Blood Testing Part 2 - How to get tests, and how much?
- Dr Deborah Black
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
By: Dr Deborah Black
Deborah is a member of the Client Care Team at Eden New Life, providing support to all our existing and potential new subscribers. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, and has several years’ experience assisting the provision of healthcare services for transgender, non-binary and intersex people. As a trans woman, Deborah has both the lived experience and insight into the issues and challenges facing our community.
This is the second of two articles about blood testing that explain your options and costs for blood tests.
What are the options for blood tests?
If you’re a paid subscriber to our service, there are two main options for blood tests:
1. Via our specialist private blood testing partner
We are partnered with Inuvi, one of the UK’s largest specialist testing laboratories, to enable our clients to have their blood draw done at home (or at any other convenient location) by a trained health practitioner. When you order a test, the practitioner will contact you directly to arrange a convenient time to visit.
Together with Inuvi, we have developed the three unique blood tests (Types 1, 2 & 3) listed in our first article on blood testing: Blood Testing Part 1 - Which tests and why? These tests can only be ordered directly from Eden New Life.
Our Inuvi private service is by far the most convenient and time-saving option for your blood tests. It always provides comprehensive, reliable diagnostic results and avoids the problems and delays that you might face when using other options.
After taking the blood sample from your arm, the Inuvi health practitioner will dispatch it to a laboratory on the same day. The results are then passed digitally - typically within two or three days - to our specialists for review. The specialist will then discuss the results with you at your next scheduled session. However, they will also contact you by phone or SMS if they note anything of concern requiring urgent attention. If you wish, you can ask for a copy of the results after the session with the specialist. We prefer not to send you the results beforehand in case there is any misunderstanding on your part. We don’t want you to have any unnecessary worries!
The blood tests from our specialist blood testing partner can either be purchased on a PAYG (Pay-As-You-Go) basis when they are needed, or you can choose the Hormone Advisory Plus Plan which includes the test costs. The Hormone Advisory Plus Plan allows you to spread out the cost of the private blood tests in your monthly subscription payments.
You will always be given clear guidance by our team on what test is needed and when to order it.
Pros: The use of our specialist network provides for a convenient, efficient and fast route for your blood tests. Many of our clients find this to be the most hassle-free route for getting their blood tests done.
As phlebotomy (blood draw) specialists, Inuvi health practitioners have access to specialist techniques and equipment, such as butterfly needles, if you typically struggle to provide blood samples.
If the health practitioner is unable to take your sample (and you are warm and hydrated) we’ll provide you with a free retest.
Cons: These are private blood tests and not carried out by the NHS. You will therefore have to pay for them, either PAYG or as part of your monthly Eden subscription.
2. Your GP/NHS
The second option for getting your blood tests done is to ask your GP if they would be willing to help. We need to say at the outset, however, that your GP is not obliged to do these tests for you.
If your GP is willing to help with your blood tests we can provide you with a free template letter that you can use to request the tests required.
Your GP can send the results to us. But, again, they are under no obligation to share the results with us directly, and so you may need to get a copy of the results yourself and send them to us electronically (i.e. by WhatsApp or email). The blood test results must be in a consolidated, report format showing clearly your name, date of birth and the date of the test. Please note that we can’t accept NHS app screenshots as these do not include all the required information about your tests.
In comparison to the use of our private testing service, there is a greater likelihood of delays when using your GP for the blood tests. This can stem from issues ranging from the availability of appointments to delays in getting all the required results. If your GP surgery does not order the test correctly and some results are missed then our specialists will not accept them.
Pros: If your GP is willing to do the tests, there will be no cost associated with them. Another advantage could be that your GP will first see the results and will be more aware of your gender-affirming care with us.
Cons: There is a greater likelihood that it will take longer to get your blood tests done and get the results to us. There can be other complicating factors, such as the results provided being incomplete. It's your responsibility to get the right tests completed and passed to us.
If your test results are delayed due to your GP, you may experience a delay in getting your next prescription, and so experience a break in medication.
You are also, of course, entitled to use any other private service you wish. However, the “off-the-shelf” tests that many services provide may not be suitable for our requirements (i.e they may not include all the tests required by our specialists). If you get the wrong tests our specialist will reject them, and you may have wasted time and money. This is the reason we have developed our own unique test solution with Inuvi.
Tip - mix and match
Our PAYG tests give you the maximum flexibility. For example, you might choose to use our private service for your first (comprehensive) test, while you contact your GP regarding future tests. If the GP agrees to provide tests, then you can use the NHS for blood testing from that point on, or, buy our tests as needed if you find your GP tests are inconvenient at any time, for example, if the wait is too long. With PAYG tests the choice is yours.
Tips to make sure your blood test goes smoothly
You have an important role to play when it comes to your blood testing. Even the most skilled phlebotomists can struggle to take your blood sample if you are not adequately prepared.
Here are some tips that can ensure that your blood test goes as smoothly as possible:
Make sure you’re well hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, before the test. This makes your veins more accessible when the sample needs to be taken.
Immerse your arms in warm water (not too hot, don’t burn yourself) before the test. This will also make the veins more accessible during the test.
Make sure you’re not feeling cold. When you’re cold, your body constricts the blood vessels near the surface of your skin, making them smaller and harder to draw blood from.
Avoid contamination of the needle with hormone gels (i.e. make sure the area used for the test has not come in contact with any gel - either through direct application or by touching the area).
If you have followed all the advice above and the health practitioner is still unable to obtain a sample from you, then a second appointment can be arranged free of charge.
Spreading the cost of blood tests
Our partnership with Inuvi has allowed us to offer you competitively-priced high quality blood tests tailored to your needs. We offer our clients the option of purchasing the blood tests as and when they are needed (PAYG), or, you can spread the cost of blood tests over the year with our Hormone Advisory Plus Plan.
Private blood tests are not cheap, but they are good value when you consider what they include:
the health practitioner visiting you to take your blood sample, and all the necessary equipment
the health practitioner sending your sample to the lab in specialist packaging
your results being reviewed by an Eden blood specialist
our specialist contacting you should any result be amiss and urgent
our specialist writing an internal report regarding your results to guide your next review session
The Hormone Advisory Plus Plan includes an additional monthly amount to cover the blood test fees. Arranging your blood tests through the Hormone Advisory Plus Plan works out to be slightly more expensive than purchasing the tests individually over the year, but it has the advantage of allowing you to spread the costs out. See the table below to compare costs.
Summary: when using Eden New Life services for gender-affirming treatment, there are two options for getting the necessary blood tests:
1) the use of our specialist partner nurse network, or
2) getting the tests done by your GP
If you need any advice or support in getting your blood tests arranged, you can contact our team at any time. Best regards, Deborah
Blood Test Cost Comparison
Prices as of 29 October 2025
