Naturopaths, nutritionists and dietitians have five main ways to get blood tests for a client: ask the client’s GP, open an account with a lab, use a test retailer’s practitioner program, use a wholesale ordering platform, or refer through Vively. Vively is free for practitioners and is the only option here with all three of these:
- A Medicare-funded pathway for core pathology. The $99 Baseline Health Check covers 70+ markers, and Medicare covers the lab tests and a short telehealth GP consult for eligible clients.
- CGM built in, with diet and lifestyle tracking in the same client record.
- A client app and guided workflows, so your client gets one link, clear instructions and reminders, and their results in an app you control.
Why Medicare matters for your clients’ costs
Medicare only funds pathology requested by eligible practitioners, such as GPs. Naturopaths, nutritionists and dietitians can arrange private tests, but those are paid in full by the client. The RACGP notes that complementary medicine practitioners can request pathology privately, outside the Medicare system.
Vively’s Baseline Health Check adds a 5 to 10 minute telehealth GP consult, so eligible clients have their core pathology Medicare-funded and pay a $99 Vively fee instead of full private prices. Clients without a Medicare card can have the same test privately for $299.
Read the Medicare Baseline guide and Medicare Baseline vs private vs GP.
Your five options side by side
| Compare | Free for practitioners Vively | Client’s GP | Your own lab account | Test retailer practitioner program | Wholesale ordering platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A free referral platform for blood tests, at-home kits and CGM, with a client app | The client books their own GP, who decides which tests to order | An account with a specialty lab, such as NutriPATH, to order its kits and tests | A consumer blood test website with a practitioner portal, such as i-screen or iMedical | Pathology ordering through an API or wholesale account, built for clinics and software companies |
| Medicare-funded core pathology | Yes, through the $99 Baseline Health Check for eligible clients | Yes, when the GP decides the tests are clinically needed | No, private tests | No, private tests | No, private tests |
| Who chooses the tests | You, with a GP review for the Medicare Baseline | The GP | You | You or your client | You, through your own system |
| Cost to you | Free. No subscription or seat fee, and no commission or margin | Nothing | Check the lab’s terms | i-screen: no fee stated and no commission. iMedical: clinic logins and affiliate commissions offered, terms not published | Usually wholesale pricing, with setup work on your side |
| Who pays for tests | Your client at checkout, or your practice by card | Medicare or the client, depending on bulk billing | Your client or your practice, depending on the lab | i-screen: your client pays, typically with a 10% client discount, or your practice buys direct | Usually your practice, which then charges your client |
| Results | In your client’s record with lab and optimal ranges, trends and the lab PDF. You choose when your client sees them | The GP or the client shares them with you | From the lab, usually as a report | In the retailer’s portal; i-screen lets you hold results for up to 14 days | Data into your own system |
| CGM and lifestyle tracking | Built in: CGM sensors, food logging and lifestyle tracking in the same client record | No | No | No CGM | Only if you build it |
| Client experience | One email with the price and a secure link, step-by-step instructions, reminders, and results in the Vively app. Vively never markets to clients you refer | The client books and attends a GP visit | Forms and instructions from the lab | The retailer’s website and app | Whatever you build |
Competitor details are from their public websites, checked 20 October 2026, and can change. Vively is one of the options compared.
When another option may suit you better
- Your client’s GP: when your client has new or worrying symptoms that need medical assessment, or their GP already orders the tests you need.
- Your own lab account: when you order one lab’s specialty kits in volume and want that lab’s support directly. You can also order NutriPATH kits through Vively without your own NutriPATH account.
- A test retailer’s program: when your client wants to choose and buy single tests themselves, and you don’t need CGM, Medicare-funded tests or a client app.
- A wholesale ordering platform: when you are building your own software or practice platform and want to order pathology through an API.
What Vively adds for your practice
Lower cost for core pathology
Eligible clients pay $99 for a 70+ marker Baseline, with Medicare covering the lab tests and the telehealth GP consult. Add private tests to the same referral.
Blood tests and CGM in one record
Refer a Sibionics GS3 sensor alongside pathology and see glucose, food logs and blood results together, with your own target ranges.
A client experience you control
Your logo on client emails, reminders handled for you, results released when you choose, and no Vively marketing to your clients. Connects to Cliniko.
Frequently asked questions
Can naturopaths, nutritionists and dietitians order blood tests?
Yes, privately. You can arrange private blood tests through a lab account, a test retailer’s practitioner program or Vively. Medicare only funds pathology requested by eligible practitioners such as GPs, so Vively’s Baseline Health Check adds a short telehealth GP consult that lets eligible clients have their core pathology Medicare-funded.
What does it cost practitioners to use Vively?
Nothing. Vively is free for practitioners, with no subscription or seat fee. Your client pays at checkout, or your practice pays by card. Vively does not pay commissions or margins to practitioners.
What does the practitioner dashboard show?
Each referral’s status, from sent to paid to results ready. Results land in your client’s record with lab and Vively optimal ranges side by side, each marker’s recent results, the lab PDF and any CGM reports. You’re emailed when results are ready and choose when your client sees them.
Can the Vively Masterclass count towards my CPD?
It can, depending on your association. Some associations accept extra education such as webinars when you provide evidence of completion. Dietitians Australia counts online presentations and webinars, and ANTA counts further education such as courses and workshops. Check your association’s rules before you log hours.
Can I order NutriPATH tests through Vively?
Yes. Verified practitioners can order NutriPATH kits and tests through Vively without their own NutriPATH account, alongside blood tests and CGM. Results arrive as NutriPATH’s PDF in your client’s record.
Where do my clients have their blood taken?
At one of 3,700+ partner collection centres run by Healius brands, Australian Clinical Labs and 4Cyte Pathology. Sonic Healthcare centres aren’t supported yet.
Will Vively market to my clients?
No. Vively doesn’t offer your clients its own practitioners and never sends marketing to clients you refer.
Sources
- RACGP: Tests not considered clinically appropriate (requesting pathology outside Medicare), checked 20 October 2026.
- i-screen: Practitioner Terms and Conditions, checked 20 October 2026.
- iMedical: Clinics, doctors and health professionals, checked 20 October 2026.
- NutriPATH: Practitioner registration, checked 20 October 2026.
- Dietitians Australia: APD program handbook (CPD), checked 20 October 2026.
- ANTA: Frequently asked questions (CPD), checked 20 October 2026.
