Blood Testing (Part 2) - How to Get Tests and How Much?

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 PhD 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. 

At a Glance

Regular blood testing is a core part of safe gender affirming hormone therapy, helping specialists monitor hormone levels, organ function and treatment risks. Eden New Life offers testing through a specialist private partner or via a patient’s GP, with each option differing in cost, convenience, turnaround times and reliability of results.

Why Blood Testing Matters During Hormone Therapy

Regular blood testing can monitor your gender hormone levels during therapy, ensuring treatment is effective, safe and tailored to your individual needs. 

This is the second of two articles about blood testing that explain your options and costs. Click here for part one.

What Blood Tests are Needed for Gender Affirming Hormones?

A different set of blood tests is required before starting any treatment. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Testosterone

• Oestradiol

• Prolactin

• Sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG)

• Fasting lipids

• FBC (Full blood count)

• HbA1c (diabetes)

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? 

• Type 1 is a comprehensive blood test

• Type 2 is a follow-up blood test for monitoring gender hormone levels in feminising treatment

• Type 3 is a follow-up blood test for monitoring gender hormone levels in masculinising treatment

You can conveniently order all these tests directly from Eden New Life. Once you understand which tests are needed, the next step is to decide where to have them carried out.

What Are the Options for Blood Tests for GAHT?

If you’ve been wondering where to get blood tests for transgender hormone therapy, here are two popular options from Eden New Life’s services:

1. Via Our Specialist Private Blood Testing Partner

We have partnered with Inuvi, one of the UK’s largest specialist testing laboratories, to enable our clients to have their blood drawn 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.

How Our Specialist Private Blood Testing Service Works

Our Inuvi private service is by far the most convenient and time-saving option for getting your blood tests during transgender hormone therapy. It always provides comprehensive, reliable diagnostic results and avoids the problems and delays that you may face with other options.

After taking a 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 one or two days, to our specialists for review. Your specialist will then discuss the results with you at your next scheduled session. However, they will always also contact you immediately 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. Please don’t make the mistake of trying to analyse your blood test results using AI or ‘Dr Google’ - they very often fail to understand the complexities of gender care. Your results will be very different to those of a cis person.

The blood tests from our specialist blood testing partner can be purchased on a PAYG (Pay-As-You-Go) basis as needed, or you can choose the Hormone Advisory Plus Plan, which includes the test costs. The Hormone Advisory Plus Plan allows you to spread the cost of private blood tests in your monthly subscription payments. 

Regardless, you will always receive clear guidance from our team on what test is needed and when to order it. Choose your plan to book your blood tests today.

Pros of Our Blood Testing Service

The use of our specialist network provides a convenient, efficient and fast route for your blood tests. Many of our clients find this the most hassle-free way to get 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 even if you are well prepared, warm and hydrated), we’ll provide you with a free retest. 

Cons of Our Blood Testing Service

These are private blood tests and not carried out by the NHS. You will therefore have to pay for them, either on a PAYG basis 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 a free template letter to request the required tests.

Your GP can send the results to us. But they are under no obligation to share the results with us directly, so you may need to obtain 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 ‘clinic’ report format that clearly shows your name, date of birth and the date of the test. (Please note that our specialists legally cannot accept NHS app screenshots, as they don't include all the required information about your tests.)

Compared with using 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 appointment availability 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 can not accept them.

Pros of Blood Tests with Your GP/NHS

 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 of Blood Tests with Your GP/NHS

There is a greater likelihood that it will take longer to get your blood tests done and get the results to us. There may be other complicating factors, such as incomplete results. It's your responsibility to ensure the right tests are completed and passed to us.

If your test results are delayed by your GP, you may experience a delay in receiving your next prescription and a break in medication. 

You are also, of course, entitled to use any other private blood testing service you wish. However, the “off-the-shelf” tests offered by many services may not meet our requirements. This means they may not include all the tests our specialists require. 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 and convenient 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, for example, if the wait is too long. With PAYG tests, the choice is yours. You can also switch between our blood test-inclusive Plus subscription plan and the regular subscription plan, if your needs change. We want our service to be convenient and meet your needs.

Tips to Ensure Your Blood Tests Go Smoothly

You have an important role to play in 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:

• Hydrate yourself: Make sure you’re well hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, for a whole day before the test. This makes your veins more accessible when the sample needs to be taken.

• Ensure your arm veins are accessible: Immerse your arms in warm (not hot!) water for 20 minutes just before the test. This will also make the veins more accessible during the test.

• Stay warm: 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.

• Keep the area clean: Avoid contamination of the needle with hormone gels. Here, you need to make sure the area used for the test has not come into contact with any gel, either through direct application or by contact.

If you have followed all the advice above and the health practitioner is still unable to obtain a sample from you, then we can arrange a second appointment 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 to purchase blood tests as and when needed (PAYG), or to spread the cost 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 expert health practitioner visiting you to take your blood sample, with all the necessary equipment

• The health practitioner sends your sample to the lab in specialist packaging

• Your results will be reviewed by an Eden blood specialist

• Our specialist will contact you should any result be amiss and urgent

• Our specialist writes an internal report regarding your results to guide your next review session, so your medication can be modified if necessary

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 is slightly cheaper than purchasing the tests individually over the year, and also allows you to spread the costs. See the table below to compare costs.

Blood Test Cost Comparison

You Choose	Annual Cost (4 tests)	Notes
NHS Tests (if available to you)	£0	It’s your responsibility to book and manage the tests, and get the results to us in the right format.
Eden Private Tests via PAYG	£165+£106+£106+£106 = £483	Pay when you order the test
Eden Private Tests via Plus Plan	£480 (the Plus plan is £40 more per month than the regular plan - £40 x £12 = £480)	Tests are £0 when you order them, but, your subscription is £40 higher each month

Choose Eden New Life for Support with Blood Testing

Regular blood testing is an important part of safe, effective gender affirming hormone therapy. At Eden New Life, benefit from structured and specialist-led care for transgender, non-binary and intersex adults across the UK.

When using our services for gender-affirming treatment, there are two options for getting the necessary blood tests: 

1. Using our specialist partner nurse network, or 

2. Getting the tests done by your GP

Our specialist clinical network helps simplify the blood testing process, so you can focus on your transition. If you need any advice or support with arranging your blood tests, book a session to talk to our team today.