Health check without a referral – how it works

You don't need a referral from healthcare to do a private health check. You order the test directly, and the referral required for sampling is created automatically as part of the purchase. The only thing you do yourself is book a time at the clinic.

What is a referral – and when is it needed?

A referral is an order from a licensed doctor to a laboratory specifying which analyses should be done. Laboratories are not allowed to analyse blood samples without such an order. In public healthcare, you get the referral from a doctor at a health centre, normally only after a visit where you describe symptoms or a medical suspicion. That is the route many people think of when searching for a "health check without a referral" – they want to skip the step of a doctor's visit and assessment before sampling.

With a private health check it works differently. A referral is still required for the sampling itself, but it is written by the service's own licensed doctors and created automatically when you order. So you never need to obtain the referral yourself – that is what is meant by being able to do a health check without a referral from healthcare.

How it works with us

1. Choose a test. Decide for yourself which blood test or package you want, or use the test guide for a suggestion based on age, sex and goals.
2. Order. At purchase, the referral is created automatically by a licensed doctor. You don't need to contact any health centre or fill in medical forms in advance.
3. Book sampling. Choose a clinic near you and book a time – often available within a few days.
4. Get your result. The samples are analysed at an accredited laboratory and you get a digital result commented on by a doctor.

Who is a private health check suitable for?

A private health check suits you if you want to check your health preventively, without having symptoms that would justify sampling within healthcare. It can, for example, be about following up blood values in case of fatigue, checking blood sugar or blood fats when there is a family history, or simply getting an annual snapshot of your health. You choose the scope yourself – from a single marker to broad packages with over 50 markers.

Private health check compared to the health centre

• No waiting for an assessment. You skip the doctor's visit required to get a referral within healthcare – the referral is created directly at the time of order.
• You choose the selection. Within healthcare, the doctor decides which markers are taken based on your symptoms. Here you choose the test yourself, even preventively.
• Clear pricing. You pay a fixed package price that includes the referral, sampling, analysis and a doctor-commented result. See what a health check costs.
• The same lab quality. The analyses are done at accredited laboratories, the same type of lab used by healthcare.

A private health check does not replace healthcare in case of illness. If you have clear symptoms you should always contact your health centre or 1177 – but for preventive checks, the private route is both faster and more flexible.

Frequently asked questions about referrals

Do I need a referral to do a health check?

No, not from healthcare. When you order a private health check from Labkollen, the referral required for sampling is created automatically as part of the purchase – you never need to contact a doctor or health centre first.

Who writes the referral if I don't go through healthcare?

The referral is written by a licensed doctor at the service you order from. At Labkollen the referral is included in the price and issued automatically when you buy a test – you just need to book sampling.

What's the difference from getting a blood test via the health centre?

Within public healthcare you normally need symptoms or a medical suspicion to get a blood test, and a doctor decides which markers are taken. You can order a private health check preventively without symptoms, choose the test yourself, and skip the wait for a doctor's assessment before sampling.

Does it cost extra for the referral to be created?

No. The price of the health check includes the referral, sampling at a clinic, analysis at an accredited laboratory and a digital result commented on by a licensed doctor.

Can I do a health check even if I feel fine?

Yes. That is one of the most common reasons for choosing a private health check: you want to check your health preventively, without needing symptoms that would justify sampling within healthcare.

How quickly can I do the sampling after ordering?

Once the referral has been created – normally immediately at purchase – you can book sampling at a clinic near you. Many clinics have times within a few days and offer drop-in.

What happens if a value is abnormal?

Your result is commented on by a licensed doctor who explains what the values mean and whether anything should be followed up. If needed, you are advised to contact healthcare for further investigation.

Ready to get started? Take the test guide for a personal suggestion, or see the comparison of all health checks.

Hälsokontroll and Labkollen – who does what?

Hälsokontroll is an independent guide and comparison service that explains markers, content and prices. The tests are sold and delivered by Labkollen, who create the referral, are responsible for sampling at an accredited laboratory and for the medical assessment of the result. We receive compensation when you order through our links. How we choose sources and keep prices accurate is described in our editorial policy.

Last updated: 2026-10-13