Frequently Asked Questions
What is Compare Health Tests?

At Compare Health Tests we compare hundreds of health services and rank them on the things that matter, saving you time and money.


With record NHS waiting times and access to services increasingly difficult, many of us are looking for alternative ways to manage our health.


There a many good options available but it's hard to know where to start. That's where we come in.


We're on a mission to become the go-to  comparison service for private health services in the UK and beyond.

What is a Biomarker? 

A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood. Biomarkers in blood tests will differ depending on what the test is looking for.


Generally, the more biomarkers a test has, the more comprehensive it is. Typically these tests are more expensive.

Do I need an account to order through Compare Health Tests? 

No. Creating an account is completely optional but is a good way to keep in touch and save any search preferences in case you want to come back at a later date .

How is the review score calculated?
  • Compare Health Tests reviews a combination of scores for each provider from across the internet. We then combine them and provide a balanced score taking into account the average score and total number of reviews.


    These scores are updated regularly by our internal quality control team.



How are turnaround times calculated?

Turnaround Times vary by provider and represent the time it takes to provide a result on your sample.


We have provided the turnaround time each provider has advertised but be careful as there is not always a guarantee your sample will be turned around within the time frame.


In most cases, the turnaround time describes the time it takes for your sample to be processed once it's arrived at the lab, not from when you take the sample or post it back.

Is Compare Health free to use? 

Compare Health does not charge you for using the site - it's completely free and impartial.


Provider's listed on our website pay us a referral fee when you use their services.


We rank each provider based on their merits: price, customer satisfaction, the number of symptoms tested and how convenient their location is.

Are NHS services better than private?

No. Private clinics and NHS clinics are held to the same quality control standards and regulations - neither is generally more reliable than the other.


Often, the laboratories used by the Providers listed on this site, provide services to both the NHS and private patients.

Can I order tests directly from Compare Health Tests? 

No. Tests and services can only be ordered directly from the providers we have listed.


We're here to help you pick the right service for you, not to provide you with the service directly.

Who regulates laboratories in the UK? 

UKAS is the national accreditation body for the United Kingdom to accredit organisations that provide services, including certification, testing, inspection, and calibration.


All providers listed on our site use UKAS 15189 accredited laboratories. You can see the full list here


Being a 'Verified' Provider means our quality control team have confirmed these accreditations first hand. In cases where Providers are not 'Verified' we have relied on other sources, such as the UKAS website for confirmation of status.

Is a finger-prick test reliable? 

It's a common misconception that venous blood samples are more reliable than a finger-prick.

The benefits of finger-prick tests are that they're quick, convenient, and can be carried out at home.


Some tests require a venous sample collection as a larger volume is needed to check certain biomarkers. Currently we don't list these tests but you can read more about them here.