The short answer
For a Medicare-rebated blood test, yes. Medicare only pays for pathology when a treating practitioner, usually your GP or a specialist, has decided the test is needed and has requested it [1]. That request is often called a pathology form. A test you arrange yourself without one is private, so you pay the full cost.
On this page
Do you need a referral for a blood test?
If you want Medicare to pay towards it, yes. Medicare benefits for pathology are only payable when your treating practitioner has decided the test is necessary and has asked for it [1]. The request has to be in writing, or given verbally and then confirmed in writing within 14 days [1][3].
That paperwork is officially a pathology request, not a referral. Medicare treats the two differently, and the rules for specialist referrals don't apply to pathology or imaging requests [2]. It's also different from a referral letter to a specialist. Most people still say "blood test referral" or "pathology form", and labs know what you mean.
Without a request, a test you arrange yourself is private, and you pay the full price.
Who can request a blood test?
- GPs and specialists. Any medical practitioner treating you can request pathology [1].
- Nurse practitioners. Participating nurse practitioners can request a wide range of pathology items [1].
- Midwives. Participating midwives can request a specific list of tests [1].
- Dentists. A written request from your treating dental practitioner also counts [4].
- Pathologists. In some cases, the pathologist treating you can decide an extra test is needed [1].
What does a pathology request include?
A request can be on paper or electronic [5]. Whatever it looks like, a written request should show [3]:
- the tests requested, described clearly enough to identify them
- the date of the request
- the requesting practitioner's name and practice address or provider number
- your name and address
- your hospital status at the time the sample is taken, for example whether you're a public or private patient in hospital, because it affects how Medicare pays
You can usually take the request to any pathology provider you like. The exception is when your doctor asks for a particular lab for clinical reasons [5].
How long is a pathology request valid?
People often assume a blood test form lasts 12 months, like a GP referral to a specialist. That 12-month rule belongs to specialist referrals and doesn't apply to pathology requests [2]. Medicare's published request rules set out what the form must contain, including the date it was written, and don't give a pathology request an expiry date [1][3].
In practice:
- A request covers the tests written on it. For some tests, your GP can ask for repeats on one request, as long as they're done within 6 months of the request date [6]. Otherwise, if you need the same tests again, you'll need a new request.
- Some tests can only be claimed a limited number of times in a year [5], so a repeat test done too soon may not be rebated.
- If your form is old, or your symptoms have changed, check with your GP before you go. The tests they chose may no longer be the right ones.
For specialist referrals, see how long does a referral last.
Are blood tests bulk billed?
Medicare subsidises pathology tests that are listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) [5]. Pathology providers can bulk bill, and Medicare pays them an extra incentive when they bulk bill a patient episode [7]. Whether a particular lab bulk bills is up to that lab, so check its billing policy if cost matters to you.
A few things can still leave you with a bill:
- Tests not on the MBS. These don't attract any Medicare benefit, even with a GP's request [8].
- Frequency limits. Some tests have limits on how often Medicare will pay [5].
- Private health insurance. If you're not an admitted hospital patient, your fees may only be claimable through Medicare [9], so your insurer generally won't help with blood tests done in the community.
Can I get a blood test without a doctor?
You can buy some tests directly from private companies, online or in person. Because no treating practitioner has requested them, Medicare won't pay [1], so you cover the full cost.
Before you go down that path, it's worth thinking about:
- A result is only useful if someone can interpret it alongside your health history, medicines and symptoms.
- An abnormal result still needs follow-up with a doctor, who may want to repeat the test anyway.
- More tests isn't always better. A GP can help you choose the tests that actually answer your question.
How do I get my blood test results?
Results go to the practitioner who requested the test. Your GP may ask you to book an appointment to discuss them and arrange any follow-up [5].
You may also see them yourself. From July 2026, providers are required to upload pathology reports to My Health Record [10]. Most pathology reports, like blood and urine tests, can be viewed as soon as they're uploaded, while some types are only viewable after a 5-day delay, whatever the result [10]. That means you might read a result before your GP has had a chance to talk you through it. You can ask your provider not to upload a particular report [10].
Can I get a blood test request through telehealth?
Yes, where it's clinically appropriate. A GP can assess you by phone or video, decide which tests are needed and give you a request to take to a collection centre. If your GP needs to examine you first, they may ask you to see a doctor in person. Our guide to getting a referral online explains how online consults work, and imaging such as an X-ray works on similar request rules.
If you're very unwell, for example with chest pain, trouble breathing or signs of a severe infection, don't wait for a blood test. Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
Getting a referral
Referral GP offers phone and video consultations with AHPRA-registered Australian GPs. Where it's clinically appropriate, your GP can write a pathology request for blood tests and other pathology, and you can choose where to have your sample collected [5]. Parents or guardians can request a consult for their child, who attends with them.
Fees. Bulk billed for eligible patients. If you're not eligible, a consultation fee may apply, and we'll confirm it with you before your consult.
A consultation doesn't guarantee a referral. Your GP decides what's clinically appropriate. We're not an emergency service.
Request a consult for a pathology request
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice.
Common questions
Is a pathology request the same as a referral?
Not under Medicare. A pathology request is a separate kind of document, and the rules for specialist referrals, including the usual 12-month validity, don't apply to it [2]. Most people still call it a blood test referral.
Can I choose which pathology lab I go to?
Usually, yes. You can choose your own pathology provider unless your doctor asks for a specific one for clinical reasons [5].
Can a nurse practitioner or midwife order blood tests?
Yes. Participating nurse practitioners can request a wide range of pathology tests, and participating midwives can request a specific list of tests [1].
Will private health insurance pay for my blood test?
Generally not for tests done outside hospital. If you're not an admitted hospital patient, your fees may only be claimable through Medicare [9].
Can I see my blood test results online?
Often, yes. Most pathology reports, like blood and urine tests, can be viewed in My Health Record as soon as they're uploaded, although some types are only viewable after a 5-day delay [10].
References
- MBS Online. Explanatory note PN.1.1: Pathology services in relation to Medicare benefits, outline of arrangements. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=PN.1.1&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Explanatory note GN.6.16: Referral of patients to specialists or consultant physicians. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=GN.6.16&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Explanatory note PN.2.1: Responsibilities of treating/requesting practitioners. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=PN.2.1&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Explanatory note PN.3.2: Approved pathology practitioners. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=PN.3.2&qt=noteID
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. About pathology. Accessed November 2026. health.gov.au/topics/pathology/about-pathology
- MBS Online. Explanatory note PN.4.2: Exemptions (tests requested up to 6 times on one request). Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=PN.4.2&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Explanatory note PN.6.1: Bulk billing incentives for episodes consisting of a P10 service. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=PN.6.1&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Explanatory note PN.0.29: Tests not listed. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=PN.0.29&qt=noteID
- Australian Government, privatehealth.gov.au. Out of pocket costs. Accessed November 2026. privatehealth.gov.au/health_insurance/howitworks/out_of_pocket.htm
- Australian Digital Health Agency. Better and faster access to health information (pathology and diagnostic imaging reports in My Health Record). Accessed November 2026. digitalhealth.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/better-and-faster-access
Published by Referral GP. Last updated 6 November 2026. This page is general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice about your own situation. If you or someone else is in danger, call 000.