Know your numbers.

Yes. You can book a telehealth consultation with one of our doctors, who can issue pathology referrals if clinically appropriate.

It depends on the lab and the type of test. Most routine blood tests come back within a week of being collected — some are quicker, a few are slower. Your pathology lab can give you a clearer timeframe when you drop off your sample.

If you have a Medicare card and the tests ordered by the doctor are clinically indicated, your blood tests are usually bulk billed. However, final eligibility for bulk billing is determined by the pathology provider/laboratory.

Yes. Once your consultation is completed and the referral is issued, you can download your pathology request form directly from your patient portal.

Consult with one of our doctors regarding your symptoms, and they will order the necessary tests based on their clinical assessment.

Results are returned by the lab, not by us. Our result process page explains how it works, including what to do if you would like a doctor to talk you through them. Here's how the result process works →

$49.90 for the consult and the referral, if approved. The doctor may also issue a script or recommend a follow-up on the same call. Pathology lab fees are separate and set by the lab; many blood tests are bulk billed with Medicare at the lab.

Yes—online pathology referrals are legitimate in Australia, provided they are issued by a registered Australian medical practitioner following an appropriate clinical assessment.

Many telehealth services, including NextClinic, allow patients to consult a doctor online. If the doctor determines that blood tests or other pathology investigations are clinically appropriate, they can issue a pathology referral electronically. The referral has the same clinical purpose as one issued during an in-person consultation.

You can tell the doctor what you're after — a routine check, a specific marker, or what your specialist has asked for. The doctor decides what's clinically appropriate to include on the referral and will explain anything they're adding or leaving off.

Tell the doctor on the call what's going on. They'll help work out what makes sense to check, and whether anything else — a script, a follow-up, a specialist referral — would help.

No. The $59.90 consult is private and costs the same either way. If you have a Medicare card, you may still be bulk billed for the tests at the pathology lab.

Yes. The consult is private, your data stays in Australia, and you don't have to explain anything at a front desk. Like any doctor's consult, it's part of your medical record — that's how the referral gets recognised at the lab.

Yes, you can. However, our preferred providers are listed on this page. We recommend attending one of these providers, as it helps ensure we receive your results as quickly as possible.

We will receive your results directly through our platform, and you’ll receive a notification once they are available. As soon as you receive the notification, your results will be available to download from your patient portal. Our doctors will also review your results at the same time.

If you would like to discuss your results, you can book a consultation with one of our doctors.

We also recommend attending one of our preferred providers listed on this page, as this is usually the fastest way for us to receive your results.

Depending on your symptoms and clinical assessment, our doctors may request a wide range of pathology tests, including general blood tests, STD screening, hormone tests, cholesterol checks, diabetes screening, liver and kidney function tests, and more.

The turnaround time depends on the type of test requested and the pathology provider. Some routine blood tests may return within 24–48 hours, while specialised tests can take longer.

Some blood tests require fasting, while others do not. Your doctor or pathology provider will advise you if fasting is required for your specific tests.

Yes. Once your results are available, you can book a follow-up telehealth consultation with one of our doctors to discuss the findings and any recommended next steps.

Our doctors review all results received through the platform. If follow-up is recommended, you can book another consultation to discuss the results and ongoing management.

Not always. They are generally appropriate for:

• Routine blood tests
• Monitoring chronic conditions
• Investigating common symptoms
• Follow-up testing

However, if you have severe symptoms, require an urgent physical examination, or need immediate hospital care, an online referral may not be appropriate. In those situations, you should seek in-person medical assessment.

If the referral is valid and the requested tests meet the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) criteria, Medicare may cover eligible pathology tests. Some tests are not Medicare-funded or may attract an out-of-pocket cost depending on the circumstances and the pathology provider.

In summary, online pathology referrals are both legitimate and widely used in Australia, provided they are issued by a registered doctor after an appropriate clinical assessment, just as they would be during a face-to-face consultation.