VMA Blood Test Marylebone
From 1 October 2026 — until then book at South Kensington or St Paul's. South Kensington · St Paul's
£87
Confidential Results
Secure online portal
Fast Results
5 days"
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
Within the adrenal and cortisol range at Wimpole Street, the VMA is the test to consider when the question concerns catecholamines, adrenal glands and pheochromocytoma. It costs £87, and once the Marylebone clinic opens on 1 October 2026 a nurse or phlebotomist takes the 24-hour urine collection, with the laboratory typically reporting in 5 days. Medical services are for patients aged 16 and over, self-referral with no GP referral needed, and the laboratory report is delivered to your secure portal.
VMA’s place in adrenal and cortisol testing
- Sample
- 24-hour urine collection
- Laboratory turnaround
- 5 days
- Appointment
- 20 minutes
- Standard price
- £87
Who considers VMA
- People often consider adrenal testing if they experience profound fatigue, dizziness on standing and salt cravings.
- Weight gain around the trunk and face, easy bruising and thin skin can prompt a look for excess cortisol.
- High blood pressure that is difficult to control, or a low potassium, may lead to aldosterone and renin being measured.
- Episodes of palpitations, sweating and headaches occurring together sometimes warrant a metanephrine screen.
- Those on long-term steroid medication may check adrenal recovery after stopping.
What VMA measures
Laboratories file the VMA under catecholamines, adrenal glands and pheochromocytoma. The following sections set out how an adrenal and cortisol test of this kind is measured and read.
Adrenal tests measure cortisol — in blood, urine or saliva — together with the pituitary hormone ACTH that drives it, and precursor steroids such as 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycortisol and DHEA that help to characterise adrenal enzyme pathways. Aldosterone and renin address blood pressure and salt balance, while urine metanephrines and catecholamines screen for rare adrenaline-producing tumours. Adrenal cortex antibodies look for an autoimmune cause of underactivity.
Preparing for your VMA
- 1Blood cortisol should be taken between 8am and 9am, when the natural peak makes the reference range meaningful; a late-day value is hard to interpret.
- 2Steroid inhalers, creams and tablets, and some oral contraceptives, alter cortisol; list everything you use.
- 3For urine metanephrines, avoid caffeine, nicotine and strenuous exercise for 24 hours and follow the collection instructions supplied.
- 4Aldosterone and renin are affected by posture and many blood pressure medicines — the nurse will advise on timing.
Sample for this test: 24-hour urine collection.
Understanding your VMA results
A low morning cortisol can indicate adrenal insufficiency and normally leads to a stimulation test in a specialist setting; a high value may reflect stress, illness or oestrogen-containing medication as often as true excess. Raised aldosterone with suppressed renin can indicate primary aldosteronism, a treatable cause of high blood pressure. Metanephrine results are read against age-specific ranges and mildly raised values are frequently repeated because of dietary and medication interference.
Adrenal hormones are governed by time of day, stress and medication, so a single result is a starting point for interpretation rather than a conclusion.
Related areas of testing at Wimpole Street: pituitary and growth hormones, kidney function and electrolytes, male hormones, female hormones and fertility.
Pricing
VMA
Individual test
Total
£87Payment is collected at the clinic. The phlebotomy fee is charged once per visit, regardless of the number of tests booked.
From booking the VMA to reading your result
- 1
Choose your test
Select the VMA 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 24-hour urine collection 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 5 days 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.
- Samples are taken by a nurse or phlebotomist at 22 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, in a clinic built for medical and dental care.
- 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 VMA
Frequently Asked Questions
A 24-hour urine collection. 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 5 days 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 VMA 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.
