If you want to make your experience as stress-free as possible, preparation is key.

In some cases, you’ll need to take your sample at a specific time of day. But if a time is not stated, Dr Natasha Fernando, medical director for the home blood test provider Medichecks, recommends carrying out the test in the morning.

“It’s best to take your blood sample in the morning as this is when hormone levels are highest, so your sample will give the best results,” she says. “If you need to fast before taking your blood test, then it’s often easiest to fast overnight while you’re sleeping.”

If you’re worried about getting blood out, waiting an hour or so after you wake up before you take your sample can also help so you have time to increase your blood flow. You can do this by drinking plenty of water or increasing your body temperature with light exercise or a hot shower.

Just before you do the test, make sure to lie out all your kit on a clean, flat surface and wash your hands – you don’t want to contaminate your sample with any rogue bacteria.

At-home blood tests are everywhere these days – here’s how to do one properly