The most common reasons we may ask for a blood test is due to a medical disclosure during your application or where the level of risk is particularly high, so for example this could be if the amount of cover you have asked for is very large or your age at the time of applying. Blood tests are usually carried out by a nurse and there will be no cost for you to pay.
During a blood test for your life insurance application, a nurse or doctor will take a blood sample from a blood vessel located in your arm (usually the inside of the elbow or wrist). They may put a tight band known as a tourniquet around your upper arm in order to slow the blood flow, which makes it easier to locate a vein. The health professional will then clean the area where the injection will occur, before taking a blood sample using a needle and syringe. You may feel a pricking sensation at this point, though it’s not supposed to feel too painful. The nurse or doctor may then use a cotton wool pad to put pressure on the affected area, and might apply a plaster.
For more information, you can read about what happens during a blood test on the NHS website.