UK private blood test providers, compared

Thriva, Medichecks, Forth, Randox, Bluecrest, London Medical Laboratory, Nuffield Health and Bupa, on price, sample method, doctor review, turnaround, data handling and what happens when a result is abnormal.

Updated September 2026 · Prices are UK list prices and need verification

This is general information, not medical advice. We are not doctors and this page has not been clinically reviewed. It cannot diagnose, treat or replace a consultation with a qualified clinician. If you are unwell, contact your GP or NHS 111; in an emergency call 999. Some links on this page are affiliate links; see our disclosure. Full medical disclaimer.

Side by side

Provider	Entry price	Sample	Doctor review	Turnaround	Abnormal result	Data and ownership
Thriva	£69 to £119	Finger-prick; venous option	GP comment on every result	48 hours	Flagged in app; GP note advises next step	UK-based; UKAS lab; data used for anonymised research (opt-out)
Medichecks	£39 to £300+	Finger-prick or venous at 1,000+ clinics	Doctor comment on every result	2 to 4 days	Doctor comment; phone call for serious results	UK; UKAS labs; owned by Sonic Healthcare
Forth	£49 to £199	Finger-prick; venous option	Report; doctor review as add-on	2 to 3 days	Flagged; advised to see GP	UK; strong app for trends
Randox Health	£195 to £1,000+	Venous in Randox clinic	Results consultation included	2 to 3 days	Clinician call for significant results	Northern Ireland; own labs; includes repeat test on top tiers
Bluecrest	£129 to £300	Venous at mobile clinics	GP-reviewed report	8 days	Letter to take to GP	UK; includes ECG and physical measures
London Medical Laboratory	£39 to £250	Venous walk-in, London and SE	Report only	24 hours	Flagged; advised to see GP	UK; fastest turnaround
Nuffield Health	Included with membership / £99+	Venous in club	Health assessor; GP for assessments	Same day (MOT)	Referred to GP or Nuffield physician	Charity; UK; results into Nuffield app
Bupa Health Assessment	£269 to £900+	Venous in Bupa centre	Doctor consultation included	Same day	Doctor discusses; onward referral	UK; insurer-linked

List prices September 2026; all providers run frequent discounts. Venous draws at partner clinics add £25 to £40 where not included.

Finger-prick or venous

Finger-prick is convenient and fine for most markers, but samples fail 5 to 10 percent of the time and some markers (cortisol, some hormones, CK) are less reliable. Venous draws cost £25 to £40 extra at a partner clinic and give a cleaner result. If a marker matters to you, pay for the draw.

Who reads the result

Thriva and Medichecks include a GP or doctor comment on every result; Forth charges extra; LML gives you numbers only. A comment is not a consultation, and none of these replaces your GP, but it does stop you searching a number at midnight. For anything flagged, the next step is always your own GP.

Assessments against tests

Nuffield, Bupa and Randox sell health assessments: a blood panel plus a physical exam and a consultation, £200 to £1,000. They cost three to five times a mail-in test and include the conversation. For someone with no GP relationship or a family history worth discussing, that conversation is the product.

Your data

All UK providers are subject to UK GDPR. Thriva uses anonymised data for research unless you opt out; Medichecks is owned by Sonic Healthcare, a global pathology group; Randox runs its own labs. Read the privacy policy before you send blood; it is the one document that matters here.

What your GP will test for free

Full blood count, kidney and liver, HbA1c, lipids, thyroid and vitamin D or B12 where there is a clinical reason. The NHS Health Check at 40 plus covers cholesterol and glucose. A private test makes sense for markers the NHS does not routinely offer, for speed, or for trends; it does not make sense as a substitute for a GP appointment you are avoiding.

When to see a GP

Any result flagged as outside the NHS reference range, before buying a repeat or a supplement
Symptoms with a normal result: tiredness, weight change, palpitations, pain
Any result the provider phones you about
Before any private test if you have an existing condition or take regular medication

NHS 111 online or by phone for urgent but non-emergency concerns. 999 for emergencies.

FAQs

Common questions

Which UK blood test is most accurate?

All the providers here use UKAS-accredited laboratories, so the analysis is equivalent. Accuracy differences come from sample method: venous draws are more reliable than finger-prick for some markers.

Is Thriva or Medichecks better?

Thriva for a simple subscription with GP comments; Medichecks for range, venous options and specialist panels. Prices are close; Medichecks has more choice.

Can I get a private blood test on the NHS?

Your GP can order the same tests for free where clinically indicated. Private tests are for speed, convenience or markers the NHS does not routinely run.

What happens if a private test finds something serious?

Providers with doctor review will contact you and advise seeing your GP urgently. Take the report to your GP; they may repeat the test before acting.

Sources

NHS · Blood tests
UKAS · laboratory accreditation
NHS Health Check · free check at 40 to 74
ICO · Health data · your rights over medical data

Pick your markers and see which panel is cheapest.

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