diagnosing GORD, stop the PPI 7 days before the study. We coordinate a short-acting alternative if needed.
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On-PPI
If we are assessing PPI failure, keep taking it right up to and during the study.
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Sit up during meals
Eat normally, but stay upright during meals — the trace is only useful if your habits are recorded accurately in the diary.
-
Normal diet during test
No special diet. Eat and drink what you would on a normal day, and note everything in the symptom diary.
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Driving is fine
No sedation for a catheter study, so driving is fine. For Bravo, driving is fine once the sedation from the placement OGD has fully worn off.
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Pregnancy
pH studies are generally deferred in pregnancy. Tell us if you are or might be pregnant.
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Always share prior endoscopy
Send us any recent OGD report and images. It changes which study is right and whether a wrap is on the table.
Reading your report
A pH-study report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whether it’s a catheter or a Bravo study, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
Read the impression first — the DeMeester score is the headline number.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Your details, indication and PPI status
Your details, the indication for the study, and whether you were off or on a PPI.
- 02 Technique
Catheter or wireless, and duration
Which system was used (catheter or Bravo), where the sensors were placed, and how long the recording ran.
- 03 Findings
DeMeester score and symptom correlation
Total acid exposure time, number of reflux episodes, DeMeester score, and how well your recorded symptoms match reflux events.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
The conclusion — GORD, non-acid reflux, functional heartburn — and the next step: PPI change, surgical opinion, or a functional-symptom pathway.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Most policies cover 24-hour pH monitoring when clinically indicated; we confirm cover and pre-authorisation before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about 24-hour pH monitoring.
Quick answers on catheter vs Bravo, PPIs, cost, safety and results.
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What does 24-hour pH monitoring actually measure?
It measures how often and for how long acid (and, with impedance, non-acid liquid) refluxes into the lower oesophagus over 24 hours or longer. The numbers are combined into a DeMeester score and matched against a symptom diary you keep during the study.
-
Catheter or Bravo — which should I choose?
A catheter study is the reference standard, cheaper, and gives you a full 24 hours of data. A Bravo capsule spares you the catheter, records for up to 96 hours (which improves diagnostic yield), but requires a short OGD to place the capsule and has a small dislodgement rate. If cost is the deciding factor, catheter. If tolerating a catheter feels impossible or you are borderline on shorter studies, Bravo.
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Should I stop my PPI before the test?
It depends on the question. If we are trying to confirm or exclude GORD, PPIs must be held for 7 days before the study. If we are asking whether the PPI is working, you carry on taking it. We tell you which setup you are on when we book.
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Is the catheter uncomfortable?
The first few hours feel strange — a mild awareness at the back of the nose or throat. Most people forget about it by evening and sleep through the night. If a catheter genuinely isn’t tolerable, Bravo is the alternative.
-
How much does a private 24-hour pH study cost in London?
A 24-hour catheter pH study is typically £850-£1,700 in our network. Adding impedance takes it to £1,000-£2,000. A Bravo wireless study is £1,400-£2,800. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
-
Do I need a referral?
A pH study is arranged with a short consultation first so the right setup — catheter vs Bravo, off-PPI vs on-PPI — is chosen for your question. We can arrange that consultation quickly; no GP letter is needed to get started.
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Can I drive during the study?
Yes, for a catheter study there is no sedation and driving is fine throughout. For Bravo, driving is fine once the sedation from the placement OGD has fully worn off (usually the next day).
-
Is pH monitoring safe in pregnancy?
It is usually deferred until after pregnancy unless there is a specific clinical reason. Tell us if you are or might be pregnant and we will discuss it with the consultant.
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How quickly do I get the results?
The trace is analysed after you hand the recorder back. A written report with the DeMeester score, symptom correlation and impression follows in 3-5 days for catheter studies, 5-7 days for Bravo, and is explained to you.
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When is anti-reflux surgery offered?
A fundoplication is considered when the pH study proves pathological reflux, symptoms are typical, and either the PPI isn’t working well enough or you want to come off it. The pH study is the piece of objective evidence that lets a surgeon take a wrap seriously.
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When should I see a GP urgently?
New difficulty swallowing, unintentional weight loss, vomiting blood, or black tarry stools are red flags — you need an urgent endoscopy, not a pH study. Call your GP the same day, or 999 for vomiting fresh blood with faintness.
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