VitalityLife is by introducing finger-prick testing to the UK life insurance market.

This means that when blood samples are required during underwriting, they are obtained via a simple finger-prick test rather than by hypodermic syringe. The test is held at a place convenient for the client, such as their home.

The firm says this means the customer’s experience is improved because there are no big needles, and test results are available within seconds, whereas previously the samples would have to be sent to a lab, which would take 4-5 days to produce results.
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VitalityLife says it also means there is no risk of ‘spoilt samples’. This is a common problem for life insurers when a blood sample is delayed reaching the laboratory and often means a re-test is needed.

Darren Lee, director of underwriting & claims at VitalityLife, said: “We believe we are the first life insurer in the UK to introduce this type of blood testing. The next stage in our mission to improve the customer experience around medical underwriting is in the automation of underwriting decisions where a screening examination has been undertaken.

“Our aim is for the underwriting decision to be available within seconds of the nurse submitting the client’s results and we are on course to launch this next phase later this year.”