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Private stool tests in London, from FIT to microbiome analysis.

From FIT bowel-cancer screening to calprotectin for IBD - accurate stool testing run in UKAS-accredited labs, with sterile home-collection kits.

A friendly doctor in conversation with a patient in a warmly lit consulting room

Indicative pricing

What private stool tests cost in London.

Indicative ranges across UK laboratories.

In short

£45–£120, with results in 3–7 days.

Test or panel Indicative range
FIT (faecal immunochemical test) £45–£120
Faecal calprotectin £75–£180
Stool culture (ova, cysts, parasites) £120–£280
C. difficile toxin £120–£280
Comprehensive stool analysis (microbiome) £200–£500
H. pylori stool antigen £75–£180

Prices vary by laboratory, how many markers are included, and how quickly you need the results.

The problem

A raised marker is not a diagnosis.

Plenty of websites will sell you a stool kit. Knowing which test to run, and what to do with a positive FIT or a raised calprotectin, is the part that matters. That is what we do.

  • Worried about a result?

    We explain a positive FIT or raised calprotectin, and arrange the right onward step rather than leaving you to Google it.

What it shows

Find the panel that matches the symptom.

Stool tests answer very different questions. These are the reasons people come to us most.

  • Bowel cancer screening (FIT)

    Detects trace blood in the stool - the first-line test for suspected bowel cancer in primary care.

  • IBD vs IBS (calprotectin)

    Faecal calprotectin distinguishes inflammatory bowel disease from irritable bowel syndrome.

  • Chronic diarrhoea investigation

    A structured panel to work up persistent, unexplained diarrhoea rather than guessing.

  • Parasites and travel illness

    Ova, cysts and parasite testing for post-travel diarrhoea and persistent gut symptoms.

  • C. difficile infection

    Toxin testing after antibiotics or hospital admission, when diarrhoea will not settle.

  • H. pylori (stool antigen)

    Non-invasive detection of the bacterium behind many cases of dyspepsia and peptic ulcer.

  • Microbiome analysis

    A comprehensive stool panel for those wanting a broader look at the gut ecosystem.

  • Red flag symptoms

    Rectal bleeding or unexplained weight loss? These need urgent GP review, not a home kit - we will say so.

Available panels

What each option is actually for.

  • FIT (faecal immunochemical test)

    Quantitative test for occult blood in stool - the standard bowel cancer screen.

  • Faecal calprotectin

    Marker of gut inflammation used to distinguish IBD from IBS.

  • Stool culture + sensitivities

    Identifies bacterial causes of infective diarrhoea and appropriate antibiotics.

  • Ova, cysts and parasites

    Microscopy for parasitic causes of gut infection, particularly after travel.

  • C. difficile toxin

    Detects toxin-producing C. difficile in antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

  • H. pylori stool antigen

    Non-invasive confirmation of active H. pylori infection.

  • Faecal elastase (pancreatic function)

    Measures pancreatic enzyme output for suspected exocrine insufficiency.

  • Comprehensive microbiome panel

    Broader analysis of gut flora and diversity for patients wanting a fuller picture.

Preparation and practicalities

Simple to collect - if you follow a few rules.

Stool tests are non-invasive and safe, but preparation matters - diet, contamination and timing can all change the result. We tell you exactly what to do.

  • Sample collection at home

    A sterile kit is posted to you with clear instructions. Most people find it straightforward and private.

  • Keep the sample clean

    Avoid contamination with urine or water from the toilet bowl - the kit includes a collection device to help.

  • Diet before a FIT

    Some FIT assays advise avoiding red meat for three days beforehand. We tell you exactly what applies.

  • Medication

    Continue your usual medication unless we tell you otherwise. Iron and anti-inflammatories can affect some tests.

  • You may need more than one sample

    Culture and parasite tests sometimes require samples over several days to catch intermittent shedding.

  • Pregnancy

    Stool tests are safe in pregnancy. Some reference ranges shift and we interpret accordingly.

  • Results interpretation matters

    A raised calprotectin or positive FIT does not equal disease - context and repeat testing often matter.

  • Storage and return

    Return the sealed sample promptly using the pre-paid envelope. Refrigerate briefly if there is a delay.

  • Abnormal FIT

    A positive FIT triggers the two-week wait colonoscopy pathway.

Reading your report

A stool test report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

However many markers are run, the report follows the same four parts.

A UK consultant pathologist reviewing stool test results

A quiet reminder

Read the impression first - the rest is the working.

Ask your care team to explain anything that is unclear.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and the indication

    Your details, which panel was requested, and the clinical question behind it.

  2. 02 Technique

    Which panel was run

    The specific assays used - FIT, calprotectin, culture, PCR, microscopy - and the laboratory that ran them.

  3. 03 Findings

    Each marker, with reference range

    Every marker reported alongside its reference range, with anything outside the range clearly flagged.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    What the results mean - reassurance, repeat sampling, further tests, or urgent referral.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover varies by policy.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about stool tests.

Quick answers on cost, sample collection, referrals, microbiome kits and when to see a GP urgently.

  • What does a FIT test show?

    FIT (faecal immunochemical test) looks for tiny amounts of blood in the stool that are invisible to the eye. It is the first-line screening test for bowel cancer in primary care and can also flag other bowel conditions that need investigation.

  • What is the difference between calprotectin and an IBS test?

    Faecal calprotectin measures gut inflammation. A raised result points to inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis) and usually leads to colonoscopy. A normal result makes IBS much more likely, saving unnecessary investigations.

  • How much do private stool tests cost in London?

    A FIT costs £45–£120, calprotectin £75–£180, and a comprehensive microbiome panel £200–£500.

  • Do I need a referral?

    Most stool tests accept self-referral.

  • How do I collect the sample at home?

    A sterile kit arrives by courier with a collection device, sample tube and pre-paid return envelope. Instructions are plain English. Avoid contamination with urine or water and post it back the same day.

  • How many samples do I need?

    A FIT or calprotectin usually needs one sample.

  • Are microbiome tests evidence-based?

    Microbiome panels can give useful insight into gut diversity, but the clinical evidence is still developing. We are honest about what the results can and cannot tell you, and never sell them as a diagnostic test.

  • How quickly will I get my results?

    FIT, calprotectin and H. pylori antigen results are typically back in 3–7 days. Culture and comprehensive microbiome panels take 7–14 days. We share the timeline when you book.

  • Can I do a stool test in pregnancy?

    Yes - stool tests are safe in pregnancy. Some reference ranges shift slightly and we interpret results with that in mind.

  • When should I see a GP urgently instead?

    Rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in bowel habit or nocturnal symptoms need urgent GP review - not a home kit. We will tell you if that is the right route rather than take your money.

Related tests

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

Why private stool test moves differently in London

With stool test, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Waiting lists on the NHS for stool test vary widely by borough and by how the GP letter reads. Privately in London, we can normally offer a slot inside the same week, sometimes within 48 hours if there’s a cancellation. The difference isn’t clinical quality - the consultants are frequently the same faces you’d see on the NHS - it’s the calendar.

A typical private booking for stool test 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 stool test 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 stool test 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.