Medichecks was one of the first UK private blood testing services and they built a strong brand doing it. But if you want comprehensive testing with real depth, there are gaps worth knowing about.
| Feature | TrueVitals | Medichecks |
|---|---|---|
| Most comprehensive panel | 200+ biomarkers (Signature, £799) | ~58 biomarkers (Optimal Health, ~£199) |
| Best value panel | 114 biomarkers (Ultimate, £349) | ~58 biomarkers (~£199) |
| Entry panel | 74 biomarkers (Advanced, £269) | ~38 biomarkers (Essential, ~£89) |
| Collection method | Venous only (clinic £19 / home £39) | Finger-prick default (+£25-59 for venous) |
| Full hormone panel | Testosterone, SHBG, LH, FSH, oestradiol, progesterone, prolactin, cortisol, DHEA-S | Partial (testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol in some panels) |
| Full thyroid | TSH + Free T3 + Free T4 + antibodies | TSH + Free T4 (no Free T3 in comprehensive panels) |
| ApoB | Included from Advanced | Not in standard panels |
| Lp(a) | Included in Ultimate | Not in standard panels |
| Insulin / HOMA-IR | Included in Ultimate | Not included |
| Tumour markers | 7 markers in Ultimate | Available as separate add-ons only |
| Report format | 30+ page personalised AI report | Online dashboard with doctor comments |
| Medical review | Every report reviewed before release | GP comments available as add-on |
| Turnaround | 48 hours | 3-5 working days |
| Individual test catalogue | Panel-based only | 300+ individual tests |
Medichecks offers over 300 individual tests, and you can build custom panels. But their pre-built comprehensive panels, which is what most customers buy, miss several important categories.
The active thyroid hormone. Medichecks' comprehensive panels include TSH and Free T4 but not Free T3, which means subclinical thyroid conversion issues are invisible. This is the marker that explains why you still feel tired despite a "normal" TSH.
The single best predictor of cardiovascular risk, better than LDL cholesterol. Not included in Medichecks' standard panels. You would need to add it separately. TrueVitals includes it from the Advanced panel.
A genetic cardiovascular risk factor that you only need to test once. Elevated in approximately 20% of the population. Not routinely included by Medichecks. Included in TrueVitals Ultimate.
The markers that reveal insulin resistance years before HbA1c or fasting glucose become abnormal. This is where early metabolic disease lives. Not included in any Medichecks panel.
PSA (men), CA-125, CA 15-3 (women), CEA, CA 19-9. Available as individual Medichecks add-ons, but not included in their comprehensive panels. TrueVitals Ultimate includes 7 tumour markers.
Medichecks includes testosterone and oestradiol in some panels, but FSH, progesterone, prolactin, and cortisol are missing from their comprehensive options. You cannot assess fertility, menopause, or adrenal function without them.
This is the biggest difference and the one most people do not consider until after they have received their results.
Medichecks delivers results via an online dashboard. Each biomarker gets a value, a reference range, and a flag (normal, borderline, or abnormal). Doctor comments are available as an add-on. There is no cross-system analysis explaining how your markers relate to each other, no lifestyle context, and no personalised recommendations.
TrueVitals delivers a 30+ page personalised report. AI cross-references your results across every health system simultaneously, processing over 6,400 possible interactions for the Ultimate panel. Your lifestyle quiz data (goals, symptoms, diet, exercise, stress, sleep) is layered into the analysis. You receive personalised supplement recommendations with specific forms, doses, and timing. Calorie and protein targets based on your actual metabolic data. And every report is reviewed by a medical professional before release.
A dashboard tells you what is high or low. A report tells you what it means, why it matters, how your markers connect, and what to do about it. See how our reports work or see a real customer's report.
Medichecks is not a bad service. For certain use cases, it is the right one.
If you want to check one specific marker (e.g. just testosterone, just thyroid, just vitamin D), Medichecks' catalogue of 300+ individual tests is hard to beat. TrueVitals is panel-based, which means you get comprehensive coverage but you cannot order a single marker in isolation.
If budget is your primary concern, Medichecks' entry-level tests start lower than TrueVitals. You trade depth and report quality for a lower price point.
If you want a finger-prick home kit, Medichecks provides that. TrueVitals does not offer finger-prick collection because the sample quality is insufficient for panels above approximately 40 markers. If you prefer the convenience of a home kit and are only checking a small number of markers, Medichecks works.
But if you want the full picture, not fragments of it, and you want a report that actually explains what your results mean for you specifically, TrueVitals is the better choice. Take our 2-minute quiz to find the right panel for your goals.
For comprehensive health testing, yes. TrueVitals tests up to 200+ biomarkers with venous collection and a 30+ page AI-powered report. Medichecks maxes out at approximately 58 in their pre-built panels. For checking one or two specific markers, Medichecks' individual test catalogue is more flexible.
Medichecks defaults to finger-prick home kits. Venous collection is available at partner clinics for approximately £25 extra, or via a nurse home visit for approximately £59 extra. TrueVitals uses venous collection for every panel, from £19 at a clinic or £39 at home. Why venous collection matters.
Medichecks' Optimal Health panel costs approximately £199 for ~58 biomarkers. TrueVitals Advanced is £269 for 74 biomarkers and Ultimate is £349 for 114 biomarkers. Per biomarker, TrueVitals is better value at the comprehensive level, and that is before factoring in the report quality difference.
Yes. Many TrueVitals customers previously used Medichecks and switched for deeper coverage and better reporting. Your TrueVitals report can serve as a new baseline, and repeat tests over time will track your trends going forward.
The TrueVitals Advanced panel (74 biomarkers, £269) covers everything in Medichecks Optimal Health plus full hormones, full thyroid with Free T3, ApoB, cardiac markers, and deeper nutritional profiling. The Ultimate panel (114, £349) goes significantly further with tumour markers, insulin resistance, and autoimmune screening. Compare all panels.
Up to 200+ biomarkers. Venous collection. AI-powered personalised reporting. Medical professional review on every report.
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