Patient guide · Cardiac testing
EKG, the electrocardiogram — a 5-minute test that shows how your heart is beating.
The EKG (ECG in the UK) is a 5-minute test that records the electrical activity of your heart from 10 skin electrodes. Detects arrhythmias, previous heart attacks, chamber enlargement and conduction problems.
Key facts
- 01
12-lead surface recording
A 12-lead surface recording of the heart’s electrical activity, captured from ten skin electrodes.
- 02
5-minute painless test
A 5-minute painless test — no needles, no dye, no radiation, no preparation.
- 03
Wide diagnostic reach
Detects arrhythmia, ischaemia, hypertrophy and conduction blocks in a single trace.
- 04
First-line for chest symptoms
First-line test for chest pain and palpitations across every emergency and outpatient pathway.
- 05
Same-day report
Same-day report from a consultant cardiologist, with onward pathway if needed.
- 06
Every Pulse Atlas centre
Available at all Pulse Atlas centres — walk-in slots and evening appointments across London.
Indicative pricing
What a private EKG 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 standard 12-lead EKG in our network: £95–£180, reported the same day.
| Test type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 12-lead EKG | £95–£180 | 5 min | Same-day |
| EKG with same-visit cardiology consult | £280–£500 | 40 min | Same visit |
| EKG plus ambulatory (24-hour) monitor | £350–£650 | 20 min | 3–5 days |
| Exercise EKG (treadmill stress test) | £380–£700 | 45 min | Same-day |
| Full cardiac work-up (EKG + echo + bloods + BP) | £650–£1,200 | Half-day | Same-week |
| Urgent same-day EKG | £150–£300 | 15 min | Same-day |
Prices vary by clinic and whether a same-visit consultant cardiology opinion is included. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
Preparation and journey
From referral to same-day report — what happens, in order.
Seven steps. The recording itself is 5 to 10 seconds.
Phase 1 · Before
Consultation and referral
Phase 2 · On the day
~5 minutes at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Interpretation and report
- 01
Before
Consultation and referral
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, medications, cardiac history — we route the referral to a consultant cardiologist.
- 02
On the day
Skin prepared with alcohol
The skin is wiped with alcohol and, if needed, lightly shaved so the electrodes make clean contact.
- 03
On the day
10 electrodes applied
Ten adhesive electrodes are placed on the chest and limbs — six across the precordium, four on the wrists and ankles.
- 04
On the day
Lie flat and relaxed
You lie flat on the couch, still and relaxed. Steady breathing keeps the baseline clean.
- 05
On the day
5-10 second recording
The recording itself takes 5 to 10 seconds. Twelve simultaneous leads are captured on a single trace.
- 06
After
Cardiologist interpretation
A consultant cardiologist reads the trace — rate, rhythm, axis, intervals, ischaemia and chamber size.
- 07
After
Written report same day
A written report is issued the same day, with onward cardiology or A&E pathway if the trace shows a red flag.
Typical end-to-end: same day. Urgent cases: within hours.
What it shows
What an EKG can — and can’t — detect.
An EKG answers a specific set of questions about the electrical heart. These are the patterns the consultant cardiologist looks for.
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Sinus rhythm
Confirms a normal, regular rhythm originating from the sinoatrial node.
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Atrial fibrillation / flutter
The commonest sustained arrhythmia, and the one that most changes stroke-risk management.
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Ventricular ectopy
Extra beats arising from the ventricles — often benign, sometimes a marker of underlying disease.
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ST-elevation or depression
The signature of acute or ongoing myocardial ischaemia — the reason EKG is done in every chest-pain pathway.
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Previous myocardial infarction
Pathological Q waves and lead-specific changes that mark an old, sometimes silent, heart attack.
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Left ventricular hypertrophy
Voltage criteria that raise suspicion of chamber thickening — often from long-standing hypertension.
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Right bundle branch block
A conduction pattern that changes how the ventricles depolarise — usually benign, occasionally significant.
-
Red flag: STEMI or complete heart block — same-day cardiology / A&E
A STEMI or complete heart block on the trace is an emergency. Do not wait for a private slot — call 999.
Next steps
What the report can lead to.
What the cardiologist may recommend after your EKG — from reassurance to definitive coronary work-up.
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Reassurance if normal
A normal EKG in the right clinical setting is often all the reassurance needed — no further testing.
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Antiarrhythmic therapy
Rate or rhythm control with beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers or specialist antiarrhythmic drugs.
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Anticoagulation for AF
CHA₂DS₂-VASc-guided anticoagulation to reduce the stroke risk that atrial fibrillation carries.
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Cardiology follow-up
Consultant review to interpret findings in the context of symptoms, family history and imaging.
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Ambulatory ECG
A 24-hour, 7-day or event monitor for intermittent palpitations the resting EKG can’t catch.
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Echocardiography
Ultrasound of the heart — the next step for suspected hypertrophy, valve disease or heart failure.
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Cardiac MRI
Cross-sectional imaging for tissue characterisation — ischaemia, scar, infiltration, cardiomyopathy.
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Coronary angiography
The definitive coronary investigation — CT-coronary angiography or invasive catheter angiography.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Cardiology partners across central, north, west and south London. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant cardiologists reporting every trace — not a technician sign-off
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Current-generation 12-lead machines with automated intervals and vector analysis
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Same-day written report, with prior tracings compared where available
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Onward cardiology or A&E pathway if the trace shows a red flag
Red flags
Findings that change the plan today.
Some EKG findings are emergencies, and some clinical contexts lower the threshold for further testing. These are the ones we act on immediately.
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STEMI
ST-elevation myocardial infarction on the trace is a time-critical emergency — 999, not a private appointment.
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New complete heart block
Third-degree AV block is an emergency, often requiring urgent temporary or permanent pacing.
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Sustained VT
Sustained ventricular tachycardia is life-threatening. Immediate cardiology and, if unstable, resuscitation care.
-
Long QT with syncope
Prolonged QT interval with a syncopal episode carries a real risk of torsades — same-day cardiology.
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Wolff-Parkinson-White
A delta wave and short PR interval mean an accessory pathway — electrophysiology assessment is warranted.
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Brugada pattern
A coved ST-elevation in V1–V2 raises the possibility of Brugada syndrome — specialist review needed.
-
Family sudden cardiac death
Any first-degree relative with sudden cardiac death lowers the threshold for further imaging and genetics.
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Congenital heart disease
A known congenital lesion changes how baseline traces are interpreted — bring prior EKGs and echo reports.
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Cocaine-associated chest pain
Cocaine can cause ischaemia and arrhythmia even in young patients — treat as an emergency until cleared.
Reading your report
An EKG report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and clinical context
Your details, the reason for the EKG, medications, and the cardiac history that shapes interpretation.
- 02 Technique
Leads, filters and calibration
A confirmation that all 12 leads recorded cleanly, with standard 25 mm/s paper speed and 10 mm/mV calibration.
- 03 Findings
Rate, rhythm, axis, intervals, morphology
Lead-by-lead description: PR, QRS and QT intervals, axis, chamber criteria and ST/T morphology.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
Normal or the specific abnormality, and the concrete next step — read this first.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about EKG.
Quick answers on preparation, timing, EKG vs ECG, and what happens if the trace is abnormal.
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What does an EKG (ECG) show?
The electrical activity of the heart — rate, rhythm, the size of the chambers, whether the conduction pathways are working normally, and whether there is evidence of current or previous ischaemia. It is the single most useful first-line cardiac test.
-
Is EKG the same as ECG?
Yes. EKG is the US spelling (from the German elektrokardiogramm) and ECG is the British spelling. They are the same 12-lead surface recording. For a deeper walk-through of the UK-style ECG, see our /tests/ecg-recorder page.
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Do I need to prepare for an EKG?
No preparation is needed. Eat, drink and take medication as normal. Wear a top that opens at the front, and avoid heavy body lotion on the chest — it can interfere with electrode contact.
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How long does the test take?
The recording itself takes 5 to 10 seconds. Skin preparation and electrode placement bring the whole visit to about 5 minutes — call it 15 minutes end-to-end at the clinic.
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What if my EKG is abnormal?
An abnormal EKG is interpreted in context — symptoms, prior tracings, and further tests such as ambulatory ECG, echocardiography or exercise EKG. The consultant cardiologist writes the concrete next step into the report.
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When should I go to A&E instead?
Any severe or new chest pain, breathlessness with collapse, one-sided weakness or slurred speech is a 999 call — not a private appointment. A STEMI or complete heart block found on a private trace triggers immediate onward emergency care.
Sources
Clinical guidance behind this page.
- European Society of Cardiology. Clinical practice guidelines.
- American Heart Association. ECG and cardiac testing standards.
- British Cardiovascular Society. Standards and guidance.
- NICE. Chest pain of recent onset: assessment and diagnosis (CG95).
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · Next review 2027-07-30 · Reviewer Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, · Reading time ~5 min.
Related tests
Looking for a different test?
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ECG recorder
The UK-style 12-lead ECG — the same test with the British spelling and a deeper walk-through.
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Ambulatory ECG
24-hour, 7-day and event monitors for intermittent palpitations the resting trace can’t catch.
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Exercise ECG stress test
Treadmill EKG that provokes ischaemia and rhythm changes under controlled exertion.
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In practice, in London
The London pathway for ekg
With ekg, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for ekg is thorough, but the queue is real. Most patients we speak with have been told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days — often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.
A typical private booking for ekg in London starts with a consultant conversation — sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For ekg specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
We’re careful about what a private pathway for ekg can and can’t promise. It can compress a wait, put you in front of a subspecialist quickly, and get a proper report in your hands within a week. It can’t rewrite what the imaging or the bloods say. Setting that expectation up front tends to make the whole experience less stressful.
Nearby in the library