A plain-English guide to your options — from a 150-marker clinical panel to a home phlebotomy draw that suits clients who cannot easily get to a clinic.
When a client says "I've had my bloods done," it usually means a GP has run a basic panel — perhaps a full blood count and thyroid TSH. What they've received is a yes/no safety check, not a picture of how their system is actually performing. The question "are you normal?" and the question "how are you functioning?" have completely different answers.
The range of options available now — from 57 markers to 150, from a clinic draw to a home visit from a qualified phlebotomist — means there is a workable path for almost every client. Cost, mobility, time, and how much clinical depth is needed will determine which route makes sense.
What follows is my honest assessment of the main options I use and recommend, including how each one fits into the TDG Five-Test Programme.
My minimum threshold for clinical usefulness is a panel that covers: full blood count with differential, comprehensive metabolic panel, a full thyroid assessment beyond TSH alone, lipid chemistry with sub-fractions, iron studies, sex hormones, key vitamins and minerals, inflammatory markers, and relevant metabolic markers like HbA1c, fasting insulin, and homocysteine. Below that threshold, the picture has too many gaps to be clinically actionable.
The Randox 150-marker panel and the Regenerus 57-marker panel both meet the clinical threshold in different ways. I use both — the choice depends on the complexity of the clinical picture, the client's budget, and what other tests are being run alongside.
Access to testing should not be limited by geography or physical capacity
Travel to a clinic, particularly fasted, is a significant ask for clients in their 70s or 80s. Home draw removes this barrier entirely and ensures the testing actually happens.
Chronic conditions affecting joints, energy, or stamina — fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, osteoarthritis, MS — make clinic visits effortful. Home draw is a clinical necessity for some, not a luxury.
A fasted morning draw at home, before a full working day, is far easier to schedule than an appointment across town. Removing friction means testing gets done.
Arranging childcare to attend a clinic while fasted is a genuine logistical challenge. Home draw, with the children present, turns an obstacle into a manageable task.
A familiar environment reduces anxiety significantly for needle-averse clients. Home draw, with time and comfort, can make testing possible for clients who would otherwise avoid it.
Not all of my clients are in Edinburgh. For those in rural Scotland or remote UK locations, there may be no Randox or private clinic within reasonable distance. Home draw solves this.
Key criteria across all four options
| Criteria | Randox 150 | Regenerus 57 | Bloods & Beyond | Superdrug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marker depth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 150 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 57 | Depends on lab | ⭐⭐ Basic |
| Home draw | ✗ | ✓ via service | ✓ Core service | ✗ |
| Approx. cost (test only) | ~£299 | ~£195 | £55–£95 (draw fee) | £49–£149 |
| Fasting insulin | ✓ | ✓ | Depends on panel | ✗ usually |
| Homocysteine | ✓ | ✓ | Depends on panel | ✗ usually |
| Full thyroid (incl. antibodies) | ✓ | ✓ (panel-dependent) | Depends on panel | ✗ usually |
| ApoB / Lp(a) | ✓ | Add-on | Depends on lab | ✗ |
| Suits elderly / mobility-limited | ✗ | With home draw | ✓ Designed for this | ✗ |
| TDG programme integration | ✓ Strong | ✓ Native | ✓ Via Regenerus | Limited |
Within the TDG Five-Test Programme, I build the cost of blood chemistry into the overall programme fee. This means clients do not pay separately for interpretation — the clinical analysis of their blood chemistry results is included in the practitioner fee, not charged as an additional consultation.
The cost of the test itself (the laboratory fee and any phlebotomy charge) is paid directly to the service provider. Depending on your circumstances, I will recommend either the Randox 150 or Regenerus 57 panel, and where home draw is the right choice, I will coordinate the Bloods & Beyond arrangement with you directly.
If you are unsure which option is right for you before booking, the discovery call is the right place to discuss it. I will give you a straight recommendation based on your clinical picture and practical situation.
Book a free discovery call. I'll give you a straight recommendation based on your situation — no obligation, no sales pitch.
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