Home blood tests (Lola Health) opinions

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Has anyone used home blood test kits - specifically I'm looking at Lola Health? I find this kind of thing really interesting, I'd love to know especially about some vitamin levels etc as I often feel I don't absorb nutrients particularly well given my digestive issues.... but are they safe? Or worthwhile generally?

I heard about Lola Health on a podcast I listen to and it seems good - actually blood tests (not fingerprick) and a review of findings by a doctor not just factual... but it does seem weird at the same time!

Has anyone used them (or similar) and found it useful?

TIA!

Honestly? Any worries and you can usually get in the GP within 6 weeks and they can run the tests as they usually do it through the nurse. My friend did it and it was a con. I got GP blood tests back in the same time frame there or there abouts. Both of us were anaemic.

I guess i feel like I'd be wasting NHS time, as its more idle curiosity than due to any specific symptoms... Do you know what service/company your friend used - and what made it a con? Were her GP results totally different?

GP results were exactly the same and I could have predicted the results. Not sure on the company. Con was the need to spend money and sign up for regular checks.

I guess it depends on what you are wanting to check? If you think you may be low in some areas (eg D) then a good vitamin supplement will soon tell you within a few weeks if you were right. And most people in the UK should take D during the winter as we don't get enough sun. For things more complicated such as Iron or B12 then you are likely to need a GP appt anyway as you will either need tablets or injections, and oral supplements take much longer to kick in. In terms of other digestive issues it is always worth talking to your GP about these. There could be something else going on. Do you keep a food diary?

@Thingamebobwotsit That's a fair point that I'd need the GP for treatment anyway. I think what's on my mind is that I had (GP diagnosed) anaemia a few years back. They did a few tests (including a endoscopy/colonoscopy) because I had some other digestive issues too, but they never found a cause, and it sort of put down to "one of those things". I think I've always vaguely wondered if it happened because I just digest food very well, and if it happened for iron it could happen for other things too? When i raised this with the GP they were very dismissive at the time!

But i do wonder if I'm falling into "trying to seek a definitive answer for something" territory, which is not always possible with health..