Swab (Ear) Blood Test Marylebone
From 1 October 2026 — until then book at South Kensington or St Paul's. South Kensington · St Paul's
£93
Confidential Results
Secure online portal
Fast Results
2-4 days (Culture) 8-9 days (Fungal) – same swab"
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 ear Infection and otitis Media in Marylebone are usually looking for the Swab (Ear). It belongs to our swab tests group and needs a swab, 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 2-4 days (Culture) 8-9 days (Fungal) – same swab, and the standard price is £93 with no members’ tier.
Swab (Ear)’s place in swab tests testing
- Sample
- swab
- Laboratory turnaround
- 2-4 days (Culture) 8-9 days (Fungal) – same swab
- Appointment
- 20 minutes
- Standard price
- £93
What Swab (Ear) measures
Swab (Ear) is most often requested in connection with ear Infection, otitis Media and ear Discharge, which is why it sits within the swab tests group at Wimpole Street.
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.
Preparing for your Swab (Ear)
- 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: swab.
Who considers Swab (Ear)
- 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.
Understanding your Swab (Ear) 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
Swab (Ear)
Individual test
Total
£93Payment is collected at the clinic. The phlebotomy fee is charged once per visit, regardless of the number of tests booked.
From booking the Swab (Ear) to reading your result
- 1
Choose your test
Select the Swab (Ear) 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 swab 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 2-4 days (Culture) 8-9 days (Fungal) – same swab 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)
- Self-referral: you choose the test and book directly — no GP referral is needed, and the laboratory report is yours to take to your GP or a clinician.
- Bond Street is about six minutes on foot and Oxford Circus about seven, so the clinic suits people working across the West End.
- The same catalogue already runs at South Kensington and St Paul’s, so you can test now and move your records to Marylebone later.
Other tests often considered alongside Swab (Ear)
Frequently Asked Questions
A swab. 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 2-4 days (Culture) 8-9 days (Fungal) – same swab 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 Swab (Ear) 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.
