Pre-Employment & Visa Medical Blood Tests in Katunayake — What's Checked & Prices in LKR
Jul 23, 2026 · St. Luke's Medical Laboratory
Medically reviewed by B.G.C.S.K. Perera (MLT)
If you live or work around Katunayake — the airport, the Free Trade Zone (Export Processing Zone), or one of the many factories and airline offices nearby — there's a good chance you'll be asked for a medical test at some point. It might be a pre-employment check before you start a factory or airport job, or a visa / overseas-job medical before you travel for work abroad.
This guide explains, in plain language, what those tests usually involve, what each one costs in LKR, and how to get the blood-test parts done without taking a day off to queue at a lab.
Quick note: every price below is published on our full price list. We don't hide charges or add a mark-up for coming to you in Katunayake.
Pre-employment vs. visa medicals — they're not the same
It helps to know which one you actually need, because the tests differ.
| Pre-employment (local job) | Visa / overseas-job medical | |
|---|---|---|
| Who asks for it | A factory, the FTZ, airport or airline employer | The embassy or a licensed agency (e.g. for Gulf jobs) |
| Purpose | Confirm you're fit for the role | Meet the destination country's entry health rules |
| Typical parts | Blood tests + a basic physical | Blood tests + chest X-ray + physical at a designated centre |
| Where blood is drawn | Can be done at home or on-site | Blood parts can be done early; some centres require their own draw |
Important and honest: a full GAMCA / official visa medical (for many Gulf countries) has to be completed at a government-approved medical centre that also does the chest X-ray and doctor's examination. We are a diagnostic laboratory, so we handle the blood-test components and pre-employment screening — we don't issue the official visa medical certificate. Always confirm with your agency or employer exactly which tests and which centre they require before you book anything.
The blood tests most commonly requested
Here are the tests that come up again and again on pre-employment and pre-departure forms, what each one actually checks, and the price at St. Luke's.
- Full Blood Count (FBC) — LKR 400. A general health snapshot: anaemia, infection, and blood-cell levels. On almost every form.
- Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) — LKR 280. Screens for diabetes. Needs 8–12 hours fasting, so best done first thing in the morning.
- HbA1c — LKR 2,100. A 3-month average blood-sugar picture; some employers ask for this instead of, or with, FBS.
- Blood Group — LKR 550. Often required so your employer has it on record.
- Serum Creatinine — LKR 650. A basic kidney-function check.
- Lipid Profile — LKR 1,500. Cholesterol and related fats; sometimes part of a fuller fitness check.
- HIV 1 & 2 — LKR 1,800. Commonly required for overseas-job medicals.
- VDRL — LKR 1,000. Screens for syphilis; another standard overseas-job item.
- Malarial Parasites — LKR 250. Sometimes requested depending on the destination.
- TSH (thyroid) — LKR 1,800. Occasionally asked for.
- Pregnancy Test (HCG) — LKR 250. Required for some female applicants before travel.
Your form may list a slightly different combination — send us the list and we'll tell you exactly which we can do and the total.
How to get it done in Katunayake without the queue
We don't run a walk-in branch inside Katunayake — our processing lab is about 9 km away in Ja-Ela. Instead, we bring the collection to you:
- Call 071 123 1954 and read out the tests your employer or agency listed.
- We confirm the total price in LKR up front and book a time — including early-morning slots for fasting tests and after-shift times for airport staff.
- A qualified phlebotomist comes to your home, factory or office in Katunayake and collects the sample.
- Your secure digital report is ready — usually within 24 hours — to hand to your employer or agency.
For FTZ factories & airline teams: on-site group screening
If you're an employer, HR officer or supervisor in the Free Trade Zone or at the airport, we can visit your site and collect samples for a whole group of staff in one session — new-hire panels, annual health checks, or food-handler screening. You get per-test LKR pricing agreed in advance and one consolidated set of reports. Contact us to plan a session.
Prepare properly so you don't have to repeat a test
- Fasting tests (FBS, Lipid Profile): nothing but water for 8–12 hours beforehand. Morning is easiest.
- Bring your NIC / passport details — names on the report must match your job or visa paperwork exactly.
- Double-check the list with your agency first. Redoing a missed test costs time you may not have before a departure date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do my full visa medical in Katunayake? We do the blood-test components and pre-employment screening. The official visa medical certificate (with chest X-ray and doctor's exam) must be issued by a government-approved centre — check with your agency which one. We're happy to do the bloods early so that part is ready.
Do you collect samples at the Free Trade Zone factories? Yes. We arrange on-site visits for FTZ factories and offices to screen groups of staff in one session, with pricing agreed beforehand. See our corporate health screening service.
How fast will I get the report? Most reports are ready within 24 hours, delivered as a secure digital file you can forward to your employer or agency.
How much does it all cost? It depends on the exact tests on your form. Every individual price is on our price list, and we confirm your total before we book — no hidden charges.
I work airport shifts — can you come after work? Yes. Because so many Katunayake residents work airport and factory shifts, we schedule around your hours, including early mornings and evenings.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Always confirm the exact tests and approved centre with your employer, agency or embassy before booking.
Serving Katunayake, Seeduwa, Ja-Ela and Negombo with home and workplace sample collection. Book on 071 123 1954.