Diagnostic Department

Diagnostics at UMC — Lisbon and Porto

Lab tests, ultrasound, ECG, and other diagnostics — with or without a referral · with or without health insurance · all our staff and doctors speak English

The UMC diagnostics department is open every day, with no breaks or closures, throughout the clinic's full working hours — not just in the morning, as is often the case in Portugal. You can come in just for lab tests or an ultrasound, or combine diagnostics with a doctor's appointment — many examinations are performed by UMC doctors directly during the consultation, with no need for a separate visit.

Lab tests and instrumental diagnostics (ultrasound, ECG, and others) are available without a referral — you can choose the test you need yourself. If you're using health insurance, a referral is recommended (our team can issue one for you), as it affects the cost of the examination and the level of insurance coverage.

Lab tests can be done every day, throughout the clinic's working hours — without a referral and without needing to know test names in Portuguese. We collect blood, urine, stool, saliva, swabs, and other samples.

• Pre-built blood test panels — hormone panels, deficiency screening (iron, vitamin D, B12, and others), biochemistry, pre-pregnancy check-ups, STI screening, and many more
• Build your own panel — choose individual markers, with no need to assemble a full package or bring a list of tests from your doctor
• Gastroenterology tests — C13 urea breath test for H. pylori, SIBO testing, liver function tests, and others
• Stool tests — occult blood, stool analysis (coprogram), parasites and worm eggs
• Gynaecological tests and smears — Pap smear (cytology), vaginal flora smear, vaginal microbiome testing (Femoflor and similar panels)
• STI testing — all major test types
• Histology and biopsy — sample collection for laboratory analysis

In Lisbon, express lab tests with results in 30 minutes are available — useful if you need a fast result before a consultation or before travelling.

Free Heel-Prick Test for Newborns

UMC offers a free heel-prick test (newborn screening) for babies.

ECG with a written report — €35, performed every day at both clinics, either as a standalone test or together with a doctor's appointment.

Ultrasound — A Wide Range for Adults and Children

UMC has a team of ultrasound specialists in Lisbon and Porto. Together, the team covers a very broad range of examinations — for adults and for children, including newborns:

• Abdominal organs — liver, gallbladder and bile ducts, pancreas, spleen
• Kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder
• Pelvic organs — gynaecological ultrasound, prostate, scrotum
• Thyroid, salivary glands, soft tissues of the neck
• Breast ultrasound
• Soft tissue and lymph node ultrasound
• Joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Vascular ultrasound — Doppler of the head and neck vessels, limb arteries and veins
• Ultrasound for infants and young children — neurosonography (brain ultrasound through the fontanelle), hip ultrasound (hip dysplasia screening), abdominal and kidney ultrasound for infants
• Pregnancy ultrasound — assessment of foetal growth and development, placenta, and amniotic fluid, outside formal first-, second-, and third-trimester screening ultrasounds (by referral from your obstetrician-gynaecologist)

The exact range of examinations and age availability depends on the specific specialist and clinic — when booking, we'll confirm which member of the team can perform the examination you need.

The cost of a standard ultrasound examination is €90; an echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound) is €130.

Ultrasound During Your Doctor's Appointment

Many UMC specialists perform a focused ultrasound directly during your consultation — making the visit more thorough and saving you a separate trip:

• Cardiologist — echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound)
• Gynaecologists — pelvic ultrasound
• Endocrinologists — thyroid ultrasound
• Gastroenterologists — abdominal ultrasound
• Urologist — kidney, scrotal, prostate, and pelvic ultrasound
• Rheumatologist — joint ultrasound
• Orthopaedist — ultrasound of joints, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue

Other Examinations During Specialist Appointments

• Dermoscopy — performed by UMC dermatologists during the appointment
• ENT endoscopy — performed by UMC ENT doctors during the appointment
• Skin prick testing — performed by UMC allergists for allergy diagnosis
• Spirometry — available in Lisbon with pulmonologist Dr. Matilde Almeida

What We Don't Do In-House Yet — But Can Help Arrange

X-rays, mammography, CT scans, and MRI are not yet available at UMC, nor are gastroscopy and colonoscopy, including formal pregnancy screening ultrasounds (1st–3rd trimester). If you need one of these examinations, we'll provide a referral and help you book an appointment with a partner facility.

Do I need a referral for lab tests or an ultrasound?
No, you can book directly for the examination you need. If you'd like to use your health insurance and get the maximum coverage, a referral is recommended, and our team can issue one for you.

Can I come in just for lab tests, without seeing a doctor?
Yes — you can come in specifically for lab tests, an ultrasound, or an ECG, with no doctor's consultation required.

Can children, including newborns, get an ultrasound?
Yes. The UMC team includes specialists who perform ultrasound examinations on children from birth, including neurosonography and hip ultrasound. When you book, we'll match you with the right specialist.

Do you perform vascular ultrasound (Doppler)?
Yes, Doppler ultrasound of the head, neck, and limb vessels is available within the UMC team. Please check at booking which clinic and specialist offer this.

How much do ultrasound, echocardiogram, and ECG cost?
Ultrasound costs €90 per examination, an echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound) is €130, and an ECG with a written report is €35.

Can I have several examinations done in one visit?
Yes. If you need several ultrasound examinations, or a combination of ultrasound and lab tests, this can usually be arranged in a single visit.

Do you offer X-rays, CT, or MRI?
Not directly, not yet. We'll provide a referral and help you book an appointment with a partner facility.

Do you perform pregnancy screening ultrasounds (1st–3rd trimester)?
Formal trimester screening ultrasounds are not performed at UMC — for these, we'll refer you to a partner facility. However, ultrasound to assess foetal growth and well-being outside of formal screening, by referral from your treating doctor, is available within the UMC team.

What languages can I get diagnostics in?
All UMC staff and doctors speak English, as well as Portuguese and Russian, and we can help arrange translation if your native language is something else.

How quickly will I get my results?
Most lab results are ready within one to two days; in Lisbon, express lab tests with results in 30 minutes are also available. Ultrasound results and the report are provided immediately after the examination.

How to Book an Appointment

UMC diagnostics are available in Lisbon and Porto. Appointments are available with or without health insurance; no referral is required.

You can book an appointment in any of the following ways:

• Through the online booking form on umc.clinic
• Via the website chat
• On WhatsApp
• Through the Telegram bot @umcl_bot
• By phone — we're always available and speak your language

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