Whether from the hugely popular Disney+ show The Dropout or the preceding podcast of the same name, you may be familiar with the story of Elizabeth Holmes.
The ambitious Stanford University student left education to begin a medical technology company called Theranos. It tried to show that, with a single pinprick of blood, patients could test for hundreds of diseases. So revolutionary was the concept that the company enticed astute investors and was valued at $9 billion. Sadly, it didn’t work and - spoiler alert! - Holmes was later charged with fraud.
While it makes for a gripping story, it’s easy to see why the appeal of minimally invasive blood extractions caught on. When you’re the worried well rather than clinically ill, getting a blood test may not be an appropriate use of NHS resources.
According to the NHS and as many of us have experienced, you can get a blood test, “If a healthcare professional such as a GP, nurse or a specialist thinks you need it”. With our health service, if you need it, you can get it. But if you want it, you must take a different tack.
What if you could get a blood test simply because you are curious about an element of your health e.g. hormone levels or vitamin deficiency? What if you could get accurate results from a trustworthy company? Does that all sound a little bit too Holmes to be true? Well, it’s now possible with at-home blood tests.
Can blood tests be done at home?
“Yes, blood tests can be done at home via a finger-prick blood test”, Dr Natasha Fernando, Medical Director of Medichecks explains. “Medichecks only offer finger-prick tests for biomarkers that have been through rigorous validation studies to show they are stable enough in transit to produce a reliable result”.
Dr Fernando continues, “Venous samples can be taken at a clinic or by a nurse at home. The clinic option is slightly cheaper and can be very convenient if you live close to one of Medichecks’ 300+ national clinics. For even more convenience, you can have a nurse or phlebotomist take your sample for you in your own home, however this option is slightly more expensive. There is no difference in accuracy between the two venous collection methods”.
How accurate are at-home blood tests?
According to the medical director, “Home blood tests' accuracy varies depending on the company you use. Medichecks ensures all the labs used are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited, and only offer home blood testing for biomarkers that we can be sure offer an accurate result”.
There are caveats, however. Firstly, if you are unwell, you should always visit your doctor. Second, as with all tests, they must be appropriately interpreted. All the tests we have recommend are analysed by healthcare professionals. And lastly, there is always the possibility of false positives and false negatives - this is worth taking into consideration.
Shop blood tests for home below
Medichecks
One of the leaders in its field, Medichecks offers six different blood tests to gain greater insight into your health.
These include hormone tests (£79) that require a pinprick and the Advanced Well (£127) for men and women to reveal information regarding thyroid function, cholesterol and the like. For the latter, you will need to book a venous draw either at a clinic, at home with a nurse or sort it yourself.
I tried the Optimal Health Blood Test which covers 58 biomarkers to inform on the risk of heart disease, diabetes, liver and kidney function, thyroid health, and more. I had the withdrawal done at Get A Drip, which is close to the office but the sheer level of branches means it should be easy and convenient to find a spot near you.
It was over in less than 10 minutes and my results came through 10 days later (longer than Medichecks claim of six working days). While traditional NHS tests can be difficult to decode, Medichecks reveals information in an easily navigable drop-down design, colour-coded to show the range and explain the importance of each element. I saw that I was outside the normal range of red blood cells and iron. There is information explaining what this means and the symptoms - in my case, fatigue and pale skin. For an extra cost, you can book an online GP appointment to discuss the results but, if you fill in the supporting information, the included ‘Doctor’s Overview’ give actionable advice.
Who they work with: According to the Medichecks website, “Our partner laboratories are fully accredited and are committed to the highest clinical standards by internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assurance through national schemes such as UK NEQAS. They have been inspected by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and have been accredited to ISO 15189. Furthermore, they participate in regular quality audits, clinical governance and accreditation inspections. We work with three laboratories, Eurofins Clinical Diagnostics, Inuvi, and The Doctor's Laboratory (TDL)”.
Buy now £249.00, Medichecks
Thriva
What sets Thriva apart from the crowd is the personalisation of its testing process.
Before embarking on the withdrawal process, you first fill in a questionnaire on the website to find the right test. Detail health goals - think weight loss or improving mood - and information regarding your physical activity, eating habits and your family’s medical history. Once done, it suggests suitable tests and you can go on to detail the regularity of receiving them should you want to closely monitor any improvements after making lifestyle changes.
The blood test consists of a fingerprick with detailed instructions and images for guidance. It’s foolproof.
The result is a doctor-written report in plain Englis with easily understandable terms. If you opt to track your progress, the information is plotted on a graph so you can spot trends. It comes alongside recommendations of further things you can do to move into the optimal range of things like blood sugar levels.
Who they work with: “We work directly with independent labs who are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our labs use various monitoring techniques to ensure compliance with ISO laboratory standards and to make sure the test results they produce are reliable. Our home blood testing kits are CE-marked. This means everything in our kits meet health and safety requirements within the European Economic Area (EEA)”.
From £99.
Buy now, Thriva
Lloyds Pharmacy
While stock fluctuates, Lloyds Pharmacy - a household name - has four blood tests in its offering to give you precise information.
The General test offers a deep dive into cholesterol, diabetes risk, liver function, vitamin D levels and thyroid function before becoming more specific. The hormone health tests are designated for women and men and as such test the relevant chemical messengers - testosterone and thyroid function measured for both. Lastly, the weight management blood test will guide you through your journey, showing the improvement to reflect the changes that you are making.
Lloyds offers free delivery and includes a label to return your test at no extra cost. After three working days, you’ll recieve lab-tested results that are analysed by the clinical team of GPs and pharmacists and appear in the online doctor’s portal.
From £75.
Buy now, Lloyds Pharmacy
Randox Health
Randox is a name that became all too familiar to us all during lockdown for its rapid lateral flow and PCR test but the health company is not all about Covid-19.
In fact, the sheer breadth of tests available is one of the most expansive that we’ve seen - there is a kit for the majority of major health concerns and you can find out more from the comfort of your own home.
While including the more common hormone tests, there are also those to examine nutrition and lifestyle DNA, gut microbiome, cancer risk, diabetes, vitamin B12 and D, heart health and many more. The assessment is determined through a finger prick sample and results are given in two to three days.
Who they work with: “Randox Testing Services is a UKAS accredited Testing Laboratory, No. 4348. This accreditation allows laboratories to demonstrate competent operation and the generation of valid results”.
From £28.
Buy now, Randox Health
Forth
Forth may be less familiar but is giving Randox a run for its money with the variety of tests it offers. While you can decide to do a test after experiencing symptoms like tiredness or fatigue to get to the bottom of the cause, some alternatives are made to inform you on ways to live better and enhance your longevity.
Its USP is your ability to build your own blood test, adding the option to test biomarkers that range from B12 to calcium to hormones to liver function to magnesium. You can also make it a subscription to track your progress and results are displayed in the accompanying app. The tests range from the finger prick collection to an appointment with a nurse or the option to head into one of the partner clinics dotted across the UK.
Who they work with: “All our test kits and algorithms are accredited as medical devices, our lab partners hold gold standard UKAS accreditation and our data processes meet the international standard for information security”.
From £41.
Buy now, Forth
Manual At-Home Testosterone Blood Test
This is a blood test for men, designed to measure testosterone levels to determine whether TRT treatment is right for you.
TRT, or testosterone replacement therapy, is recommended for those experiencing the physical and mental effects of the decline in the production of the hormone. These symptoms include erectile dysfunction, low sex drive, depression and low mood and difficulty losing weight. But not every man is eligible to receive it, and that’s where the Manual at-home blood test comes in.
With the information at your disposal, you can discuss the results with an expert TRT doctor and start treatment with the company.
Who they work with: “We work with independent labs accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC)”.
Buy now £33.95, Manual
Vitall Female Fertility (Sex Hormones) Home Test Kit
Vitall produces a range of health-focused tests and offers multiple options for anyone looking to keep an eye on their fertility. One of the most popular options is the brand’s Female Fertility Home Test Kit, which measures the levels of sex hormones through a quick finger prick. Normal female fertility testing is considered appropriate when a woman under 35 has not become pregnant after a year of trying, but if you’d rather not wait that long to take a closer look, this kit may provide some answers.
Who they work with: “Each partner lab we operate with is accredited by UKAS, the UK's national body responsible for determining technical competence and integrity”.
Buy now £89.02, Vitall
