Private Blood Tests UK: Complete Guide to At-Home Testing (2026)
Private blood tests in the UK: home kits vs clinic and home draws, what a panel should include, and the panel prices providers publish, linked to each product page.
Private blood testing in the UK is widely available without a GP referral: you can order a home finger-prick kit or book a blood draw at a clinic or at home. Prices depend on the test; the table below shows the panel prices we track, linked to each provider's own page.
How private blood tests work
Two main methods:
-
Home finger-prick kits — a kit is posted to your home. You prick your finger, collect a small blood sample, and post it back in a prepaid envelope. Results usually arrive online within a few working days; each product page gives its own turnaround.
-
Venous blood draw — a phlebotomist draws blood from your arm at a clinic or your home. More reliable for some markers, such as testosterone and cortisol. On the pages we read, a partner clinic draw costs +£35 at Medichecks and +£45 at Forth, and a home nurse visit +£59 at both.
What a comprehensive health panel should include
| Marker | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Full blood count (FBC) | Red/white blood cells, platelets — anaemia, infection, immune function |
| Liver function (LFTs) | ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin — liver health, alcohol impact |
| Kidney function | Creatinine, eGFR, urea — kidney filtering capacity |
| Thyroid (TSH) | Underactive/overactive thyroid screening |
| Cholesterol | Total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides — cardiovascular risk |
| Iron/ferritin | Iron stores — fatigue, anaemia |
| Vitamin D | Deficiency is very common in the UK (especially Oct–Mar) |
| Vitamin B12 | Energy, nerve function — especially relevant for vegetarians/vegans |
| HbA1c | Diabetes screening — average blood sugar over 3 months |
| CRP | Inflammation marker — infection, chronic disease |
Check the biomarker list on the product page: panels with similar names can include different markers.
Home finger-prick kits are processed in the same UKAS-accredited laboratories that process GP blood tests. The main accuracy risk is sample collection, not lab quality — warm your hands, don't squeeze too hard, and collect first thing in the morning for hormones.
Panel prices we track
| Panel type | Medichecks | Forth | Blue Horizon | Welzo | Vitall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes check (HbA1c) | £46Diabetes (HbA1c) Blood Test | £46HbA1c (pre-diabetes) Home Blood Test Kit | £45.25HbA1c | £39Pre-Diabetes (HBA1C) Test | Not tracked |
| Male hormone panel | £79Male Hormone Blood Test | £89Male Hormone Home Blood Test Kit | £54.25Basic Male Hormones | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Vitamin D | £39Vitamin D (25 OH) Blood Test | £50Vitamin D Home Blood Test Kit | £53.25Vitamin D (25 OH) | £29.99Vitamin D Blood Test | Not tracked |
| STI screen | £1996-in-1 STI Blood and Urine Test | £79Standard STI Test Kit: Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis | £72.25Sexual Health Blood Screen | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Thyroid function | £45Thyroid Function Blood Test | £50Thyroid Blood Test | Not tracked | Not tracked | £59Thyroid Function Test |
| Advanced / comprehensive panel | £135Advanced Essential Blood Test | £167Advanced Blood Test | Not tracked | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Female hormone panel | £79Female Hormone Blood Test | Not tracked | Not tracked | £59Female Hormone Home Blood Test | Not tracked |
| General health panel | £89Essential Blood Test | £135Baseline Blood Test | Not tracked | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Food intolerance (IgG) | Not tracked | Not tracked | £134.25Food Intolerance Test - now with 260 foods and drinks. | Not tracked | Not tracked |
Each price is the named product on the provider’s own page, read between 2026-10-11 and 2026-10-11. Panels with the same type can test different biomarkers, so compare what each one includes. We track a selection of each provider’s tests, not its whole catalogue.
Providers
- Medichecks — wellness, hormone and single-marker tests; its Essential Blood Test (£89, 38 biomarkers) includes a bespoke doctor's report
- Forth — 41 ready-made tests plus a Build Your Own test from £39; lowest-priced test £29 (Testosterone); core range is general health, hormones and fertility, and nutrition, with a range of sports tests available
- Thriva — subscription testing with a results dashboard
- Vitall — home blood tests
- Monitor My Health — NHS-partnered home testing
- Nuffield Health and Bupa — in-person health assessments with a doctor
For testosterone, cortisol and some other markers, a venous draw is more reliable than finger-prick. Medichecks and Forth both offer one at a partner clinic or at home.
When private blood testing is common
- Annual health check — for people over 30 wanting to catch issues early
- Persistent fatigue — ruling out thyroid, iron, vitamin D, and B12 deficiency
- Starting a new diet or supplement — baseline before, retest after 3 months
- Family history — diabetes, cholesterol, thyroid conditions
- Before weight loss medication — most GLP-1 prescribers require baseline bloods
Accuracy and accreditation
Check the laboratory accreditation on the provider's page before ordering. Forth, for example, states that its samples are analysed in UKAS-accredited (ISO 15189), CQC-registered laboratories.
Compare blood test providers
Compare UK blood test providers on price, panel content, and turnaround time.
Compare blood test pricesRelated guides
- Home Blood Test Kits Compared — Medichecks, Forth, Thriva, Vitall, and Lola Health
- Medichecks vs Forth — two providers head-to-head
Important context
Healthcare prices can change without notice and may exclude consultation fees, medication, diagnostics, anaesthetic, facility fees, follow-up care or add-ons. TreatCompare summarises published or compiled pricing for comparison and planning only. Always verify the current total directly before paying.
- Source type
- TreatCompare compiled research
- Primary source
- Provider-published information and TreatCompare research
- Reporting period
- 2026-10-14
- Last updated
- 2026-10-14
- Figure type
- Mixed sources
- Use
- Research and comparison only
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a private blood test cost in the UK?
It depends on the test and the provider. The table on this page shows the panel prices we track, each linked to the provider's own product page with the date read; panel prices for the main UK providers are also on the blood tests page. A venous draw usually costs extra: on the pages we read, a partner clinic draw is +£35 at Medichecks and +£45 at Forth, and a home nurse visit +£59 at both.
Do I need a GP referral for a private blood test?
No — no GP referral is required for any of the private blood test providers covered. You can order home finger-prick kits or book venous draws directly. All reputable providers use UKAS-accredited or CQC-registered laboratories.
Are home finger-prick blood tests accurate?
Yes — home finger-prick kits are processed in the same UKAS-accredited laboratories that process GP blood tests. The main accuracy risk is sample collection, not lab quality — warm your hands, don't squeeze too hard, and collect first thing in the morning for hormones. For testosterone, cortisol, and insulin, a venous draw is more reliable than finger-prick.
What should a comprehensive blood test panel include?
A broad panel usually covers full blood count (FBC), liver function, kidney function, thyroid (TSH), cholesterol, iron or ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, HbA1c (diabetes screening) and CRP (inflammation). Check the biomarker list on the product page: panels with similar names can include different markers.
How much is a venous blood draw at Medichecks or Forth?
On the pages we read: a partner clinic draw is +£35 at Medichecks (Essential Blood Test) and +£45 at Forth, and a home nurse visit is +£59 at both. Forth also offers an AutoDraw arm device (+£20 or +£35 depending on the test) and a free finger-prick kit; both let you arrange your own nurse for free.
When is private blood testing useful?
Common reasons include an annual health check for people over 30, investigating persistent fatigue (thyroid, iron, vitamin D, B12), establishing a baseline before starting a new diet or supplement, screening with a family history of diabetes/cholesterol/thyroid conditions, and pre-treatment bloods — most GLP-1 weight-loss prescribers require baseline bloods.
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Private Blood Test Prices
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