Do I need a referral for a blood test in Australia?
Short answer: Usually yes — a GP or specialist request is what lets the test be bulk billed or rebated by Medicare.
In Australia, pathology such as a blood test is ordered using a request form from a GP or specialist, and that request is what allows the test to be bulk billed or rebated by Medicare. Examples include iron studies, thyroid function, cholesterol, vitamin D, HbA1c and general health screens.
Some private providers will run certain tests without a referral for an out-of-pocket fee, but for a Medicare-rebated or bulk-billed test you need a GP or specialist request.
Get your pathology request online
A telehealth GP reviews what you need and issues the request form, ready to take to any collection centre.
Need this referral? Get it online.
Request online, have a short telehealth consult with an AHPRA-registered GP, and get your referral where clinically appropriate — Australia-wide, bulk billing available.
Get a Referral →General information only, current for Australia and not a substitute for personal medical advice. Medicare rules and eligibility can change — your GP will confirm what applies to you.