What is the NowPatient Home Health Testing service?
NowPatient’s Home Health Testing service lets you investigate health concerns or simply confirm you are in good health, all from the comfort of your home. You order a certified test kit, collect your sample following simple step-by-step instructions, and return it using the prepaid packaging provided.
Once your results are ready, a licensed clinician will review them with you in a live video consultation, explaining what your results mean in plain language and advising on next steps. Your results are then available in your account to view, share, or download at any time.
What is a biomarker?
A biomarker, or biological marker, is something that can be measured to provide information about an individual’s health or the presence of disease. NowPatient’s home health tests use biomarkers to identify normal or abnormal processes in the body, detect illnesses, monitor how a condition is progressing, or determine how well a treatment is working.
Biomarkers are clinically valuable because they:
Enable early detection of diseases
Assist in selecting the most appropriate treatments
Help monitor recovery or measure treatment success
Provide a picture of overall or specific health status
How much does Home Health Testing cost?
Home Health Testing is currently a private, paid-for service. In the UK, NHS funding may become available in the future. In the US, coverage through your health insurance plan may be possible; however, this depends on the terms of your specific plan. Please check with your insurer.
Is the service available in both the UK and the US?
Yes. NowPatient Home Health Testing is available to users in both the United Kingdom and the United States. The tests available and the laboratory standards differ by country — see the sections below for details on which tests are available in each region.
Which Home Health Tests are available in the United Kingdom?
NowPatient offers the following Home Health Tests for UK customers:
Kidney Function test
Liver Function test
Vitamin D test
Testosterone test
Cholesterol test
Diabetes test
Syphilis test
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea test
Ovarian Cancer (CA 125) test
HIV test
7 in 1 STI test
Nuts and seeds allergy test
Food allergy test
Milk and milk proteins allergy test
Shellfish allergy test
Atopic Dermatitis / Eczema Profile test
Allergic Rhinitis / Asthma Profile test
Which Home Health Tests are available in the United States?
NowPatient offers the following Home Health Tests for US customers:
2 Panel STI test
6 Panel STI test
10 Panel STI test
Testosterone test
Men’s Panel hormone test
Women’s Panel test
How do I find a specific test?
The Home Health Testing Service Card can be found in the ‘Private Care’ section of your account homepage. From the Options Menu on the card, select ‘View Tests’. You can then search for a specific test by name using the search box, or browse the full range of available tests. Select ‘View Test’ to learn more about a particular test and its benefits. Once you have made your choice, click ‘Add to Cart’ to proceed.
Are the Home Health Tests safe and reliable?
Yes. All NowPatient test kits are produced and processed to certified laboratory standards and undergo regular internal and external quality control.
What are the UK laboratory and kit standards?
Our UK laboratory operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is the UK’s largest diagnostic laboratory service. It is UKAS and ISO-certified. UK test kits are:
Certified by UKAS and CE-marked
Registered with the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for distribution in the UK only
Fitted with an outer seal design and tamper-proof seal, with product and regulatory information printed on the packaging
Available in multi-language translations
Supplied with a warnings and precautions section containing detailed information for both healthcare organisations and patients
Accompanied by video instructions supporting the specific sample collection process. Videos are designed to emphasise the important steps associated with capillary blood sampling and do not supersede or replace the specific end-user instructions provided with each kit
What are the US laboratory and kit standards?
Our US laboratory is CLIA-certified and registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. US test kits are:
CLIA-certified
Registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health
Fitted with an outer seal design and tamper-proof seal
Available in multi-language translations
Accompanied by video instructions for sample collection. Videos do not supersede or replace the specific end-user instructions provided with each kit
Are remote video consultations safe?
Yes. NowPatient has specific safeguards and protocols in place. Our video technology platform is certified to the highest industry standards of data security and clinical governance.
How do I order a Home Health Test?
The Home Health Testing Service Card can be found in the ‘Private Care’ section of your account homepage. From the Options Menu on the card, select ‘View Tests’. Browse or search for your test, select ‘View Test’ to learn more, then click ‘Add to Cart’ when ready. Complete your purchase by following these checkout steps:
Go to your Cart using the account navigation
Select ‘Checkout’
Select your delivery address
Select your delivery method
Confirm your billing address
Review your order
Submit payment
Order confirmed
Return to your account homepage
What happens after I have placed my order?
Once your order is confirmed, the process from kit delivery to results follows these steps:
Kit delivery: Your Home Health Testing Kit will be delivered to your home or preferred delivery address.
Collect your sample at home: Follow the step-by-step instructions included in the kit to collect your sample. Video instructions are also provided to guide you through the important steps.
Return your sample: Place your sample in the prepaid return packaging provided and post it back to our laboratory. UK customers can use any Royal Mail post box. US customers can use any USPS collection point. Samples are fully tracked.
Results are processed: Once your sample is received and analysed, you will receive a notification letting you know your results are ready. Results can take up to 10 working days to process from the day we receive your sample. Your results will appear in your Documents Folder but will remain locked until after your consultation.
Book your consultation: When you receive your results notification, a ‘Book Consultation’ button will appear within the notification. You can schedule a live video consultation with one of our licensed clinicians to review your results. See the booking steps below.
View your results: After your consultation, your results and any referral letter issued will be available in your Documents Folder for you to view, download, and share with any healthcare provider.
Is there a best time to return my sample?
Yes. We do not recommend returning samples between Friday noon and Monday morning due to potential postal delays over the weekend. Posting your sample during this window may affect processing times.
How do I return my sample to the laboratory?
A prepaid return packaging system is included with every kit. Simply place your collected sample inside and send it from any Royal Mail post box (UK customers) or USPS collection point (US customers). All return samples are fully tracked.
How long will my results take?
Results can take up to 10 working days to process from the day the laboratory receives your sample. Once your results are ready, you will receive a notification prompting you to book your clinician consultation.
Why might my sample not be processed?
Occasionally, a sample cannot be processed if it does not meet the quality, volume, or eligibility criteria required by the laboratory. Sometimes the laboratory is able to rectify the situation without requiring a new sample, though turnaround times may be affected. Samples cannot be processed if:
An incorrect sample type is received
Samples are received unprotected from light when they were required to be covered at the point of collection
Samples are received in incorrect containers
No sample is received
Samples are mislabelled, unlabelled, or submitted without forms or clinical information
Samples are broken or have leaked in transit
Samples are contaminated (for example, by being in the same bag as a leaking sample)
Sample stability time has been exceeded (stability times are test-dependent and may also refer to tests that can only be processed on certain days of the week)
Samples are received in expired tubes
Samples are packaged with needles of any kind (the laboratory will not accept these)
Samples fall short of the required quality or volume criteria
How do I book my clinician consultation?
Once you receive notification that your results are ready, follow these seven steps to book your live video consultation:
Initiate booking: Select ‘Book Consultation’ from within the results notification.
Choose a date: Select your preferred consultation date and add any notes that might assist the clinician. Click ‘Continue’.
Choose a time: Select your preferred consultation time from the available slots and click ‘Continue’.
Choose a clinician: View available clinicians and select the one you prefer. You can filter by gender and spoken languages. Click ‘Continue’.
Review your booking: Check your booking summary and read the ‘Pre-consultation Requirements’ advisory for guidance on how to prepare for your video consultation. Click ‘Continue’.
Safety information and reminders: Provide your consultation address and emergency contact details. You can opt in to receive an SMS reminder 30 minutes before your appointment.
Confirm your booking: Click ‘Confirm Booking’. A confirmation pop-up will appear and you will be redirected to your account homepage. You will also receive in-app and push notifications confirming the appointment.
What happens during the consultation?
Your video consultation with a licensed NowPatient clinician is structured to give you a clear, personalised understanding of your results:
Introduction and identity verification: The clinician will introduce themselves and confirm your identity to ensure privacy and confidentiality.
Review of your test results: The clinician will walk you through your results, explaining what each value means in simple, understandable terms. For example, if your cholesterol is elevated, they will explain what that means for your health.
Personalised interpretation: The clinician will consider your health history, lifestyle, and any symptoms you report to provide context and a more accurate, personalised interpretation of your results.
Health advice and recommendations: Based on your results, the clinician may suggest lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, or recommend further testing or follow-up care. If results indicate something requiring medical attention, they may advise you to consult your doctor or a specialist.
Your questions answered: You will have dedicated time to ask questions and discuss any concerns. The goal is to ensure you leave the consultation with a clear understanding of your health status and recommended next steps.
Post-consultation summary: After the consultation, you will receive a notification summarising the key outcomes. This will confirm whether a referral letter to your GP was issued. If a referral was made, a copy of the letter will be available in the Documents Folder. Your test results will also be unlocked, allowing you to view, download, and share them with any healthcare provider.
Where do I find my results after the consultation?
After your consultation, your results and any referral letter issued will be available in your Documents Folder for you to view, download, and share with any healthcare provider. Before your consultation, your results will appear in the Documents Folder but remain locked.
Can a treatment be prescribed based on my results?
Our prescribing clinicians may be able to provide a private treatment plan based on your results, subject to their clinical judgement. Please note that we do not operate a service where patients can request a specific medication. Prescribing decisions rest entirely with the clinician.
Are my results confidential?
Yes. NowPatient follows strict General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which came into force in May 2018. These place legal requirements on us to manage your personal data securely and with the utmost confidentiality. Records are maintained of the processing carried out, and any breaches of regulation are reported as required. Our platform is also HIPAA-compliant, meaning we are able to handle Protected Health Information (PHI) securely for US customers.
What are the limitations of Home Health Testing?
All test kits carry a certain level of inherent inaccuracy, so results should be taken as estimates rather than definitive diagnoses. All tests are performed in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and test performance is regularly monitored through both internal and external quality control processes for result interpretation.
Should I rely solely on my Home Health Test results to make health decisions?
No. Your test results should be considered alongside a clinician’s interpretation — which is why every result comes with a live video consultation. If your results indicate something that requires further medical attention, your clinician will advise you to consult your doctor or a specialist. Home Health Testing is a valuable tool for health awareness and monitoring, not a replacement for clinical diagnosis or ongoing medical care.