HLA-B27
Private HLA-B27 testing in London for £299, detecting one inherited immune marker linked with spondyloarthritis and related inflammatory conditions.
Turnaround time
5 business days
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the HLA-B27 Test
The HLA-B27 blood test determines whether Human Leukocyte Antigen B27 is present.
The test contains 1 biomarker: HLA B27.
HLA proteins are encoded by genes within the major histocompatibility complex and play an important role in immune recognition.
HLA-B27 is strongly associated with a family of inflammatory conditions known as spondyloarthritides.
The best-known association is with ankylosing spondylitis, now commonly considered within the broader category of axial spondyloarthritis.
HLA-B27 is also associated with reactive arthritis, selected forms of psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis and acute anterior uveitis.
However, HLA-B27 is not a disease diagnosis.
Many people who are HLA-B27 positive never develop any associated inflammatory condition.
Conversely, ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthritides can occur in people who are HLA-B27 negative.
This makes the test most useful when interpreted together with a clinical pattern suggestive of inflammatory disease.
For example, chronic back pain beginning at a younger age, prolonged morning stiffness, improvement with movement rather than rest, recurrent uveitis or a relevant family history can increase the clinical significance of a positive result.
The result is genetically determined and does not normally change during life.
A positive test therefore does not need to be repeated simply to see whether HLA-B27 remains present.
What Does the HLA-B27 Test Check?
The test determines whether the HLA-B27 immune-system marker is present and provides genetic susceptibility information relevant to several inflammatory disorders. This test measures 1 biomarker.
HLA B27
Detects the HLA-B27 marker, which is associated with increased susceptibility to axial spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and selected related inflammatory conditions.
Who May Benefit From the HLA-B27 Test?
HLA-B27 testing may be useful when symptoms and clinical history suggest spondyloarthritis or another HLA-B27-associated inflammatory condition.
People with chronic lower-back pain beginning at a relatively young age - Inflammatory back pain can be associated with axial spondyloarthritis.
People with prolonged morning back stiffness - Stiffness improving with movement is one feature that can support an inflammatory pattern.
People whose back pain improves with exercise rather than rest - This pattern can differ from more typical mechanical back pain.
People with recurrent acute anterior uveitis - HLA-B27 is strongly associated with recurrent inflammatory eye disease in some patients.
People with suspected reactive arthritis - HLA-B27 can provide additional susceptibility information.
People with psoriasis and inflammatory spinal or joint symptoms - Axial psoriatic arthritis can overlap with HLA-B27-associated disease.
People with inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory joint symptoms - Enteropathic spondyloarthritis is one associated condition.
People with a first-degree relative with ankylosing spondylitis - Family history can increase the relevance of testing.
People with suspected spondyloarthritis despite normal routine inflammatory markers - ESR and CRP can be normal in some affected individuals.
How to Prepare
There is no need to stop anti-inflammatory or rheumatology medication simply to obtain the HLA-B27 result.
The test identifies inherited HLA status rather than current inflammatory activity.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the HLA-B27 Test
HLA-B27 itself causes no symptoms. Testing becomes clinically relevant when symptoms suggest an associated inflammatory disorder.
Lower-back pain lasting more than three months - Persistent inflammatory-pattern back pain can prompt assessment for axial spondyloarthritis.
Morning stiffness lasting for a prolonged period - Inflammatory spinal disease commonly causes stiffness after rest.
Back pain that improves after movement - Improvement with exercise rather than rest can support an inflammatory pattern.
Night-time back pain - Inflammatory back pain can be particularly troublesome during the second half of the night.
Recurrent red, painful or light-sensitive eye - Acute anterior uveitis is associated with HLA-B27 and requires prompt ophthalmological assessment.
Heel pain or tendon-insertion inflammation - Enthesitis is common within the spondyloarthritis spectrum.
Swollen peripheral joints with inflammatory features - Some HLA-B27-associated disorders affect joints outside the spine.
Inflammatory bowel disease with joint or spinal symptoms - Spondyloarthritis can occur alongside Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
A positive HLA-B27 result does not mean that back pain is caused by inflammatory arthritis.
A painful red eye with photophobia or visual disturbance requires urgent eye assessment because untreated uveitis can threaten vision.
How to Book Your HLA-B27 TestHow to Book Your HLA-B27 Test
The HLA-B27 test can be booked privately to support investigation of suspected spondyloarthritis and related inflammatory conditions.
Choose the HLA-B27
Select the individual HLA-B27 blood test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic blood draw or professional home or hotel phlebotomy where appropriate.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the required venous blood specimen.
Laboratory analysis
Your blood is analysed to determine whether HLA-B27 is present.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside symptoms, inflammatory markers and imaging.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current expected turnaround for HLA-B27 is approximately 5 days after the sample reaches the laboratory.
HLA-B27 requires specialist immunological or molecular analysis rather than routine biochemistry.
The specimen undergoes laboratory processing, quality-control checks and result authorisation.
Turnaround begins from laboratory receipt rather than necessarily from the day of blood collection.
Occasional technical review or repeat analysis can extend reporting.
The result itself is lifelong and generally does not require repeated testing once a reliable positive or negative result has been established.
Understanding Your Results
A negative result means HLA-B27 was not detected.
This makes certain HLA-B27-associated disorders less likely in the appropriate clinical context but does not exclude axial spondyloarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
A positive result means HLA-B27 is present.
This indicates increased genetic susceptibility to several inflammatory conditions but does not mean that disease is present.
Many HLA-B27-positive people remain healthy throughout life.
The clinical significance of a positive result rises when it is combined with characteristic inflammatory back pain, imaging abnormalities, uveitis or a strong family history.
Diagnosis of spondyloarthritis therefore depends on the complete clinical assessment rather than HLA-B27 alone.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private HLA-B27 testing for people undergoing investigation of inflammatory spinal, joint or eye disease.
Established rheumatology marker - HLA-B27 is widely used during investigation of suspected spondyloarthritis.
Relevant to ankylosing spondylitis - Provides important genetic susceptibility information.
Useful in recurrent uveitis assessment - HLA-B27 is associated with acute anterior uveitis.
One-time genetic marker - HLA-B27 status does not change over time.
Can complement inflammatory markers - Useful alongside ESR, CRP and clinical assessment.
Professional blood collection - Clinic and suitable mobile collection options are available.
Specialist laboratory analysis - Samples undergo dedicated HLA assessment.
Clear pricing - The HLA-B27 test costs £299.
Private HLA-B27 Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private HLA-B27 testing in London for people requiring assessment of genetic susceptibility to spondyloarthritis and related inflammatory conditions.
The test costs £299 and measures 1 biomarker: HLA B27.
Results are expected approximately 5 days after laboratory receipt.
A positive result increases susceptibility but cannot diagnose ankylosing spondylitis or another inflammatory condition by itself.