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 a venous test, we'll send some information on how to book your appointment. You can choose between:
An at-home appointment — a phlebotomist from our partner service Heim visits you at home, or at a location of your choosing. This service costs an additional £60, which is paid directly to Thriva.
A clinic appointment — pop in to a partner clinic near you.
You'll be able to see availability across both options when you book.
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?
You can manage your appointment from the booking link in your confirmation email.
If you're having trouble rescheduling or cancelling your booking, please get in touch with us at hello@thriva.co as soon as possible.
If you've booked an appointment using our at home phlebotomist provider, please get in touch with us at least two working days before your appointment if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. 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.
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