Once you have chosen a test, the next question is practical: how does the blood get from you to the laboratory? BPR Clinic does not collect samples. Every test in the BPR catalogue is analysed by London Medical Laboratory (LML), a UKAS accredited laboratory, and the sample is collected in one of three ways: a home blood test kit, an LML collection point, or a phlebotomist who comes to you. This guide explains how each one works and how to pick.
Option 1: the home blood test kit
A home kit uses a finger-prick sample. It is sent by Royal Mail Tracked 24 to an address in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Orders received before 12pm are usually dispatched the same working day.
A few points make the difference between a sample the laboratory can use and one it cannot:
- Post it the same day. Each sample must be posted on the day it is taken, otherwise it will likely degrade. Every kit comes with a prepaid envelope addressed to the laboratory.
- Follow the kit instructions. A sample collected incorrectly or posted late can invalidate the result.
- Mind the date. The test is valid for three months from when the kit is posted to you.
Not every test works on a finger-prick. LML says these do: the Cholesterol Lipid Profile, Diabetes (HbA1c), Thyroid Function, Iron Status Profile and the General Health Profile. Research supports the idea for common chemistry tests: a 2025 validation study found that self-collected capillary blood was a reliable alternative to a venous sample for most of the 15 analytes it studied, with glucose and one liver enzyme as the exceptions (Geujar et al., 2025). The NHS also uses finger-prick cholesterol tests, for example during the NHS Health Check.
Option 2: an LML collection point
Some tests need a venous sample, taken from the arm. Anything that includes a Full Blood Count, such as the Tiredness/Fatigue Profile, falls into this group. For these, a collection point is the usual route.
When you order, you search for collection points near you by postcode, or by tapping "Use my location", which sends your location to LML only as coordinates for that search. You choose a point and book a time. The sample is taken there under the laboratory's procedures and sent to the laboratory on the same day. Arrive in good time for your appointment.
The NHS notes that if you are worried about needles, it helps to tell the person taking the sample, and that you can bring someone with you for support.
Option 3: a phlebotomist at home
A home visit by a phlebotomist is available on request only. Ask us before ordering and we will check whether the laboratory has someone available in your area. Nothing is booked or charged until we confirm with you. Home visits are for people aged 18 and over.
Age rules
- You must be 18 or over to order a test.
- Home kits are recommended from age 12.
- Collection points do not take blood from anyone under 16, and anyone aged 16 or 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Home visits are for ages 18 and over.
