Keeping track of your health is important if you want to stay well and prevent future illnesses. This becomes even more important as you get older.
You can get basic checks through your GP, but sometimes people prefer private tests — I certainly did. GPs won’t always order blood tests unless there’s a clear reason, so home blood testing has become popular. It’s affordable, not too hard to do at home, and you usually get results faster than through your GP.
There are several private companies selling home blood test kits online. The one I’ve used and recommend is Medichecks. They offer a huge range of tests — over 1,200 — which is more than most private providers. Here are some of the popular kits:
– Advanced Well Man: for men, checks blood health, liver, kidneys, cholesterol and more.
– Advanced Well Woman: for women, includes thyroid function, hormones (FSH, LH, oestradiol), ferritin, B12, folate, vitamin D and magnesium.
– Essential Blood Test: a broad health screen covering diabetes, iron, cholesterol, inflammation, liver and kidney function.
– Thyroid Function with Antibodies: TSH, FT4, FT3 and thyroid antibodies.
– Liver Check: looks for signs of liver inflammation or damage.
I’ve bought a cholesterol check for my fiancé before, and was recently sent the Advanced Well Man for this review. If you want to buy any Medichecks tests, you can get 10% off with the code BEHEALTHYNOW10.
Medichecks experience and review
We had a positive experience with both tests. The kits arrived quickly — first class the next day — and were well put together with clear instructions. Read the instructions a couple of times before you do the test, especially if you’ve never taken blood at home. The finger prick part is quick.
Blood tests are best done in the morning on an empty stomach for accurate results. Do the test Monday to Friday and post it the same day so the lab receives the sample quickly. We woke up early and did the test before my fiancé went to work. I read the instructions and made sure he followed them.
If you don’t follow the instructions exactly, the sample may be unusable and you’ll have to retake the test. If you need help, the kit includes a customer service number and email.
What the home test kit includes:
– lancets
– plasters (bandages)
– alcohol swab
– moist wipes
– collection tubes
– protective packaging
– name labels
– detailed instructions with a checklist
– lab request form and freepost return envelope
For the Advanced Well Man we had to fill two collection tubes. It took a bit of time, but the kit comes with extra lancets and slots to hold the tubes, which helps. To encourage blood flow, try gentle exercise, a warm shower, or washing your hands in warm water. Be well hydrated — drink a glass of water or unsweetened tea before the test.
Work quickly so the blood doesn’t clot. Once a tube is filled to the correct line, close it until it clicks and invert it 10 times — important: invert, don’t shake. After collecting the samples, add the date and time to the labels, attach them to each tube, place the tubes in the protective packaging, add the lab request form and post the envelope the same day. Then log in to mymedichecks.com and enter the “sample sent” date so they can track it.
We followed the instructions but one sample still failed — I think my fiancé squeezed his finger too hard and damaged some cells. The instructions do say to gently massage the finger to the tip. If a sample is spoiled, you can request another kit free of charge online. We did that, the new kit arrived the next day, and the second sample was fine.
Medichecks results
I was impressed with how quickly results come back — usually within three days of posting the sample. We sent ours on Monday and had results by Thursday. The Advanced Well Man tested liver and kidney function, cholesterol, diabetes markers and blood cells. Everything was fine except for raised cholesterol, which we already knew about.
You also get advice and recommendations from a doctor with your results, and you can ask follow-up questions if needed.
Final verdict
Overall, Medichecks is a great private provider of home health checks and blood tests. They offer a wide selection, the kits include everything you need, and they provide good customer support. Results are fast and come with doctor advice. They also have strong online reviews.
Medichecks is a good option if you want to monitor your health without visiting your GP, though not everyone can afford private tests. If you do decide to buy, use promo code BEHEALTHYNOW10 for 10% off.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you buy after clicking a link. This doesn’t cost you anything. I was sent a complimentary Well Man test for this review, and I’ve also bought a kit from Medichecks before. This is an unbiased review based on my experience.