Overview
Quick answer
Yes. In Australia you can pay for pathology privately without seeing your own GP first. A request form is still issued, by a lab for a short list of tests, by an online service or by a telehealth doctor. Medicare does not pay for tests ordered this way. A GP request for a clinically needed test is the route where it can.
The route you choose changes the price, who looks at your results and whether Medicare can help. If you have symptoms, start with a doctor.
Overview
At a glance
- Who issues the request?
- A lab for a short list (QML), an online service (none names who signs), a telehealth doctor, your GP, or Hemexa as the requesting practice.
- What it costs
- A full blood count ran A$38 to A$49.95 stand-alone at the four sellers that sell one on its own. iMedical lists it as a A$22 add-on plus a A$19 base fee. Packages ran A$499 to A$799. Checked 8 November 2026.
- Results time, as published
- 24 to 48 hours at the online services. Hemexa: most markers 24 to 72 hours.
- See a doctor first if
- You have symptoms, a managed condition or anything urgent. Call 000 in an emergency.
Tool
Which route fits you
Three questions, answered in your browser. Nothing you choose is sent or stored. It points to a route to read about; it does not decide what tests you need.
Answer three questions
Answer all three questions to see which routes fit.
Educational only, not medical advice. It does not say which tests you need.
The map
Every route, and what it cannot do
Five ways to get a request form. Hemexa is one of them. The others are described from their own pages, read 8 November 2026.
Your GP, with Medicare
- Who issues it
- Your GP
- Medicare
- Can pay when the test is clinically needed
- Cannot
- Fund a wellness panel with no clinical reason
Medicare pays only when a treating practitioner decides a test is needed and requests it. A clinically indicated test can be bulk billed.
A telehealth doctor
- Who issues it
- A doctor, after an online assessment
- Medicare
- Possible for eligible patients at Abby; Hola Health referrals are private pay
- Cannot
- Skip the consult fee, or choose your own tests
Abby Health says pathology is provided only if an Australian healthcare provider decides it is necessary after an online assessment, and lists bulk billing for eligible patients (Abby pathology page). Hola Health charges from A$39 for a private referral after a short consult (Hola Health referral page).
An online self-request service
- Who issues it
- Not named by any of the four
- Medicare
- No
- Cannot
- Give you a GP relationship or a diagnosis
iMedical, i-screen, MediTests and Bloody Good sell tests online and email a request form. All four say no GP referral is needed and none names who signs. i-screen's blog says a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner on its team reviews the order and issues the request, but its terms do not say who signs. iMedical, i-screen and MediTests say testing is private with no Medicare rebate; Bloody Good did not mention Medicare.
A lab's own self-request form
- Who issues it
- You, on the lab form
- Medicare
- No
- Cannot
- Cover a general health panel, or interpret your result
QML Pathology, a Healius brand, publishes a short list of tests you can request without a doctor or registered practitioner, such as blood group, immunity checks and drug screens. Results come by post (QML self-request page). Clinipath publishes a similar self-funded list (Clinipath self-funded tests).
A membership
- Who issues it
- Everlab: its doctors, by telehealth. Hemexa: Hemexa is the requesting practice on the form
- Medicare
- Everlab says Medicare-covered tests are included in its price
- Cannot
- Replace your own GP relationship
Everlab bundles a doctor consult with testing in annual plans (Everlab plans) and says tests covered by Medicare are included in its price (Everlab FAQ). Hemexa is an annual membership of A$1,199 including GST with a baseline panel and a six-month follow-up. Hemexa membership does not include a doctor consult or telehealth (Hemexa FAQ). Neither replaces your own GP.
Fit
Where another route suits you better
Hemexa is not the right route for everyone. Two cases where something else suits you better:
You want low add-on prices
iMedical's add-on prices were lower than every other seller's on every row it lists, and its A$19 base fee is waived when another panel is in the cart. For a single test the fee made it cost more than Hemexa on 6 of the 8 tests Hemexa lists (read 8 November 2026).
You want a doctor consult included
Abby and Hola Health put a doctor's assessment before the request, and Everlab bundles a consult into its plans. Hemexa does not.
Hemexa
Where Hemexa fits
Hemexa suits people who want to repeat tests and see them together. Four facts you can check:
Results kept over time
Your dashboard keeps every Hemexa result and its trend. For many markers it uses Hemexa optimal, watch and action bands, and the lab range where Hemexa has none. They are not a diagnosis (Hemexa FAQ).
Results you already have
Upload pathology PDFs from other Australian providers to the same timeline, with a free account and no membership (Hemexa FAQ).
A recheck built in
Membership is A$1,199 including GST for a baseline panel and a six-month recheck. A one-off test needs no membership.
A refund before collection
Ask before your sample is collected and a one-off test is refunded in full.
Our verdict, by reader
- You want repeat testing tracked over time
- Hemexa fits: a baseline, a recheck and one dashboard. Compare Everlab if you also want a consult.
- You want one low-priced test
- Compare the ranges. Hemexa is not always the lowest.
- You want a clinician in the loop
- Not Hemexa. Use your GP, a telehealth doctor or Everlab.
Prices
What tests cost: ranges across five sellers
On 8 November 2026: a full blood count ran A$38 to A$49.95 stand-alone at the four sellers that sell one on its own. iMedical lists it as a A$22 add-on plus a A$19 base fee. Packages ran A$499 to A$799.
Each bar spans one test's stand-alone prices. Prices change and contents differ, so exact prices, products and sources are under the heading below.
- HbA1cA$37 to A$45
Hemexa A$37. iMedical add-on A$20 before its A$19 base fee.
- Full blood countA$38 to A$49.95
Hemexa A$38. iMedical add-on A$22 before its A$19 base fee.
- Cholesterol and lipidsA$45 to A$69.95
Hemexa A$45. iMedical add-on A$27 before its A$19 base fee.
- Liver functionA$38 to A$52
Hemexa A$38. iMedical add-on A$20 before its A$19 base fee.
- hs-CRPA$28 to A$39.95
Hemexa A$28. iMedical add-on A$12 before its A$19 base fee.
- Vitamin DA$55 to A$59
Hemexa A$59. iMedical add-on A$33 before its A$19 base fee.
- Thyroid (TSH, free T4, free T3)A$56 to A$79
Hemexa A$56. iMedical add-on A$38 before its A$19 base fee.
- Testosterone, total onlyA$49 to A$53
Hemexa A$49. iMedical add-on A$29 before its A$19 base fee.
- Testosterone with free testosterone and SHBGA$68 to A$86
Hemexa does not list this test on its own. iMedical add-on A$49 before its A$19 base fee.
Price detail, checked 8 November 2026
Hemexa and i-screen state that their prices include GST (i-screen's terms, clause 8.1(b)). The other three did not state GST on the pages read.
| Test | Hemexa | i-screen | iMedical(add-on) | Bloody Good Tests | MediTests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HbA1c | A$37 | A$39 | A$20 | A$38 | A$45 |
| Full blood count | A$38 | A$39 | A$22 | A$38 | A$49.95 |
| Cholesterol and lipids | A$45 | A$45 | A$27 | A$48 | A$69.95 |
| Liver function | A$38 | A$52 | A$20 | A$44 | A$39.95 |
| hs-CRP | A$28 | A$29 | A$12 | not listed | A$39.95 |
| Vitamin D | A$59 | A$55 | A$33 | A$58 | A$55(was |
| Thyroid (TSH, free T4, free T3) | A$56 | A$69 | A$38 | A$60 | A$79(was |
| Testosterone, total only | A$49 | not listed | A$29 | A$53 | not listed |
| Testosterone with free testosterone and SHBG | not listed | A$69 | A$49 | A$86 | A$68(was |
| GST | Included | Included | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
- iMedical's figures are add-ons to its build-your-own order. A A$19 base fee applies unless another panel is in the cart.
- Contents differ. i-screen's liver test has 14 markers including electrolytes, urea and creatinine. Bloody Good's CRP product is not marked high-sensitivity, so it has no hs-CRP entry. MediTests shows higher "was" prices beside some current prices; the table uses the current price.
Packages, each named by the seller. Contents differ a great deal:
Sellers
What the online sellers publish
Paraphrased from each seller's own pages, read 8 November 2026. They can change.
| Seller | Who signs the request | Doctor consult | Abnormal results | Results time | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i-screen | Its blog says a practitioner on its team issues the request. Its terms do not say who signs. | Separate paid GP consults; price not found | Flagged results are routed to doctors, nurses or dietitians for review before release (terms, clause 3.1(c)). | As soon as the next day; contact them if nothing in 2 days | |
| iMedical | Not published. It says requests are reviewed before testing. | Optional 15 minute consult, A$49 | Results are triaged to an AHPRA-registered doctor. It says it will contact you personally if results are critical. | 24 to 48 hours on its order pages; its homepage says a few days | |
| Bloody Good Tests | Not published. It says you receive your referral by email. | None found | An Australian medical practitioner reviews significantly abnormal results. It says it does not provide a traditional doctor-patient relationship. | 24 to 48 hours, longer for some tests | |
| MediTests | Not published. It says the referral is generated when you order. | Optional 15 minute results consult, A$45 | Its team reviews results, and a doctor may get in touch. | 24 to 48 hours |
None of the four publishes the numerical thresholds that trigger a call or a defined response-time commitment. iMedical says it will contact you personally, by a method that depends on how serious the result is, and Bloody Good says it will let you know straight away, but neither gives a time.
Rules
What Medicare and the rules say
This is a record of what we read on 8 November 2026. It is not legal advice.
Medicare pays only when a treating practitioner decides a pathology service is necessary and requests it, with a narrow exception for services an approved pathology practitioner determines necessary for their own patient. Participating nurse practitioners and midwives can request listed items. We found no Medicare right to request pathology for pharmacists, optometrists or naturopaths (Health Insurance Act 1973, s16A and s3, compilation of 17 October 2026, checked 8 November 2026).
Medicare does not pay for a medical examination or test that is not reasonably required for the management of the patient's medical condition, unless the Minister directs otherwise (Health Insurance Act 1973, s19(5), checked 8 November 2026).
The Medicare Benefits Schedule notes say that when a service is not clinically relevant, payment is a private matter between the practitioner and the patient (MBS note GN.1.2, checked 8 November 2026).
QML Pathology publishes a limited self-request list for people aged 16 or over (a guardian's consent applies under 16), with no Medicare rebate and no interpretation (QML self-request page, checked 8 November 2026).
In the sources we read, we did not find a state or territory law that limits who may request pathology in general. We did not read the primary law of every state and territory. HIV testing consent rules are set by each state and have changed in recent years, and this page does not summarise them.
Hemexa
How a Hemexa one-off test works
You need a Hemexa account to buy a one-off test, not a membership.
Choose your tests
Pick tests in the Hemexa shop. A one-off test has no doctor consult.
Say where your blood will be taken
Your state decides the pathology brand on the form (table below).
Pay
Prices include GST. Ask before your sample is collected and you get a full refund.
Download your request form
It is on your order page and emailed to you. It lists your tests, says whether to fast and names the collection brand. The requesting practice printed on it is Hemexa.
Go to a collection centre
Take the form and photo ID to a centre of the named brand.
Get your results
They appear in your Hemexa dashboard, most within 24 to 72 hours of your draw. Some hormone and specialty tests take longer.
Hemexa tests are private. Your form says "DO NOT BULK BILL", and Medicare does not apply to them.
By state
By state: which pathology brand
Hemexa forms go to the Healius brand for the state you choose. Healius is described as 2,000+ collection centres nationwide. Other sellers' centre counts are their own claims and some disagree, so we do not compare them.
| Where your blood is taken | Brand on your Hemexa form |
|---|---|
| NSW and ACT | Laverty Pathology |
| Queensland | QML Pathology |
| Victoria | Dorevitch Pathology |
| Tasmania | TML Pathology |
| WA and NT | Western Diagnostic Pathology |
| South Australia | Abbott Pathology |
- Use the centre your form names: i-screen and iMedical both warn that a centre or lab outside the ones named can lead to a bill.
- QML publishes its self-request service for Queensland; we did not find it for other states.
Safety
What happens if a result is serious?
Hemexa publishes its numerical thresholds and a same-day phone aim in its Critical Results Policy. The four sellers above publish no numerical thresholds for a call and no defined response-time commitment for one.
Every result is checked automatically
Every panel Hemexa coordinates is compared with published thresholds. Potassium above 6.0 or below 3.0 mmol/L, haemoglobin below 90 g/L and eGFR below 30 are urgent (tier 1) examples.
An urgent result is not released automatically
A tier 1 result waits for our team. The policy says the Hemexa team aims to phone you the same day on the mobile number you gave us, so keep it current.
A prompt result is flagged for GP follow-up
A tier 2 value, such as an HbA1c of 48 mmol/mol or above, is flagged for GP follow-up within a few days. Hemexa does not book that, so arrange the GP visit yourself.
What we do not do
Returned results are not read one by one by a doctor. Automated checks do that, and our team acts on the flagged ones. We do not check results you upload from other providers. We are not an emergency service: if you feel unwell, call 000 and do not wait for us to call.
Every threshold is listed in the policy. Read the Critical Results Policy.
Start free →Limits
Who this is not for
Under 18
Hemexa is for adults aged 18 and over.
Symptoms or urgent care
If you may need urgent care, call 000. Do not wait for a test.
Diagnosis, treatment or a prescription
A private result is information for your GP, not a diagnosis.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, talk to your GP before testing.
A condition your doctor manages
Follow your doctor's advice on how and when to test.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Can I request a blood test without seeing my GP?
- Yes, privately. Online services issue a request form after you order, and QML offers a short self-request list. Medicare does not pay for these.
- Can you get a blood test without seeing the doctor?
- Yes, through an online service, a lab self-request list or the Hemexa shop. A telehealth doctor is the option if you want a clinician to issue it.
- Where can I get blood tests without a referral?
- At a collection centre of the lab named on your request form. For Hemexa that is the Healius brand for your state. Use the centre your form names: i-screen and iMedical both warn that others can lead to a bill.
- Do I have to go to the GP to get a blood test referral?
- Not to have a test done privately. A Medicare rebate needs a treating practitioner to request the test, and your GP is the usual one.
- How much do full blood tests cost?
- On 8 November 2026: a full blood count ran A$38 to A$49.95 stand-alone at the four sellers that sell one on its own. iMedical lists it as a A$22 add-on plus a A$19 base fee. Packages ran A$499 to A$799. See "What tests cost" for each test.
- What blood tests are free in Australia?
- Tests a GP requests because they are clinically needed can be bulk billed. Tests you order privately are paid in full.
- What are some major pathology companies in Australia?
- This page names Healius, whose regional brands include QML in Queensland and Dorevitch in Victoria, and Clinipath. Hemexa sends your form to the Healius brand for your state.
Sources
References
Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth), compilation 137 of 17 October 2026, sections 3, 16A and 19. Federal Register of Legislation (accessed 8 November 2026). View source ↗
Medicare Benefits Schedule, general explanatory note GN.1.2, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (accessed 8 November 2026). View source ↗
Medicare Benefits Schedule, Category 6 Pathology, note PN.1.1 (accessed 8 November 2026). View source ↗
QML Pathology. Self-request pathology tests (accessed 8 November 2026). View source ↗
Clinipath Pathology. Immunity and infection testing, self-funded program (accessed 8 November 2026). View source ↗