Private cholesterol testing - not DIY

[CocoChannel]

Hello all, I used to keep blood tests abroad, but I travel less now. The NHS will give tests every few years, but I’d like to keep an eye on my LDL figures.

I have tried at home kits with limited success. I just wondered about options for clinics who do this? I’m sort of OK to pay up to £80 but any more than this is getting pricey.

Any good recommendations? I’m in south west England/midlands but am often in London.

[Hidden]

Might your local pharmacy offer this service? Several do - and if they don't, they would undoubtedly be able to recommend you somewhere.

[CocoChannel in reply to Hidden]

I’ll check, but I always thought pharmacies offer the basic total cholesterol option.

[sandybrown]

Hello,

Blue crest do a package, phone number 08006522305.

I did their test for two years every 6 months before going to NHS plan.

A package is better than individual test. They offer GP help line 24/7 as well after the tests.

[CocoChannel]

Thanks 🙂 I’ve tried a company called medichecks. Funny way of doing it, but they send you a home test kit and you can then pay £30 to go and get pricked. I seem to have a phobia of doing it myself, and one time almost no blood came out. I went for a run and that did the trick. Painful though (the finger prick, not the run 😅 )

It’s unfortunate as in other countries, these blood tests (injection by a nurse) are very easy and cheap. Here we’re paying £100, but once or twice a year is well worth it I guess.

I’ll give blue crest a try. Seems to start at £149 for a few other tests added, but I’ll try the phone number. Thanks.

[sandybrown]

The benefit of blue crest is, you are sent a full report in colour with the the results, I have kept this as reference. I did the tests for 2 years.

You can discuss the results with a nurse, if the nurse cannot answer the questions, the nurse goes to a doctor to get answers and call you back very quickly.

I always took the first appointment in morning to look for blood numbers in a fasting stage.

Good luck and take care.