A venous draw is a standard blood test, taken from a vein in your arm by a trained phlebotomist.
Booking your appointment
Once you've ordered your test, we have different venous appointment options for you to choose from:
We can arrange for a healthcare professional from our partner service Heim to visit you at home to collect your sample, on a day and time that works for you. This service costs an additional £60 and is paid directly to Thriva.
Or you can make your own arrangements to have your sample collected by a phlebotomist or at a clinic of your choice.
To arrange a venous appointment, email us at hello@thriva.co and we'll be happy to help.
Before your appointment
Make sure you've received your venous testing kit
We recommend that you fast for 8 hours before having your sample collected
Drink plenty of water the day before — well-hydrated veins are much easier to find
Wear something with sleeves you can roll up easily
Have a form of photo identification ready at the appointment to show the practitioner
On the day of your appointment
The appointment itself usually takes around 10 minutes. The phlebotomist will:
Confirm your details and check your booking
Find a suitable vein (usually in the crook of your elbow)
Take the sample into the tubes provided — this part takes only a minute or two
Apply a small dressing and check you're feeling okay before they leave
If you've had trouble with blood draws in the past, just mention it when they arrive — they're trained to make it as comfortable as possible.
After your appointment
You'll need to drop your sample in a postbox back to the lab. Once they receive your sample, you should receive your results within 2 working days (unless your test package includes an omegas test). We'll let you know you as soon as they're ready.
It's normal to have a small bruise where the needle went in — this should fade within a few days. Keep the dressing on for a couple of hours, drink plenty of water, and avoid heavy lifting on that arm for the rest of the day.
Need to reschedule or cancel your at-home appointment?
If you've booked an at-home venous draw, you can manage your appointment using the booking link in your confirmation email.
If you're having trouble rescheduling or cancelling, please get in touch with us at hello@thriva.co as soon as possible.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your at-home phlebotomy appointment, please contact us at least two working days before your appointment.
Unfortunately, any cancellation requests made 48 hours or less (excluding weekends) before your appointment will not be eligible for a refund.
Common questions
How much blood is taken? One or two sample tubes, depending on which tests are in your panel.
Can I bring someone with me? Yes, always. If you're nervous about needles, having a friend or partner there can really help.
What if I move home or change my mind about the location? No problem — get in touch at least 48 hours before your appointment, and we'll help you change this.
Related articles: