Disclosure: We were sent the product for free for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links see our disclosure policy for more information.
This year improving my health has been a top priority for me. Thriva recently got in touch to ask if I would like to test one of their home health blood test kits. They also very kindly offered an extra test to give away to one of my readers, make sure you read until the end to find out how to enter the giveaway.
As a Type 2 diabetic, I regularly have my blood checked as I’m at an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and a number of other conditions. With Thriva I was able to perform a quick finger prick test, send the sample and receive my results within 48 hours. No having to wait for an appointment or visit the doctor.
Thriva
Founded in 2016, Thriva offers a subscription-based service that’s all about preventative healthcare. There are three different subscription packages to choose from, Essential, Baseline and Advanced. Thriva also offers Thyroid testing too. You can choose how often you want to be sent a test and are free to cancel at any time.
How It Works
Once you receive your package you do a simple finger-prick test from the comfort of your home. Post the sample then wait for your results which you will arrive within 48 hours. Thriva uses accredited labs and methods to test your blood the same as the NHS does. Your results are always reviewed by a UK-qualified doctor too.
My Experience
I was sent the Baseline kit which checks your cholesterol, liver function, Iron profile, B12 (total) and Vitamin D which includes:
Alcohol swab
Lancet x 3
Cleaning wipe
Collection tube label
Protective plastic wallet
Return form & pre-paid mailer
Inside the kit, I also found an instruction leaflet with simple and clear instructions to follow. There is also a tips video you can watch that I found really helpful too.
I waited until first thing in the morning to take the test as it’s suggested that you fast for at least 8 hours before collecting your sample.
Pricking my finger was easy using the lancet and relatively painless. I then filled the collection tube to the required line and popped the lid back on. My blood flowed easily enough to fill the tube but there are spare lancets should you need to prick your finger again.
I filled in my information on the collection tube label and stuck it around the tube, then I secured it in the protective plastic wallet provided.
Collecting your sample should be done between Monday and Friday and posted the same day. I sent my sample off on Tuesday morning and received a text to say they had been received the following morning. My results were ready by Wednesday afternoon which is super impressive.
I logged into my dashboard to find really detailed but easy-to-understand results. The doctor explained my results in a way that I could understand and provided suggestions about the areas I needed to improve. The results also confirmed that my vitamin D and B12 levels were slightly low which is something I already suspected. I also need to reduce my cholesterol but there were some really good ideas included in my results to help me achieve this.
I really like the idea of being able to test my blood at home and get the results really quickly. This service is something I would definitely use again if I had a health concern or just wanted a check-up. It’s given me the motivation to get on with reducing my cholesterol through diet and exercise and making the necessary lifestyle changes to get myself back to optimum health.
Yes, I would defo prefer to test at home as it is so hard to get a docs appointment these days, and then I usually have to go up to our local hospital to get my bloods taken!
I think they’re a great idea. I would definitely prefer to do a blood test myself rather than visit the GP.
Would be so much more convenient to be able to do it yourself and it would mean that you don’t have to go through all the stress of trying to get an appointment.
No way ..doctors any day
Myself, keep it very private
Great idea to prevent GP visit!
I think it is a great idea for busy people that dont have time to fight for a drs appointment!
sounds like a good idea, may save a trip to the GP
It’s so difficult to get an appointment that I can definitely see the appeal!
A great idea to be able to do at home and get quick results
I think they are a great idea, and free up time for doctors too
great idea to do it at home
This is a great idea. I have to keep a close eye on my iron levels and I’d love to know if I’m deficient in anything.
I Like the idea of doing it at home as tend to get panicky at the doctors.
I think they’re a good idea. Time saving for both you and your GP.
I think this is a brill idea especially as you can never get a doctors appointment
I think it is an interesting idea, I would love to give this a try!
I think it’s a good idea, a lot quicker than waiting for a doctors appointment which is often very hard to get
I have never used one before, but it does sound interesting. I think I would prefer to do it myself.
yeah i think its a good idea for certain things x
would be great to do this by myself x
I think this is a great way to have a check up and diagnosis. It takes around two weeks to get an appointment to see a doctor, where i live, so this kit is idea.
I would love to be able to do them myself as I find it very difficult to get out.
I really like the idea of home blood test kits, as long as they are accurate! I’d always prefer to be able to do it myself rather than visit the GP – less hassle!
I think they’re a great idea! It would be so much easier than trying to get an appointment with my GP
Prefer at home – so hard to even get an app at the doctors – would feel more in charge of my health x
A great idea to save appointments and long queues at hospitals/doctors for tests
Obviously it’s best to see the GP. However, if tests like this are simple to use and can help take the pressure off GPs, it’s a positive step.
prefer home takes too long to get dr.s appointment
Great idea for a more detailed blood test.
It’s a brilliant idea to do it yourself at home!
I would prefer to do it at home it’s much easier.
I’ve never thought about having this done before, and I would much prefer to do it at home!
It’s much more proactive, we only tend to use the NHS when we are reactive.
Fascinating. And excellent value too. It’s a shame the NHS is so stretched that it cannot offer these tests as routine but if this gives someone piece of mind then that’s good.
I think these are a fantastic idea! I think it would be super helpful and beneficial to my health to have the tests and learn from the results. I think it would give me an insight into how my health is and if I need to make any changes. I would much prefer to do it this way rather than wait for an appointment with my doctor!
As with everything in life, these tests have their advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is the cost. In this country we are very proviledged to have the NHS which means we can go to our GP and request a blood test free of charge. The advantage to these tests is that we may want a blood test that our GP doesn’t think is necessary. Also, not everyone can get to their GP for an appointment due to work commitments etc so these tests would be pefect for them as they can do them in the comfort of their own home at a time that is most convenient to them.
This looks like an excellent idea – would love to try the product as it would be so easy
Would love to be able to do blood tests at home, have sometimes had to fast then no geot an appointment until later in the morning so very hungry!
Thats so useful! Thank you for the detailed information.
Yes, I hate visiting my GP (that’s if I can even get past the receptionist, who just gives me a nurse appointment).
It is certainly more convenient than visiting a GP.
i think it is a fantastic idea as its so hard to get a suitab le appointment at the gps now a days
great idea not having to go gp
more convenient and easier to do it at home i think
This is such a good idea. Would be so useful rather than having to wait weeks to get an appointment at doctor’s surgery.
Great technology.
it seems so easy to do. i am a bit of a wimp when it comes to blood so i think this maybe a better way to check a few things.
Yes it’s a good idea to do one at home saves you having to wait for a docs appointment they take too long
Sounds like a great idea. You can increase your own mineral/vitamin intake without the Dr if needed so saves time and waits for appointments
I think this is great, I’m a mum of three and it’s just so difficult to even find the time to attend a Dr’s appointment (let a lone try and get one in the first place!)
I hate visiting the drs so I would be a lot happier doing it myself at home x
I think it’s a great idea, I have difficulty going out and often do not have blood tests because of this so this would be ideal for me x
I think that it could be a great idea to do this test, then if there is something wrong you then can go to your GP
I think these are a brilliant idea, saves messing around getting a gp appointment unless it’s necessary
Do it yourself is much more convenient
This would be fab!
I think they are a fabulous idea….getting a Drs appointment isnt always the easiest thing to do at my surgery.
Much more convenient at home
Definitely more convenient to do it myself at home especially as juggling work and children is enough without having to go to the GP
Nothing worse than waiting around in the GP surgery, these seem a fab idea
this is an excellent idea – would save so much time x
I think for a busy working person an at home test kit is much more convenient to be honest! Fits in with my schedule which is pretty perfect really!
I think it’s a great idea for those who have a busy lifestyle x
This would be great! I’m a busy mum!
No experience of home blood testing as yet. Seeing the results of own tests may have more of an impact. As seeing the results for self, rather than maybe being doubtful :- Thinking can’t be true. Maybe there was a mistake/ error made at some point in the process, etc.
As an ex phlebotomist i think this is a fabulous idea. The amount of patients including myself who found that making a Drs appointment to suit their busy lifestyles, near on impossible, so this is just fabulous for getting quick results!