Sputum for TB Culture (AFB) Blood Test Marylebone
From 1 October 2026 — until then book at South Kensington or St Paul's. South Kensington · St Paul's
£102
Confidential Results
Secure online portal
Fast Results
up to 8 weeks"
Professional Service
Experienced phlebotomists
Wimpole Street, Marylebone (opening 1 October 2026)
Opening hours from 1 October 2026
- Monday
- 9am – 6pm
- Tuesday
- 9am – 8pm
- Wednesday
- 9am – 6pm
- Thursday
- 9am – 8pm
- Friday
- 8am – 5pm
- Saturday
- 10am – 4pm
- Sunday
- Closed
- Bond Street — about 6 minutes (Central, Jubilee & Elizabeth lines)
- Oxford Circus — about 7 minutes (Central, Bakerloo & Victoria lines)
Wimpole Street, Marylebone
People looking into tuberculosis testing and lung infection diagnosis in Marylebone are usually looking for the Sputum for TB Culture (AFB). It belongs to our swab tests group and needs a sputum sample, which a nurse or phlebotomist collects at 22 Wimpole Street, Marylebone once the clinic opens on 1 October 2026. The laboratory typically returns a result in up to 8 weeks, and the standard price is £102 with no members’ tier.
Sputum for TB Culture (AFB)’s place in swab tests testing
- Sample
- sputum sample
- Laboratory turnaround
- up to 8 weeks
- Appointment
- 20 minutes
- Standard price
- £102
What Sputum for TB Culture (AFB) measures
Laboratories file the Sputum for TB Culture (AFB) under tuberculosis testing, lung infection diagnosis and mycobacterium tuberculosis. The following sections set out how a swab tests test of this kind is measured and read.
Swab tests collect material from a surface — throat, nose, ear, eye, skin, wound or genital tract — and analyse it by culture, which grows and identifies bacteria or fungi and tests their sensitivity to antibiotics, or by PCR, which detects the genetic material of specific organisms quickly. Respiratory PCR panels test for COVID-19, influenza A and B and RSV from one nasal or throat swab; MRSA screens are used before hospital admission; and lesion swabs can identify herpes, varicella or other viruses in a rash. Site-specific swabs are named for where they are taken.
Who considers Sputum for TB Culture (AFB)
- People often consider a throat swab if a sore throat is severe, prolonged or keeps returning, to distinguish streptococcal from viral infection.
- A wound or skin infection that is not responding to first-line antibiotics is a common reason to culture before changing treatment.
- Flu-like symptoms during the winter months may prompt a respiratory PCR panel, particularly for those who live with vulnerable relatives.
- Recurrent ear or eye discharge sometimes warrants a swab to guide treatment.
- Hospitals or surgeons may ask for MRSA screening before a planned operation.
Preparing for your Sputum for TB Culture (AFB)
- 1Do not use antiseptic mouthwash, throat lozenges or nasal sprays for a few hours before a throat or nasal swab.
- 2If possible, delay starting antibiotics until after the swab has been taken; if you have already started, tell the nurse so the result can be interpreted.
- 3For skin or wound swabs, leave any dressing in place until the appointment and avoid applying creams that morning.
- 4Self-collect kits come with step-by-step instructions; the nurse can demonstrate the technique if you prefer.
Sample for this test: sputum sample.
Understanding your Sputum for TB Culture (AFB) results
A culture that grows a recognised pathogen, together with its sensitivity pattern, helps to choose an antibiotic that is likely to work; growth of normal skin or throat flora is reported as such and generally does not need treatment. A positive PCR shows the organism’s genetic material was present on the swab, which usually indicates infection, though it can persist for a while after recovery. A negative swab lowers the likelihood of the organisms tested for but does not exclude infection elsewhere or by an organism not covered.
Swab results reflect what was present at the site sampled at that moment, and interpretation depends on technique, timing and whether antibiotics had already been started.
Related areas of testing at Wimpole Street: bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections, viral infections and immunity, urine tests, sexual health.
Pricing
Sputum for TB Culture (AFB)
Individual test
Total
£102Payment is collected at the clinic. The phlebotomy fee is charged once per visit, regardless of the number of tests booked.
From booking the Sputum for TB Culture (AFB) to reading your result
- 1
Choose your test
Select the Sputum for TB Culture (AFB) and any others you want run from the same visit. Until 1 October 2026 the identical test can be booked at South Kensington or St Paul’s.
- 2
Nurse-led sample
From 1 October 2026 the sputum sample is taken at 22 Wimpole Street, Marylebone by our nursing team, led by Precious Agbonmamwen, Registered Adult Nurse (NMC 20H1641E). Identity is checked and any preparation questions answered first.
- 3
UKAS-accredited laboratory
The sample travels to a UKAS-accredited partner laboratory, whose methods and reference ranges match those used across the NHS and private sectors.
- 4
Laboratory report to your secure portal
The laboratory report is released to your secure portal — typically from 24 hours; the laboratory quotes up to 8 weeks for this test. It shows each value against the reference range and flags anything outside it; discuss the report with your GP or a clinician.
Why test at Wimpole Street
Wimpole Street Medical & Dental opens at 22 Wimpole Street on 1 October 2026. Medical services are for patients aged 16 and over; registration with the CQC is in progress ahead of opening.
Wimpole Street, Marylebone (opening 1 October 2026)
- Bond Street — about 6 minutes (Central, Jubilee & Elizabeth lines)
- Oxford Circus — about 7 minutes (Central, Bakerloo & Victoria lines)
- Repeat or additional tests can usually be added to the same visit rather than requiring a second appointment.
- One standard price applies to everyone — there is no members’ tier at Wimpole Street.
- Registration with the CQC is in progress ahead of opening; our South Kensington and St Paul’s clinics are CQC registered.
Other tests often considered alongside Sputum for TB Culture (AFB)
- Swab (Wound)Wimpole Street, Marylebone · from 1 October 2026
- Viral Eye by PCRWimpole Street, Marylebone · from 1 October 2026
- Viral Respiratory RNA Screen by PCRWimpole Street, Marylebone · from 1 October 2026
- Viral Respiratory RNA Screen by PCR (Self-collect)Wimpole Street, Marylebone · from 1 October 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
A sputum sample. A nurse or phlebotomist collects it at 22 Wimpole Street, Marylebone from 1 October 2026; the appointment allows time for identity checks and any preparation questions. The laboratory quotes up to 8 weeks for this test.
Ready to Book Your Test?
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026. Register your interest for the Marylebone diary, or book the same test now at South Kensington or St Paul's.
Important information about the Sputum for TB Culture (AFB) at Wimpole Street
- Medical services at Wimpole Street Medical & Dental are for patients aged 16 and over.
- This is a self-referral service: you choose the test and book directly — no GP referral is needed.
- Nurse-led by Precious Agbonmamwen, Registered Adult Nurse (NMC 20H1641E), who oversees sample-taking standards, infection control and the patient pathway. The nursing team does not interpret results.
- A laboratory result is not a diagnosis and this page is not a substitute for medical advice. We do not provide clinical interpretation of results — please discuss your report with your GP or a clinician, particularly if a value is flagged or you have symptoms.
- CQC registration for Wimpole Street is in progress ahead of the opening on 1 October 2026; our South Kensington and St Paul’s clinics are CQC registered.
- Your results are held on a secure portal and treated as strictly confidential, except where disclosure is required by law.
- If you are seriously unwell, call 999. For urgent advice that is not an emergency, call NHS 111.
