Better2Know Liver & kidney

Cystatin C Test

A single blood test that measures cystatin C, a marker used alongside other kidney function tests to assess how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood. Best suited to people acting on a doctor's recommendation rather than general screening.

Sample
Blood
Collection
Venous draw at clinic
Results in
5 days
Biomarkers
1
Tests for
  • Cystatin C

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
blood
Collection method
venous draw at clinic
Turnaround time
5 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Better2Know.

Kidney health

  • Cystatin C

About this test

Cystatin C is a single marker used to help assess kidney function alongside other tests. Better2Know's own description of this listing is brief: it says you should choose this test if it has been recommended by your doctor, which suggests it is intended to be ordered as part of a wider clinical picture rather than as a standalone health check.

There is no comparison group recorded for this listing, so it is scored against the wider set of liver and kidney tests we track. It scores modestly for clinical depth, as a single marker sits toward the lower end of that group, and it loses marks on price, coming in well above the median for similarly sized liver and kidney tests. Clarity also suffers because Better2Know has not published a fuller description of what the test covers or what the report looks like, and it scores low for results and follow-up because a doctor does not routinely review your result.

As a provider, Better2Know holds a Trustpilot score of 4.2 from 775 reviews, is CQC registered, and has been trading since 2008.

Who is it for?

This suits people who have been advised by their own doctor to have a cystatin C test, typically to help investigate kidney function alongside other results. Because Better2Know provides very little detail on this listing beyond that recommendation, it may be worth asking your doctor whether a fuller kidney panel would give more useful information for the price.

There are no comparable tests recorded for this listing, so we cannot say whether another provider offers the same marker for less.

How it works

You provide a venous blood sample at a Better2Know clinic. The sample is sent to the laboratory for analysis, with results available within about 5 days. You can view your result through the online patient area; the provider does not state that a doctor reviews it as standard, and its own description recommends only pursuing this test on a doctor's advice.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Targets a specific kidney marker your GP may have recommended
  • Requires only a single blood sample at a clinic visit
  • Turnaround time is stated upfront, so you know what to expect

Cons

  • Priced well above the median for similarly sized kidney tests we track
  • Provider gives very little description of what the test covers
  • Results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard
  • Slower turnaround of around 5 days compared with many single-marker tests

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score A single kidney marker best taken on a doctor's advice
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

This is a single-marker blood test for cystatin C, a marker of kidney function that the provider says is best taken on a doctor's recommendation. At £195 it sits above the median price for the liver and kidney tests we track, and Better2Know does not publish a description beyond that recommendation, nor does it confirm a doctor reviews your result.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 7.0/10

    The listing publishes the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state a proper description, what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 6.1/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 26th percentile of liver kidney tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 3.0/10

    Requires a venous draw at a clinic; results in around 5 days, slower than similar tests.

  • Results and follow-up 3.0/10

    Results are not doctor-reviewed and no consultation is included; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 6.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 775 reviews; CQC registered; trading 18+ years.

  • Value for money 4.3/10

    £195.00 against a median of £135.00 for the 17 similarly sized liver kidney tests we track (+44%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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