Before your appointment

Prepare for your Orchis IV service.

Use the section for the service you booked. Your confirmation may contain additional instructions for your particular laboratory test, device or programme; those specific instructions always take priority.

Important for every serviceHave photo identification ready and complete any secure form sent to you before the visit. Do not stop, delay or change prescribed medicines unless the clinician responsible for your care has told you to do so. Contact Orchis IV before the appointment if you are acutely unwell, cannot follow an instruction or are unsure which guidance applies.

Pathway 1

Mobile blood collection

This applies to Bring Your Own Kit and GP, consultant or clinic requested blood tests.

Before the nurse arrives

Follow the exact fasting, timing and medicine instructions supplied by the requesting clinician, laboratory or kit provider. Do not fast unless you have been instructed to fast.
Unless you have been advised to restrict fluids, drink water normally the day before and on the morning of collection.
Have the complete kit, correct tubes, labels, request form, packaging and return instructions ready. Check expiry dates and do not open sterile items.
Confirm who is responsible for receiving or transporting the samples and whether a GP surgery or clinic has agreed to accept them.
Prepare a clean, private area with a chair, stable working surface and access to handwashing.
Tell the nurse about previous fainting, difficult collection, medicines that affect bleeding, relevant allergies or an arm that should not be used.

Fasting: if fasting has been specifically requested, follow the stated duration and have plain water only unless your requester has given different instructions. If you have diabetes, are pregnant, take medicines with food or are unsure whether fasting is safe, contact the responsible clinician before fasting.

Pathway 2

Diagnostic health packages

This applies to the Diabetes, Cardio Metabolic, Women's Complete Health, PCOS, Perimenopause, Hair and Energy, Men's Complete Health, Thyroid and Endocrine, Nutrition and Deficiency, and Liver, Renal and GI profiles.

Have this information ready

Your current medicines and supplements, including names, doses and when you last took them.
Relevant diagnoses, allergies, operations, current concerns and a brief timeline of symptoms.
Relevant family history, especially diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney, liver, thyroid or hormone conditions.
Your GP surgery details and any recent results, clinic letters or home readings that may help provide context.
Information about smoking, alcohol, diet, activity, sleep and other lifestyle factors relevant to the package.

Blood tests and measurements

Follow only the fasting or test timing instructions sent for your package. Many tests do not require fasting, so do not assume.
Drink water normally unless you have a fluid restriction.
Wear light, comfortable clothing that allows blood pressure, waist and body composition measurements.
Meals, hydration and recent exercise can affect body composition estimates. Follow any instructions for the device sent with your confirmation and, for repeat measurements, try to attend under similar conditions each time.
Tell Orchis IV in advance if you may be pregnant, have an implanted electronic medical device or need mobility support, because some measurements may need to be adjusted or omitted.

Diabetes and Cardio Metabolic packages

Have a list of diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol medicines, recent home readings and any relevant GP or diabetes review information ready. If urine ACR is included, use only the container and collection instructions supplied by Orchis IV or the laboratory. An early morning sample may be requested. The Cardio Metabolic package includes an ECG, so also read the ECG preparation.

Women's Complete Health, PCOS and Perimenopause

Have the first day of your last menstrual period, usual cycle length and pattern, relevant symptoms, contraception, HRT, fertility treatment and pregnancy information ready where applicable. Follow any cycle timing instructions sent for your tests. Do not stop contraception, HRT or other medicines unless the responsible prescriber tells you to do so.

Men's Complete Health

This package includes testosterone and, where suitable after an informed discussion, PSA. Follow the laboratory instruction about morning timing or fasting for testosterone. For 48 hours before a PSA test, avoid ejaculation, anal sex, vigorous exercise and cycling because these may affect the result. Tell Orchis IV about a current or recent urine infection, catheter, prostate procedure or biopsy.

Thyroid, Hair and Energy, and Nutrition and Deficiency

Have a complete medicine and supplement list ready, including thyroid medicine, biotin, iron, vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D. Record when you last took them. Supplements can affect some results, but do not stop them unless the laboratory or responsible clinician has given a specific instruction.

Liver, Renal and GI

Have information ready about alcohol, prescribed and non prescribed medicines, pain relief, herbal products, supplements and digestive or urinary symptoms. Follow any fasting or urine sample instruction sent for your selected tests; do not bring a urine sample unless you have received the correct container and instructions.

Pathway 3

Annual Health MOTs

Essential, Plus and Premium Couple MOTs combine a structured discussion with vital signs, body composition and blood testing. Plus and Premium Couple MOTs also include an annual resting ECG.

Before a baseline visit

Have your medicine and supplement list, allergies, relevant medical and family history, current concerns and preventive health goals ready.
Bring any recent blood pressure, blood test or health check results that you would like considered.
Wear light, comfortable clothing that allows access to an upper arm and enables waist and body composition measurements.
Follow the blood test guidance above and any specific fasting instruction in your confirmation.
If your MOT includes an ECG, also follow the ECG preparation.

Before a follow up visit

Have any changes in symptoms, medicines, lifestyle, diagnoses or goals ready to discuss. For useful trend comparison, try to attend under similar hydration, meal and exercise conditions to your previous body composition measurement.

Premium Couple MOT: both adults need photo identification, separate consent and their own health information. Please provide a private setting so each person can speak confidentially. Results are not shared between adults without permission.

Pathway 4

Resting 12 lead ECG

Wear a top that is easy to remove and clothing that allows access to the chest and limbs.
Do not apply body lotion, oil, moisturiser or talcum powder to the chest on the day because electrodes need to adhere to the skin.
Eat, drink and take medicines normally unless you have received a separate instruction from the responsible clinician.
Have your medicine list, relevant symptoms and the details of the requesting clinician ready.
A small amount of chest hair may need to be trimmed for good electrode contact.
Tell Orchis IV before the visit if you would like to discuss privacy, clothing, a chaperone or another reasonable adjustment.

Use NHS 111 or 999 for urgent medical advice as appropriate.

Pathway 5

24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Bathe or shower before fitting because the monitor must be kept dry during the recording period.
Wear a loose top with wide or flexible sleeves so the cuff can inflate around the upper arm.
Have your medicine list and usual sleeping, waking, working and exercise times ready.
Plan a broadly normal day. When the cuff starts inflating, relax the arm and keep it as still as you safely can.
You will be asked to record sleep, medicines, symptoms and relevant activities in a diary.
Do not bathe, shower or swim while wearing the equipment. Avoid contact sport or any activity likely to damage or wet it.
Arrange to return the monitor at the agreed time because the recording cannot be processed until the equipment is returned.

Tell Orchis IV in advance about arm injury, swelling, skin problems, a fistula, lymph node surgery or another reason an arm should not be used. If the cuff causes significant pain, persistent numbness, marked swelling or another concerning symptom, remove it and contact Orchis IV for advice.

Organised programmes

Corporate and community services

Corporate Vital Day, FitLab, FairwayVitals and Community Health Day are tailored to the agreed programme. Participants receive the preparation instructions for the components included in that event. Blood testing uses the blood guidance, ECG uses the ECG guidance, and body composition or vital signs checks use the relevant package guidance. Instructions sent by Orchis IV for the specific event take priority.

After your appointment

Post service guidance

Your nurse will explain any immediate instructions and the results pathway. You can also read the guidance for blood collection, packages, Health MOTs, ECG and ABPM on our dedicated page.

Read post service guidance

If you are unsure

Contact Orchis IV before your appointment on 07399 177445 or email joyediran@orchis-iv.co.uk. Do not send detailed medical information or test results by ordinary email. We can clarify your appointment instructions but do not diagnose conditions, provide treatment or advise medication changes.