You have decided to get a health check-up in Nairobi. Good. But now the questions start piling up: Where do you go? How much will it cost? What exactly is included in a "wellness package" versus a "comprehensive screening"? And why do some labs charge KES 6,350 while others want KES 24,000 for what sounds like the same thing?

This guide breaks down the prices, packages, and trade-offs across four Nairobi labs that actually publish (or semi-publish) their health screening offerings: CA Medlynks, Columbia Africa, PathCare Kenya, and Cerba Lancet CLK. All prices were verified from public sources in March 2026.

Why an Annual Health Check-Up Matters in Kenya

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now account for about 39% of all deaths in Kenya, according to the WHO. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer are the top killers, and they share a common trait: by the time you feel symptoms, the disease has usually been progressing for years. A basic wellness screening catches high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol, or compromised liver function before they become emergencies.

The numbers tell a specific story. Diabetes prevalence in Kenya has risen from 2.2% to 4.6% over the past two decades. Hypertension affects roughly 24% of Kenyan adults, but only 15% of those know they have it. An annual blood test that checks fasting glucose, lipid levels, and kidney function costs less than a single night in a Nairobi hospital. The maths is straightforward.

For women, there is an added dimension. Cervical cancer is the leading cancer among Kenyan women aged 15 to 44, yet screening rates remain below 10%. Packages that include a Pap smear or HPV test as standard, not as an upsell, matter here.

Nairobi Health Check-Up Packages: Price Comparison

Below is a side-by-side comparison of what you can get in Nairobi as of March 2026. Note that the labs structure their packages differently, so direct comparison requires looking at both price and content.

CA Medlynks (6 Packages, KES 7,000 to KES 24,000)

Package Price (KES) Key Tests Included For
Antenatal Profile 7,000 Pregnancy test, CBC, Hepatitis B, HIV Expectant mothers
Diabetic Package 9,500 CBC, ECG (heart assessment) Diabetes risk screening
Female Wellness + AMH 21,000 CBC, urinalysis, Pap smear, kidney, liver, lipids, diabetes, AMH fertility marker, cervical cancer screening Women (any age)
Male Wellness 11,500 CBC, urinalysis, kidney, liver, lipids, diabetes, PSA (prostate cancer screening) Men (any age)
Pre-Employment (Domestic Workers) 16,500 HIV, Hepatitis B, urinalysis, CBC, stool analysis, pregnancy test Domestic worker clearance
Comprehensive Wellness 24,000 All of the above, plus ECG, stool analysis, thyroid function, cancer markers Full health assessment

Columbia Africa (Hospital-Based, KES 6,350 to KES 17,500)

Tier Price (KES) Notes
Basic Wellness 6,350 – 6,600 Entry-level screening. Includes doctor consultation and nutritional counselling as part of the hospital bundle.
Middle Tier (30-50 years) 11,000 – 16,000 Broader blood work. Bundled with imaging and dietician review, which lab-only providers do not include.
Premium (50+ years) 15,500 – 17,500 Extended metabolic and cancer marker panel. Hospital-based, so consultation is built into the price.

Columbia Africa is a hospital group (Parklands, Lavington, Ruiru), not a standalone lab. Their packages bundle lab tests with doctor consultations, imaging, and nutrition advice. This makes their prices look lower per-package, but the comparison is not apples-to-apples with lab-only providers.

PathCare Kenya (Lab Network, KES 7,390 to KES 16,170)

Package Price (KES) Notes
Teen Wellness 1,275 Very basic. Aimed at 10-19 year olds.
Female Wellness 12,967 Blood work, lipids, kidney, liver. Free home sample collection included.
Male Wellness 13,852 Similar to female, plus PSA. Free home collection.
Antenatal 16,170 Pregnancy-focused panel. More extensive than basic offerings.

PathCare operates 15+ locations across Kenya and offers free home/workplace sample collection. Their individual test prices are not published online; you need to contact them directly.

Cerba Lancet CLK (Single Package Published, KES 15,349)

Package Price (KES) Notes
Female Wellness 15,349 12 metabolic tests, thyroid (TSH only). No STI screening. No reproductive hormones beyond TSH.

Cerba Lancet is East Africa's largest standalone lab network. They almost certainly offer more packages, but their website only lists this one. For other options, you need to call 0703 061 000.

Head-to-Head Summary

Provider Lowest Price Mid-Tier Highest Tier Price Transparency
CA Medlynks KES 7,000 KES 11,500 KES 21,000 – 24,000 Full (all 6 packages listed online)
Columbia Africa KES 6,350 KES 11,000 – 16,000 KES 17,500 Partial (packages listed, bundled with hospital services)
PathCare KES 1,275 KES 12,967 – 13,852 KES 16,170 Partial (some packages online, individual tests hidden)
Cerba Lancet CLK KES 15,349 N/A N/A Minimal (1 package online, rest by enquiry)

One thing stands out in this comparison: most labs in Kenya do not publish their full pricing. An academic study on Kenyan medical laboratories found that roughly 85% of labs keep their prices hidden, which forces patients to call around and compare quotes. If you value knowing what you will pay before walking through the door, your options narrow fast.

How to Choose the Right Package

The "best" package depends on your age, sex, and what you are trying to screen for. Here is a practical breakdown.

If you are in your 20s

A basic panel covering CBC, blood glucose, liver function, and kidney function is probably sufficient. If you are female, add a Pap smear. You do not need cancer markers or a full cardiac workup yet. The CA Medlynks Antenatal Profile (KES 7,000) works if you are pregnant; otherwise, Columbia Africa's basic package at KES 6,350 covers the essentials at the lowest price.

If you are 30 to 50

This is where the mid-tier packages earn their price. You want lipid profiling (cholesterol), diabetes screening (fasting glucose or HBA1c), and organ function tests for kidneys and liver. Men should include PSA for prostate screening. Women should include AMH if fertility is a consideration, and definitely a Pap smear.

CA Medlynks' Male Wellness at KES 11,500 undercuts PathCare's KES 13,852 equivalent by about 17%. The Female Wellness + AMH package is a different proposition at KES 21,000, because it bundles AMH as standard. PathCare's Female Wellness at KES 12,967 and Cerba Lancet's at KES 15,349 both omit AMH, so a fair comparison adds the fertility marker separately (KES 9,350 at Labtestzote). That brings PathCare's total to KES 22,317 and Cerba Lancet's to KES 24,699. Against the AMH-inclusive benchmark, the CA Medlynks bundle is the cheapest of the three.

If you are over 50

Add thyroid function, cancer markers (PSA, CEA, CA-125 depending on your sex), and an ECG. CA Medlynks' Comprehensive Wellness at KES 24,000 covers all of this in a single visit. Columbia Africa's premium tier tops out at KES 17,500 but bundles a doctor consultation. PathCare's antenatal-focused package at KES 16,170 is not designed for general wellness screening at this age.

If you are a woman of reproductive age

Look for packages that include AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone), a fertility marker that tells you about your ovarian reserve. Most wellness packages skip this. CA Medlynks includes AMH in their KES 21,000 Female Wellness package. Cerba Lancet does not include it in their KES 15,349 package, and adding AMH separately at Labtestzote (KES 9,350) pushes the all-in total to KES 24,699.

What Makes CA Medlynks Different

Every lab will tell you they are the best. Here are the specific, verifiable things about CA Medlynks that are worth knowing.

The lab is KENAS-accredited to ISO 15189:2022 standards. KENAS is Kenya's national accreditation service, and ISO 15189 is the international quality standard for medical laboratories. Not every lab in Nairobi holds this accreditation. It means the lab's processes, equipment calibration, and result accuracy are externally audited.

Results come back within 24 hours for most blood tests. Some specialised tests (thyroid, cancer markers) take 2 to 3 business days. The lab publishes this turnaround time (TAT) on its website. That sounds unremarkable until you realise that most Nairobi labs do not commit to a specific TAT at all.

Walk-ins are accepted. You do not need a referral from a GP. The clinic is at Daykio Plaza, Ground Floor, off Ngong Lane in Nairobi. Hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 to 20:00, Saturday 8:00 to 17:00.

Prices are published on the website. All six wellness packages are listed with full breakdowns of what tests are included. In a market where 85% of labs hide their pricing, this is unusual.

The Female Wellness package includes AMH as standard, not as an add-on. At KES 21,000, the bundle covers nine tests including AMH (KES 9,350 standalone at Labtestzote) and Pap smear. Buying Cerba Lancet's KES 15,349 package and adding AMH separately totals KES 24,699, which is KES 3,699 more than CA Medlynks' bundle, and still leaves you without Pap smear or cervical cancer screening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to fast before a health check-up?

Yes. Most health screening packages include fasting blood sugar and lipid profile tests. You should fast for 8 to 12 hours before your appointment. Water is fine. Morning appointments work best so you can eat breakfast right after.

Can I use NHIF or SHA insurance for a health check-up?

It depends on your plan. Under Kenya's Social Health Authority (SHA), which replaced NHIF in October 2024, the Primary Healthcare Fund covers some basic diagnostic tests. However, wellness screening packages are typically self-pay. Check with your insurer or call the lab directly to confirm what your specific plan covers.

Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?

At CA Medlynks, walk-ins are welcome during opening hours. No referral needed. Booking ahead via WhatsApp or phone reduces your waiting time, but it is not required. PathCare and Columbia Africa generally require appointments, though policies vary by branch.

How long does the whole process take?

Sample collection takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You do not need to spend the whole morning at the lab. Results for basic blood tests typically arrive within 24 hours. ECG results are available on the same day.

What is the cheapest health check-up in Nairobi?

PathCare's Teen Wellness at KES 1,275 is the cheapest listed package, but it covers very little and targets teenagers. For a proper adult wellness screening with blood work, liver, kidney, and lipid tests, the floor is around KES 6,350 (Columbia Africa basic) to KES 9,500 (CA Medlynks Diabetic Package). Expect to pay KES 11,000 to KES 14,000 for a mid-range package that covers the tests most doctors would recommend for adults over 30.

Are the tests accurate? How do I know?

Look for KENAS accreditation. KENAS is the Kenya Accreditation Service, and their accreditation means the lab meets ISO 15189 standards for quality management and technical competence. CA Medlynks and PathCare both hold this accreditation. Cerba Lancet holds SANAS (South African) and KENAS accreditation. Columbia Africa operates as a hospital lab, which falls under different regulatory oversight.

Book Your Health Check-Up

If you want to check prices, compare packages, or book directly, here is how to reach CA Medlynks:

Packages start from KES 7,000. Results within 24 hours. No referral needed.