Confidential HIV testing in London — same day, no GP, nothing on your records

For most people considering an HIV test, the clinical question — do I have it? — is only half the concern. The other half is: who will find out?

At Marylebone Diagnostic Centre, confidential HIV testing means your result goes to you and no one else. It does not appear on your NHS record. It is never shared with your GP. You do not need to give your real name. And if the result is positive, we guide you through the next steps with complete privacy and without judgement.

This page explains exactly how our confidential HIV testing works, which test is right for your timing, what the window periods mean, and what happens after your result.

NHS sexual health clinics do offer confidential HIV testing — but "confidential" within the NHS system still means your result exists in a clinical record, and your GP may be notified depending on the clinic's policy. For many people — particularly those worried about insurance implications, employer health schemes, or simply personal privacy — that is not confidential enough.

Private testing at MDC is different in three specific ways:

• No NHS record created. Your test and result are entirely outside the NHS system. Nothing is recorded on your Summary Care Record or GP notes.
• No GP notification. We do not contact your GP before, during, or after testing — unless you explicitly ask us to.
• Anonymous booking available. You do not need to use your real name to book or attend. We only need a name to identify your sample; it does not have to be yours.

Your result is delivered securely by email or discussed by phone. It is never disclosed to a third party without your specific written consent.

The right test depends on how much time has passed since your potential exposure. MDC offers two options.

The window period is the time between exposure and when a test can reliably detect infection. Testing before the window period is complete can produce a false negative — not because the test has failed, but because the markers it looks for are not yet present in detectable levels.

If you are within the first 72 hours of a high-risk exposure, you may be eligible for PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) — medication that can prevent HIV infection if started quickly. MDC does not prescribe PEP directly, but our clinicians will advise you and refer you urgently to the appropriate service. Do not wait for a test result if you think you need PEP — contact us or go to an A&E immediately.

A negative result is straightforward — we confirm it securely and advise on when, if ever, a repeat test is appropriate based on your timing and circumstances.

A positive result requires careful handling, and this is where private testing has a meaningful advantage. At MDC, a positive HIV result is never communicated by email alone. A clinician will contact you directly, explain what the result means, and guide you through the immediate next steps — which include a confirmatory test and referral to an HIV specialist for treatment assessment.

HIV is a manageable condition with modern treatment. People diagnosed today and started on antiretroviral therapy early have a normal life expectancy. The goal of our post-result support is to get you to the right specialist quickly, with full information and without panic.

Throughout this process — your result, your referral, your treatment discussions — nothing leaves MDC without your consent.

Yes. We need a name to label your sample correctly, but it does not need to be your legal name. Many patients use a first name only, a nickname, or an alternative name. This has no effect on the accuracy or validity of your result.

No. Private testing at MDC sits entirely outside the NHS system. Insurance companies requesting medical records from your GP will find no record of this test. If an insurer asks you directly whether you have been tested for HIV, you should answer honestly — but the result of a private test is not something they can access without your consent.

Yes. Confidential HIV testing at MDC involves only you. We do not contact partners, family members, or anyone else. Results go to the email address or phone number you provide — and only there.

Yes. Most patients testing for HIV choose to include a broader sexual health screen in the same visit. Our Advanced Sexual Health Panel (£249) covers HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea. You can also select individual tests. See our full private STD testing page for pricing and options.

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a daily medication that prevents HIV in people at ongoing high risk. MDC does not prescribe PrEP directly, but we can test to confirm your current HIV status (a requirement before starting PrEP) and refer you to a PrEP-prescribing service. PrEP is now available free on the NHS through sexual health clinics, or privately through specialist providers.