Concierge respiratory · London
Private spirometry & lung function tests in London, read by a respiratory physician.
The definitive breath-based tests that measure how well your lungs work - from simple spirometry to full pulmonary function studies. Reported against modern age/sex/ethnicity reference values.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right test, not the quick one
We match the study to your question - simple spirometry, reversibility, full PFTs or CPET.
- 02
Read by a respiratory physician
A consultant interprets your numbers against modern reference values - not just a machine printout.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private spirometry and lung function testing cost in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
Simple spirometry in our network: £120–£250; full PFTs £350–£650.
| Test | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple spirometry | £120–£250 | 20–30 min | Same day |
| Spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility | £180–£350 | 40–60 min | 24–48 hrs |
| Full pulmonary function tests (PFTs) | £350–£650 | 60–90 min | 24–72 hrs |
| FeNO breath test | £80–£180 | 10–15 min | Same day |
| 6-minute walk test | £150–£300 | 30–45 min | Same day |
| Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) | £600–£1,100 | 60–90 min | 3–7 days |
Prices vary by clinic, which studies are included, and whether a consultant review is arranged on the day. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right breathing test is not always the obvious one.
Simple spirometry answers most asthma and COPD questions. But restrictive disease needs lung volumes and DLCO, and exertional breathlessness needs CPET. Matching the study to the question is the entire job. That is what we get right.
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Breathless on exertion only?
A resting spirometry may look normal - CPET is the definitive study for exercise-induced dyspnoea.
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Suspected asthma?
We combine reversibility testing with FeNO for the highest diagnostic yield.
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Want a physician to read it?
We route to clinics where a consultant respiratory physician reports it, not software alone.
The journey
From enquiry to report - what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to explained result - fast for spirometry, a little longer for full PFTs and CPET.
Phase 1 · Before your test
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
20–90 minutes at the clinic
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.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which test, which clinic, indicative price. If a test is not the right step, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Often same or next day, including evenings and Saturdays. Insurer pre-authorisation handled.
- 04
On the day
Arrival and preparation
You sit upright, a soft clip closes your nose, and a physiologist coaches you through each manoeuvre.
- 05
On the day
The test
Simple spirometry takes 20–30 minutes; full PFTs and CPET run 60–90 minutes with rests between efforts.
- 06
On the day
Straight home
No recovery time. Drive, eat and work as normal.
- 07
After
Report and next steps
Consultant respiratory physician report in 24–72 hours, with onward referral where needed.
Typical end-to-end: 2–7 days. Urgent cases: same day.
What it shows
Find the test that matches your indication.
Respiratory symptoms differ enormously in pattern. These are the questions we are asked to answer most.
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Asthma diagnosis & monitoring
Reversibility on spirometry, supported by FeNO, confirms asthma and tracks control.
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COPD diagnosis & staging
A post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC below 0.70 confirms COPD; FEV1 grades severity.
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Restrictive lung disease
Reduced lung volumes and DLCO point to fibrosis, sarcoidosis or chest-wall disease.
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Obstructive vs restrictive pattern
Distinguishes the two - the essential first branch in any breathlessness workup.
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Unexplained breathlessness on exertion
CPET separates lung, heart, circulatory and deconditioning causes in one test.
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Occupational lung disease
Baseline and serial testing for workplace exposure - dust, isocyanates, welding fume.
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Pre-operative fitness assessment
Quantifies lung reserve before major thoracic, upper GI or vascular surgery.
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Red flags
Sudden severe breathlessness, chest pain or blue lips is an emergency - call 999.
Lung tests
Not all lung tests are the same.
What each option on your referral is actually for.
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Simple spirometry (FEV1, FVC)
The basic manoeuvre: forced blow measures airflow and volume. Quick, cheap, widely useful.
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Post-bronchodilator reversibility
Repeat spirometry after inhaled salbutamol - the standard test for asthma reversibility.
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Full PFTs (with lung volumes and DLCO)
Body plethysmography for total lung capacity, plus DLCO for gas transfer across the alveoli.
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FeNO (nitric oxide)
Measures eosinophilic airway inflammation - supports asthma diagnosis and steroid response.
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Peak flow monitoring
A home meter used to track diurnal variation and asthma control between clinic visits.
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6-minute walk test
A functional measure of exercise tolerance and desaturation - useful in fibrosis and COPD.
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Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)
Integrated exercise study with ECG and gas analysis - the definitive test for exertional dyspnoea.
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Bronchial challenge / methacholine test
Provokes airway narrowing to confirm or exclude asthma when spirometry is normal.
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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CQC-registered, with a current good or outstanding rating
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Performed by ARTP-certified respiratory physiologists
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Reported by consultant respiratory physicians
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ATS/ERS-standard protocols for acceptability and repeatability
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Results reviewed against age, sex, height and ethnicity reference values
Safety and eligibility
Painless, non-invasive - but effort-dependent.
Spirometry and PFTs are extremely safe. Good results depend on maximum effort, correct inhaler timing and clear pre-test instructions - all handled for you.
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Painless & non-invasive
You simply breathe through a mouthpiece - nothing is put into your body.
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Requires forceful blowing effort
Good results depend on maximal effort. The physiologist coaches you through each attempt.
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Hold usual inhalers unless told otherwise
Short-acting bronchodilators are usually withheld before a reversibility test - we send instructions with your appointment.
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Caffeine avoided beforehand
Coffee, tea and cola can affect airway tone - please avoid on the morning of the test.
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Brief dizziness or cough is common
Rapid forced exhalation can cause a short cough or light-headedness. It passes within seconds.
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Recent MI or unstable angina
CPET may be deferred until the cardiology team confirms it is safe to exercise maximally.
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Pregnancy is fine
Spirometry and PFTs are safe in pregnancy. CPET is usually postponed until after delivery.
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Children
Reliable results need a paediatric-experienced physiologist - we route accordingly.
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Avoid a heavy meal 2h before CPET
Exercising hard on a full stomach is uncomfortable. Water and a light snack are fine.
Reading your report
A lung function report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whether a simple spirometry trace or a full PFT with DLCO, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
Normal numbers do not always mean nothing is wrong - the pattern matters as much as the values.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Your details and the indication
Your details, which tests were performed, and the clinical question they were meant to answer.
- 02 Technique
Which tests, meeting ATS/ERS quality
Confirms acceptability and repeatability of every manoeuvre against international standards.
- 03 Findings
The numbers, versus predicted
FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, DLCO where done - each compared with modern reference values.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
Normal, obstructive, restrictive or mixed - with severity and reversibility. 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 spirometry and PFTs.
Quick answers on cost, referrals, inhaler timing, safety and results.
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How do I prepare for a spirometry test and what will it tell my doctor?
Avoid short-acting inhalers for four hours and long-acting ones for 12 hours before, don’t smoke or exercise heavily on the day, and wear something loose around the chest. The test measures FVC and FEV1, and the ratio tells your respiratory doctor whether your airways are obstructed (asthma, COPD), restricted, or normal - it’s the foundation of every respiratory diagnosis and available in London within days from about £180.
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How much does a private spirometry test cost in London?
Simple spirometry is typically £120–£250, and £180–£350 with bronchodilator reversibility. Full PFTs range £350–£650 and CPET £600–£1,100. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Do I need a referral?
Most spirometry and lung function testing accepts self-referral. We can arrange a fast-track private GP or respiratory physician if you would like the result interpreted in a consultation.
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What is the difference between spirometry and full PFTs?
Spirometry measures airflow and volume with a single forced blow. Full PFTs add body plethysmography (total lung capacity) and gas transfer (DLCO) - essential when restrictive disease, fibrosis or emphysema is suspected.
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When is a FeNO test helpful?
FeNO measures nitric oxide in your exhaled breath - a marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation. It supports asthma diagnosis, predicts steroid response and helps monitor control alongside spirometry.
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Will my inhalers affect the results?
Short-acting bronchodilators are usually withheld for a few hours before a reversibility test so the response can be measured properly. Long-acting inhalers may need pausing for longer. We send exact instructions with your appointment.
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Is CPET safe?
Yes, when the right patients are selected. It is fully supervised with continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring, and stopped immediately if you feel unwell. Recent heart attack or unstable angina is a temporary contraindication.
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How long will the results take?
Simple spirometry and FeNO are often reviewed the same day. Full PFTs take 24–72 hours; CPET reports take 3–7 days because of the volume of exercise data to analyse.
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Will my insurance cover it?
Most policies cover lung function testing when clinically indicated and pre-authorised. Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA, Cigna and Healix recognise us, and we handle the pre-authorisation.
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Do I also need a chest X-ray or CT scan?
Often, yes. Spirometry tells us how the lungs work; imaging tells us what they look like. A chest X-ray or HRCT is commonly arranged alongside PFTs when structural disease is suspected.
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In practice, in London
How spirometry tends to unfold when you go private
With spirometry, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for spirometry is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.
A typical private booking for spirometry 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 spirometry specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
The value of going through a concierge for spirometry isn’t access - anyone with an insurer or a credit card can get a private appointment in London. The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.