Need a blood test but can't get a GP appointment? You don't always need to sit in a clinic to get one. With an online blood test referral, an AHPRA-registered Australian doctor can assess you by phone or video and issue a valid pathology referral — digitally, often the same day.
Here's how it works, what it costs, which tests can be requested online, and how long your referral stays valid.
Need a blood test referral? An AHPRA-registered GP can assess you online and issue one digitally — $25, same day.
Get a Blood Test Referral ($25)What Is an Online Blood Test Referral?
A blood test referral — also called a pathology referral — is the document that tells a pathology lab which tests to run on your sample. In Australia, it must be issued by a registered medical practitioner, and Medicare rebates only apply when the referral comes from a doctor.
With a telehealth referral, the same document is issued by a GP after an online consultation and delivered to you by SMS or email. You take it (or forward it) to any pathology collection centre, and the results go back to the requesting doctor.
Use your referral at any Australian pathology collection centre — no clinic visit required.
Referrals from AHPRA-registered doctors are eligible for Medicare rebates on pathology.
Most referrals are issued digitally within hours of your online consult.
Your results return to the requesting doctor, who can review and act on them with you.
What Blood Tests Can Be Requested Online?
A telehealth GP can request most routine and ongoing monitoring tests, including:
- General health checks: full blood count, iron studies, vitamin D and B12
- Cholesterol and diabetes monitoring: lipid profile, HbA1c, fasting glucose
- Thyroid function: TSH, T3 and T4 levels
- Hormone panels: testosterone, oestrogen and other hormone testing
- Sexual health screening: STI testing
- Ongoing medication monitoring: levels required for safe repeat prescribing
Some tests aren't suitable for an online request — for example, tests that require a physical examination first or urgent same-hour workups. Your GP will tell you if an in-person visit is safer, and issue the referral only when it's clinically appropriate.
How Much Does It Cost?
Check current pricing and fees before booking.
How Long Is a Blood Test Referral Valid?
Pathology referrals don't last forever — a standard GP pathology referral is generally valid for 12 months from the date it's issued, and repeat tests under the same referral must fall within that window. If yours has expired, a quick telehealth consult is all it takes to get a fresh one.
We've covered validity rules in detail — including indefinite referrals and repeat-test rules — in our related guide: How Long Is a Blood Test Referral Valid in Australia?
How to Get Your Blood Test Referral in 3 Steps
- Book online: Choose the pathology referral service and briefly tell us which test you need (book now).
- Speak to a GP: A phone or video consult with an AHPRA-registered doctor who assesses whether the test is clinically appropriate.
- Go to the lab: Receive your digital referral, take it to any pathology collection centre, and your results are returned to the requesting doctor.
Where Can You Get the Blood Test Done?
Your referral is accepted at all major Australian pathology providers — including collection centres run by the big national labs. Walk in at a time that suits you; no appointment is usually needed for standard blood draws. If you need imaging as well, the same GP can issue an imaging referral online in the same consult.
Online Referral vs. Clinic Visit
Consult from home, same-day digital referral, $25 flat, no waiting room.
Days of waiting for an appointment, travel and parking, time off work.
For routine and ongoing monitoring tests, an online referral is usually the faster and cheaper path. For urgent or complex cases, an in-person assessment remains the right choice.
Telehealth referrals are for non-urgent testing. Seek emergency medical attention immediately if you experience:
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
- Heavy bleeding, fainting or seizure
- Any other medical emergency
Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Common questions about online blood test referrals in Australia.
Can I get a blood test referral without seeing a GP in person?
Yes. An AHPRA-registered GP can assess you by phone or video and, if the test is clinically appropriate, issue a digital pathology referral — $25 at NewTeleDoc Medical, usually the same day.
How long is a blood test referral valid?
A standard GP pathology referral is generally valid for 12 months from the date it's issued. See our full guide on blood test referral validity rules for indefinite referrals and repeat tests.
Can I choose which lab to use?
Yes — your referral is accepted at any Australian pathology collection centre, so you can use whichever lab is most convenient for you.
Will Medicare cover my blood test?
Most standard pathology tests ordered under a doctor's referral are Medicare-eligible, and the blood draw at major collection centres is usually bulk billed. Specialty tests may carry an out-of-pocket cost — ask the lab when you attend.
How do I get my results?
Results are returned to the requesting doctor, who will review them and contact you with the outcome and any next steps — either by message or a follow-up telehealth consult.
Get Your Blood Test Referral Today
Skip the clinic queue. An AHPRA-registered GP can assess you online and issue your pathology referral digitally — $25, same day.
Request a Blood Test Referral ($25)