Blood draw at home, without a referral
A BIG-registered nurse comes to your home, draws blood from the arm, and an accredited laboratory runs the analysis. You do not need a GP referral and you do not have to travel anywhere.
At-home blood draws already exist in the Netherlands, but almost always in one form: a hospital or thrombosis service visiting people who can no longer leave the house, on a doctor's request. If you simply want to know your values, you fall outside that arrangement.
Mario Test works the other way around. You decide what gets measured, the draw comes to you, and no doctor has to sign off on it. It is an ordinary venipuncture from the arm, so the same tubes and the same assays as at a collection point.
Not sure which markers you need?
Send a WhatsApp describing your situation. Mario answers personally, usually the same day. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Book your blood test now. Reachable Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 18:00.
What a home draw actually solves
You do not travel across town while fasting
Many assays require fasting blood. At a collection point that means getting up, not eating, travelling, waiting, and only then having blood drawn. At home you get out of bed and sit down at your own table five minutes later. That removes discomfort, and it removes stress, which is itself a factor in values like cortisol and glucose.
Morning values only work if you draw in the morning
Testosterone and cortisol peak in the early morning and decline after that. The reference ranges your lab compares you against are built on draws taken before 10:00. Draw at 14:00 and you are comparing an afternoon value against a morning reference. Mario visits in the morning, so that problem does not arise.
A venipuncture is not a finger prick
With a mail-order finger-prick kit you lance yourself, sometimes several times, and have to squeeze enough drops into a tube. If that does not quite work, too little material arrives or the sample is damaged. A venipuncture takes enough blood for the whole panel in one go.
How an appointment goes
- You message or call. We briefly discuss what you want to know and which markers fit. You hear the price immediately.
- We book a slot. Usually within a few days. Hormones and cortisol are scheduled before 10:00.
- The draw takes about ten minutes, at your own kitchen table.
- The lab runs the analysis. Tubes go to the laboratory the same day.
- You get your results with an explanation, within 1 to 5 working days. Specialist assays can take up to 14 working days.
How to prepare
- Fast where required. At least 8 hours without food for glucose, insulin and triglycerides. Water is fine and helps the draw.
- Drink enough. A well-filled vein is easier to draw from.
- No hard training the day before. It affects creatine kinase, hs-CRP and liver values.
- Take your medication as usual, unless we agreed otherwise.
- A chair and a table is all you need. Everything else comes along.
What it costs
* All prices apply to a blood draw at your home within the A10 ring. One fixed price, everything included: a BIG-registered nurse who draws your blood at home, the materials, the analysis by a recognised laboratory and a report you understand. Live outside it? Then the price is on request: WhatsApp your postcode and what you want tested.
If you live further from Amsterdam, the travel time is part of what the visit costs. That is a trade-off in the model, which is why you get the amount beforehand rather than on a bill afterwards. Request a quote or send a WhatsApp with your postcode. More on reimbursement on the costs page.
Where we come
Based in Amsterdam, covering the whole of the Netherlands. The draw can also take place at your office or gym rather than your home address.
Popular panels for a home draw
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral from a GP?
No.
You order the test yourself and pay for it yourself, which is allowed in the Netherlands. The flip side is that you also carry the cost: preventive testing without a medical indication is not covered by basic insurance.
Is blood taken from the arm or the finger?
From the arm, an ordinary venipuncture.
Enough blood is taken in one go for the entire panel. You do not prick yourself, and there is no risk of supplying too little material as there is with a finger-prick kit.
How long does the visit take?
About ten minutes.
That includes preparation, the draw itself and finishing up. If you want to discuss a previous result, we plan extra time.
Can I get an early morning appointment?
Yes, and for some assays it is necessary.
Testosterone and cortisol are drawn before 10:00 because the reference ranges are based on that window. Fasting assays are scheduled early for the same reason.
Do I need to fast?
Only for certain markers.
Glucose, insulin and triglycerides need at least 8 hours without food. Vitamin D, B12, ferritin and thyroid values do not. You hear beforehand what applies to your panel.
When do I get my results?
Usually within 1 to 5 working days.
Specialist assays such as the omega-3 index can take up to 14 working days. Results come by email, with an explanation per value and a comparison against both the lab reference and the stricter target range.
Do you come outside Amsterdam?
Yes, across the Netherlands.
Within the A10 ring the draw at your home is included in the fixed price. Outside it the price is on request: WhatsApp your postcode and what you want tested, and you hear the total in advance.
What happens if something comes back abnormal?
You are advised to see your GP.
Mario Test does not diagnose and does not prescribe. The report states per value whether it warrants a doctor looking at it.
Note: a blood test gives you insight and direction. It does not prove or rule out a condition on its own. Results are meant for prevention and for tracking change over time, not as a diagnosis. For symptoms or values outside the reference range, see your GP.