Swab (Rectal)
Private Rectal Swab testing in London for £95, investigating one rectal microbiology marker with clinic-only collection and results in around 2–4 days.
Turnaround time
2-4 business days
Biomarkers count
1
Book your test
Choose Service Type
Professional phlebotomist comes to you
+ £{{ home_visit_fee }}
Visit our clinic for your test
{{ clinic_visit_fee > 0 ? '+ £' + clinic_visit_fee : 'Free' }}
Home Visit Details
Home visits require at least 24 hours notice.
Select a clinic: Sorting by distance…
{{ clinicAddress(clinic) }}
{{ clinicAddress(selectedClinic) }}
Select a date
Select an hour
Available time slots: {{ timeSlots.length}}
Overview of the Swab (Rectal) Test
The Rectal Swab test collects material from the rectal or anal canal for microbiological analysis, providing site-specific information about organisms present at the sampled area.
The test assesses 1 specialist microbiology marker: Swab (Rectal).
A rectal swab can be used in several different microbiological contexts depending on the clinical question.
Routine culture can identify selected bacteria present within the rectal or anal area.
Site-specific testing can be useful where symptoms, recurrent infection or screening requirements make a rectal specimen appropriate.
The meaning of the result depends heavily on what the laboratory is being asked to investigate.
The rectum normally contains a large and diverse microbial population.
For this reason, finding bacteria in a rectal specimen does not automatically mean those organisms are causing infection.
A routine culture is also different from a dedicated sexually transmitted infection PCR test.
Rectal Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, for example, require site-specific molecular assays.
A standard Rectal Swab culture should therefore not be assumed to provide comprehensive STI screening.
Professional collection helps ensure that the sample is taken from the correct anatomical site and transferred into suitable transport medium.
Culture findings should be interpreted alongside symptoms, exposure history and the exact laboratory request.
Where symptoms suggest proctitis, sexually transmitted infection or significant gastrointestinal disease, broader targeted testing may be required.
What Does the Swab (Rectal) Test Check?
The test analyses a site-specific rectal swab for clinically relevant microbiological findings according to the requested culture pathway. This test measures 1 specialist microbiology marker.
Swab (Rectal)
Analyses a professionally collected specimen from the rectal or anal canal for microbiological investigation according to the clinically relevant culture request.
Who May Benefit From the Swab (Rectal) Test?
A Rectal Swab can be useful where a clinician requires microbiological sampling from the rectal or anal area.
People with local rectal or anal symptoms where infection is suspected - Site-specific culture can provide microbiological information.
People with recurrent infection affecting the perianal area - Culture can help identify clinically relevant organisms.
People requiring a rectal specimen for a defined microbiology assessment - Certain screening or infection pathways require a rectal sample.
People with previous abnormal rectal cultures requiring follow-up - Repeat sampling can determine whether an organism remains detectable.
People with immune suppression and local infection concerns - Specialist microbiological assessment may be appropriate.
People with persistent symptoms not explained by routine examination - Laboratory testing can form one part of a broader assessment.
People specifically referred for rectal swab culture - Correct site-specific sampling is essential.
People who require targeted STI testing as well as routine culture - Separate rectal PCR can be arranged where the exposure history indicates it.
How to Prepare
There is no home or hotel collection option for this swab test.
The specimen must be collected in clinic from the appropriate anatomical site using the correct microbiology swab and transport medium.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Swab (Rectal) Test
Symptoms at the rectal or anal site can have infectious and non-infectious causes.
Rectal or anal discharge - Discharge can occur with infection and may require targeted microbiological investigation.
Local irritation or soreness - Infection is one possible cause of persistent symptoms.
Pain around the anal area - Local infection, inflammation and several non-infectious conditions can produce pain.
Persistent symptoms after treatment - Culture can provide additional information where symptoms do not resolve.
A previous abnormal rectal culture - Repeat testing may help establish whether the organism remains present.
Clinician-directed screening - Some microbiology pathways specifically require rectal sampling.
Possible sexually transmitted proctitis - This requires dedicated STI PCR rather than relying only on routine culture.
Rectal bleeding, severe pain, fever, significant abdominal symptoms or rapidly worsening illness requires clinical assessment.
A routine Rectal Swab does not provide comprehensive screening for rectal Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Herpes or other sexually transmitted infections unless specific molecular testing is ordered.
How to Book Your Swab (Rectal) Test
The Rectal Swab test can be booked privately for professional in-clinic site-specific microbiological collection.
Choose the Swab (Rectal)
Select the individual Rectal Swab test online.
Select your collection option
This swab is collected in clinic only; home and hotel visits are not available for this test.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the specimen from the rectal or anal canal according to the laboratory requirements.
Laboratory analysis
Your sample undergoes microbiological analysis for Swab (Rectal).
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside symptoms and any additional STI testing where appropriate.
When Will I Receive My Results?
Routine specialist culture from a rectal swab is generally expected within approximately 2–4 days after laboratory receipt.
The exact reporting time can depend on the organism being investigated and whether further identification or sensitivity testing is required.
Turnaround begins when the correctly collected clinic specimen reaches the laboratory.
Dedicated rectal STI PCR tests have separate turnaround times and should not be confused with routine culture.
Understanding Your Results
A negative or non-significant result means the requested culture did not identify a clinically significant organism under the laboratory conditions used.
A positive result means an organism relevant to the requested microbiological investigation was detected or cultured.
Interpretation requires caution because the rectum normally contains many bacteria.
The significance therefore depends on the specific organism, symptoms and clinical reason for testing.
A routine bacterial culture does not exclude a sexually transmitted rectal infection.
Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and several other STIs require dedicated nucleic-acid amplification testing.
Where symptoms persist despite a negative routine culture, further clinical or sexual-health investigation may be appropriate.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private in-clinic Rectal Swab collection for targeted site-specific microbiological investigation.
Site-specific rectal collection - The specimen is taken directly from the relevant anatomical site.
Professional healthcare sampling - Correct technique improves specimen quality and laboratory usefulness.
Useful for defined microbiology investigations - The test can provide information where routine rectal culture is specifically required.
Can be combined with targeted STI testing - Separate PCR assays can be arranged where clinically appropriate.
Suitable for repeat assessment - Previous abnormal culture findings can be followed where required.
Clinic-only collection - Home and hotel visits are not available for this swab test.
Specialist laboratory analysis - Samples undergo appropriate microbiological processing.
Clear pricing - The Rectal Swab test costs £95.
Private Swab (Rectal) Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Rectal Swab testing for people requiring site-specific microbiological assessment.
The test costs £95 and assesses 1 specialist microbiology marker.
Collection is in clinic only. Home and hotel visits are not available.
Routine culture results are generally expected approximately 2–4 days after laboratory receipt.