Liver ultrasound
Standard diagnostic liver ultrasound without elastography.
£219
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Liver Shearwave · FibroScan alternative
Private Liver Shearwave Elastography & FibroScan in Harley Street, London
A private liver stiffness and fibrosis assessment combining conventional liver ultrasound with shear wave elastography on the GE LOGIQ E10s. The test measures liver stiffness in kilopascals (kPa) and helps support non-invasive fibrosis assessment.
Liver ultrasound + SWE: £499
Includes conventional liver ultrasound and the quantitative liver stiffness measurement in one appointment, with verbal explanation in the scan room and a written report within 24 hours.
Includes conventional liver ultrasound and the quantitative liver stiffness measurement in one appointment, with verbal explanation in the scan room and a written report within 24 hours.
Preparation: please fast for 2 hours before your appointment. Water is permitted.
Medically reviewed by Mr Pedram Aghaei & Dr Babak Soleimanpour · Review details
CQC
ICO
GMC
SOR
SVT
HCPC
NMC
GPhC
SEO / AEO Summary
Liver Shearwave London — quick patient answer
Liver Shearwave is a private ultrasound elastography test that measures liver stiffness in kilopascals (kPa). It is commonly used as a FibroScan alternative for patients with fatty liver, abnormal liver blood tests, fibrosis risk, alcohol-related liver concerns, viral hepatitis monitoring or previous abnormal liver imaging. At London Private Ultrasound, Liver Shearwave is available at 27 Welbeck Street in the Harley Street medical district, with liver ultrasound + elastography priced at £499 and standalone Liver Shearwave priced at £359 when a recent suitable liver ultrasound is already available.
AI Overview Answer
Liver Shearwave at LPU — direct answer
Private Liver Shearwave at London Private Ultrasound is a non-invasive ultrasound-based liver stiffness test performed on the GE LOGIQ E10s at 27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN. The bundled liver ultrasound + SWE appointment costs £499; standalone liver elastography costs £359 if you already have a recent conventional liver ultrasound. SWE measures liver stiffness in kPa and supports assessment of liver fibrosis. It is a FibroScan alternative, but not the same device: FibroScan uses transient elastography, while LPU uses shear wave elastography built into a premium diagnostic ultrasound system.
Focus testLiver Shearwave / liver stiffness measurement.
PriceScan + SWE £499; standalone £359.
PreparationFast for 2 hours; water permitted.
Location27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN.
Service Overview
Liver Shearwave at a glance
| Service | Conventional liver ultrasound with shear wave elastography measurement. |
|---|---|
| Main purpose | Non-invasive liver stiffness and fibrosis assessment, interpreted with ultrasound findings and clinical context. |
| Machine | GE LOGIQ E10s — GE HealthCare premium ultrasound system with hardware-integrated shear wave imaging. |
| Bundled price | £499 for liver ultrasound + shear wave elastography in one appointment. |
| Standalone SWE | £359 if you already have a recent conventional liver ultrasound report. |
| Conventional scan only | £219 for conventional liver ultrasound without SWE. |
| Preparation | 2-hour fast before the appointment. Water is permitted. |
| Referral | No GP referral required. Direct booking by phone, WhatsApp or online. |
| Available at | London only: 27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN. Not currently available at St Albans. |
| Report | Verbal explanation in the scan room; written report within 24 hours. |
Scan Type By Symptom
Which scan is right for you?
General information, not a diagnosis; for severe, sudden or worsening symptoms seek urgent medical care / call 999.
| Fatty liver screening / Abnormal LFTs | First-line: Conventional Liver Ultrasound (£219) |
|---|---|
| Fibrosis risk assessment / Known NAFLD/MASLD | First-line: Liver Ultrasound + SWE (£499) |
| Recent conventional scan requiring stiffness measure | First-line: Standalone Liver SWE (£359) |
Liver Shearwave Pricing
Conventional only
Recommended
Recent scan elsewhere
Liver Shearwave pricing
Liver ultrasound + SWE
Conventional liver ultrasound and shear wave elastography measurement in one appointment.
£499
Standalone liver SWE
Elastography measurement only, where you already have a recent conventional liver ultrasound.
£359
Lowest entry: Standard Liver Ultrasound without SWE from £219.
FibroScan Alternative
How liver SWE is different from FibroScan
FibroScan / transient elastography
FibroScan® is a dedicated transient elastography device that measures liver stiffness. It is commonly used in hepatology pathways for non-invasive fibrosis assessment.
LPU liver SWE
LPU performs shear wave elastography on the GE LOGIQ E10s. This means the stiffness measurement is performed during the same appointment as a conventional liver ultrasound, allowing the consultant to assess both liver appearance and kPa values together.
Patient-friendly explanation: both approaches measure liver stiffness in kPa, but they use different technology. This page uses “FibroScan alternative” because patients often search for FibroScan when they mean a non-invasive liver stiffness test.
Clinical Use
Why liver shear wave elastography?
Liver SWE helps assess liver stiffness, which can rise when fibrosis develops. It is used as a non-invasive way to support fibrosis staging in conditions such as fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis and other chronic liver conditions.
Fibrosis risk
Provides a numerical kPa measurement that can support assessment of fibrosis severity.
Fatty liver / MASLD
Useful when fatty liver has been identified or suspected and fibrosis risk needs further assessment.
Abnormal liver blood tests
May support assessment when ALT, AST, GGT or other liver markers are abnormal.
Monitoring over time
Can be repeated to monitor change where clinically appropriate.
Integrated ultrasound
Conventional liver ultrasound is performed in the same visit to look at liver texture, bile ducts and focal lesions.
Non-invasive
No radiation, no contrast injection and no biopsy during the scan.
Understanding Results
What does the kPa liver stiffness value mean?
The SWE measurement gives a liver stiffness value in kilopascals. Higher values can suggest higher fibrosis risk, but thresholds vary depending on the underlying condition and the technology used.
Important: kPa values should not be interpreted alone. Your result must be interpreted with clinical history, liver blood tests, conventional ultrasound findings, body habitus, fasting status and any hepatology history.
| Lower values | Usually suggest little or no significant fibrosis (F0-F1), depending on the clinical context. |
|---|---|
| Intermediate values | May indicate moderate fibrosis (F2-F3) and require correlation with blood tests, risk factors, previous imaging or specialist review. |
| Higher values | May raise concern for advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis (F4) and often require hepatology referral or further investigation. |
| Liver cancer | SWE is not a liver cancer screening test. Conventional ultrasound may detect focal lesions that require CT, MRI or specialist review. |
Patient Walkthrough
What happens in the scan room
1. Arrival & Clinical Chat
Upon arrival, your consultant will have a short clinical chat regarding your history, previous liver blood tests (LFTs), and specific lifestyle or medical factors.
2. Preparation & Comfort
You will simply need to lift your top to expose your abdomen. We will confirm you have completed the 2-hour fasting requirement, as food intake temporarily alters liver stiffness readings.
3. The Ultrasound & SWE
Warm gel is applied. The consultant will conduct a thorough conventional liver ultrasound, then switch the GE LOGIQ E10s to SWE mode to measure tissue stiffness (kPa) across multiple samples.
4. Verbal Findings
Once complete, the consultant will wipe away the gel and explain the findings to you verbally in the scan room, providing immediate clarity before your written report arrives.
Pathways
Mild / Benign
Indeterminate
Suspicious
Emergency
If something is found
We believe in transparent safety-netting. Here is what happens depending on your scan findings:
Routine follow-up
Findings typical of mild fatty liver (steatosis) with normal stiffness (F0-F1). We provide reassurance, lifestyle/dietary guidance, and recommend routine checks.
Onward review required
If ultrasound and SWE reveal elevated stiffness suggesting moderate fibrosis (F2-F3), we issue a detailed report and advise sharing this with your GP or hepatologist for correlation.
Urgent referral
If high stiffness suggesting cirrhosis (F4) or suspicious focal liver lesions are identified, we formulate an urgent referral letter directly for your GP or a specialist hepatology clinic.
Immediate action
For rare, active, severe emergencies discovered incidentally (e.g., portal vein thrombosis or active bleeding), we will direct you to call 999 or attend A&E immediately.
Patient Journey
From booking to written report
Choose & book
Book online, by phone or WhatsApp. No GP referral is required.
Pre-scan conversation
Before the scan begins, a short conversation confirms the scan booked is the right one for your needs to ensure maximum clinical value.
Visit (Fasted)
Attend our Central London clinic. Please ensure you have fasted for 2 hours prior to the appointment (water is permitted).
Your scan
The consultant performs a conventional liver ultrasound, followed by a shear wave elastography measurement to gauge stiffness.
Results in the scan room
Findings are explained verbally at the time, with the written report sent within 24 hours.
Personalised recommendations
Based on findings, the clinician provides clear recommendations for reassurance, lifestyle/dietary guidance, or onward care with your GP or hepatologist.
Evidence-aware wording
What it helps with
What it cannot replace
Liver Shearwave evidence and clinical limitations
Liver Shearwave provides a non-invasive liver stiffness measurement that can support fibrosis risk assessment. Results must be interpreted with liver blood tests, clinical history, alcohol intake, metabolic risk factors, viral hepatitis status, body habitus, fasting status and conventional ultrasound findings.
Fibrosis risk assessment
Liver stiffness values can support assessment of fibrosis risk in fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease, viral hepatitis monitoring and other chronic liver conditions.
Specialist clinical judgement
Liver Shearwave does not replace hepatology review, liver biopsy, blood tests, CT, MRI or cancer surveillance where these are clinically indicated.
Safety note: Liver Shearwave is not a liver cancer screening test. Suspicious focal liver lesions on conventional ultrasound may require urgent CT, MRI, blood tests or hepatology referral.
GEO / Local SEO
Liver SWE / FibroScan alternative in Harley Street, Marylebone and Central London
This service is currently available at our London clinic only: 27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN, in the Harley Street medical district. It is convenient for patients travelling from Marylebone, Mayfair, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Baker Street, Fitzrovia and across Greater London.
London clinic
27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN
Harley Street medical district. Close to Bond Street, Oxford Circus and Baker Street stations.
Availability note
Liver shear wave elastography is not currently available at the St Albans clinic. Please book the London site for this service.
Clinical Governance
Dr Babak Soleimanpour
Medical Director · GMC 6060555
Mr Pedram Aghaei
Medical Writer · RCT CT04905
Reporting consultant
Scan report sign-off
Clinical review, reporting and governance
Clinical sign-off for website content and governance oversight at London Private Ultrasound.
Medical writing and editorial responsibility. Registered with RCT, BMUS, SOR and SVT.
Your scan is performed and reported by the clinical ultrasound team. The written report is signed off by the reporting consultant.
FAQ
Liver Shearwave — common questions
What is liver shear wave elastography?
It is an ultrasound-based test that measures liver stiffness in kilopascals. It supports non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis and is performed together with conventional liver ultrasound.
How much does liver SWE cost?
A conventional liver ultrasound is £219. Liver ultrasound plus SWE is £499. Standalone liver SWE is £359 if you already have a recent conventional liver ultrasound elsewhere.
Is liver SWE the same as FibroScan?
No. FibroScan is a dedicated transient elastography device. Liver SWE at LPU is performed on the GE LOGIQ E10s. Both measure liver stiffness in kPa, but they use different technology. SWE is performed during the same appointment as a full conventional liver ultrasound.
Do I need to fast?
Yes. A 2-hour fast is recommended to optimize the accuracy of the liver stiffness reading, as digestion temporarily alters liver blood flow. Water is permitted.
Do I need a GP referral?
No GP referral is required. You can book directly online, by phone or via WhatsApp.
Can liver SWE diagnose cirrhosis?
Liver SWE can support assessment of advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis risk, but diagnosis is made by your treating clinician or hepatologist using all clinical information, including blood tests and medical history.
Can liver SWE diagnose liver cancer?
No. SWE is not a liver cancer screening test. Conventional ultrasound may identify suspicious focal lesions that require CT, MRI, blood tests or specialist review.
Does liver SWE replace liver biopsy?
It has reduced the need for biopsy in many fibrosis-staging situations, but biopsy may still be required in selected cases. A hepatologist decides this based on the clinical picture.
Where is liver SWE available?
It is available at 27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN. It is not currently available at St Albans.
When will I receive my report?
The consultant explains findings verbally in the scan room and the written report is usually sent within 24 hours.
Is liver SWE safe?
Yes. It uses diagnostic ultrasound, with no ionising radiation, no contrast injection and no biopsy.
What should I bring?
Bring prior liver blood tests (such as LFTs), previous ultrasound reports, previous FibroScan results, hepatology letters, medication list or GP referral letter if available.
Book Liver SWE
Book private Liver Shearwave in London
Book directly at London Private Ultrasound, 27 Welbeck Street, W1G 8EN. No GP referral required. Please fast for 2 hours before your appointment.
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Reviewed: 08/06/2026 by Mr Pedram Aghaei (Consultant Vascular Scientist RCT CT04905) & Dr Babak Soleimanpour (Medical Director GMC 6060555).
Next review due: 08/12/2026.
Next review due: 08/12/2026.