What Star-shl does

Star-shl is a Dutch regional medical diagnostics provider operating approximately 250 blood collection locations and dedicated diagnostic centers across Zuid-Holland, Zeeland, and West-Brabant. The company delivers a unified service portfolio spanning laboratory testing (blood, urine, stool — processing 3.5 million blood tubes annually through a centralized state-of-the-art lab), imaging and function examinations (X-ray, ultrasound, ECG, Holter, spirometry, bone density, fundus photography), obstetric and prenatal screening ultrasound, and anticoagulation management for more than 20,000 thrombosis patients per year. Headcount stood at approximately 1,300 as of June 2025, with the organization supporting over 2,500 collaborating general practitioners, midwifery practices, regional hospitals, and chronic-care patients.

The technology stack combines a centralized high-throughput laboratory with a patient-facing digital layer: the mijn.star-shl.nl portal and Star-shl mobile app (iOS and Android) support DigiD-authenticated appointment scheduling, while the Kompas digital call-up system replaces paper-based notifications with email, SMS, and QR-code registration. The MijnMitz platform enables patient-controlled cross-provider data exchange. Healthcare-professional-facing offerings include practice support embedded in GP offices, point-of-care testing (D-dimer, troponin), and specialist collaborations — notably with Erasmus MC for prostate consultations and with Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam, Franciscus, IJsselland Ziekenhuis, and Amphia for ophthalmology.

Revenue mechanics operate entirely within the Dutch basic health insurance framework: standard diagnostic services are reimbursed by health insurers upon referral, with no direct out-of-pocket billing for insured patients. The go-to-market is sales-led and referral-driven, with GPs, midwives, and medical specialists as primary demand generators; B2B diagnostic services for healthcare institutions are offered alongside the consumer-facing channel. The company is a private, self-governed non-profit with no disclosed parent company, holding structure, or external investors.

Name

Star-shl

Legal name

Star-shl

Website

https://star-shl.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Star-shl is a Dutch regional medical diagnostics provider offering laboratory, imaging, function, prenatal screening, and anticoagulation management services through approximately 250 blood collection locations across southwest Netherlands, serving 2,500+ GPs and 20,000+ thrombosis patients annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Diagnostics Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry) (HLAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lab Draws, Specimen Collection & Point-of-Care Testing (In-Home) (HSABACAN), Point-of-Care & Decentralized Trial Testing Services (HLAGAEAK), Remote Diagnostics & Point-of-Care (Connected Testing, Home Lab Devices) (HLACAPAK)

Keywords

• Medical diagnostics
• Laboratory testing
• Imaging services
• Anticoagulation management
• Prenatal screening

Headquarters

HQ city

Etten

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medical Diagnostics Services: Star-shl provides laboratory research (blood, urine, stool), imaging and function examinations (X-ray, ultrasound, eye photos, heart and lung function tests), and thrombosis services. Services are covered under the basic health insurance package in the Netherlands, with costs covered by health insurers. No direct patient billing for standard diagnostic services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Star-shl delivers medical diagnostics services including laboratory testing (blood, urine, stool), imaging and functional examinations (X-ray, ultrasound, ECG, spirometry), obstetric and prenatal screening ultrasound, and anticoagulation management (thrombosis service) for over 20,000 patients. Services are accessed via referrals from general practitioners, midwives, and medical specialists and executed across approximately 250 blood collection and diagnostic centers in Zuid-Holland, Zeeland, and West-Brabant, with results delivered through a digital patient portal and mobile app integrated with DigiD.

Product overview

Star-shl is a unified medical diagnostics provider offering laboratory testing (blood, urine, stool), imaging and functional studies (X-ray, ultrasound, ECG, Holter, spirometry, bone density), pregnancy diagnostics (obstetric ultrasound and prenatal screening), and anticoagulation management (thrombosis service) through a network of ~250 blood draw locations across southwest Netherlands. Patient-facing digital services include the Mijn Star-shl online portal and mobile app for appointment scheduling and digital communications. Healthcare provider-facing offerings encompass practice support in GP offices, point-of-care testing (POCT), educational programs, and the digital call letter service (Kompas). The company collaborates with Erasmus MC for prostate consultations and operates specialized ophthalmology partnerships with regional hospitals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laboratoriumonderzoek (Laboratory Testing) Core laboratory diagnostic service analysing blood, urine, and stool samples for patients referred by general practitioners, midwives, and specialists; supports over 2,500 collaborating GPs and serves as the analytical backbone for primary-care diagnostics across southwest Netherlands.
• Beeldvormend en functieonderzoek (Imaging and Functional Diagnostics) Imaging and functional diagnostic examinations including X-ray, ultrasound, cardiac echo, ECG, Holter monitoring, exercise ECG, spirometry, fundus photography, bone density (DEXA), and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for patients referred by healthcare providers.
• Zwangerschapsecho (Obstetric Ultrasound) Obstetric ultrasound examinations for pregnant women including early pregnancy confirmation, growth monitoring, amniotic fluid assessment, placental position, and prenatal screening, performed via transabdominal or transvaginal transducers.
• Trombosedienst (Thrombosis Service) Anticoagulation management service that guides approximately 20,000 patients annually in the use of blood thinners, including INR monitoring and self-measurement support via Tropaz.
• Prenatale screening (13- en 20-weken echo) Prenatal screening ultrasound examinations (First Trimester SEO/13-week echo and Second Trimester SEO/20-week echo) conducted under collaboration with Stichting Prenatale Screening Zuidwest Nederland and Stichting Prenatale Screening Randstad Midden.
• Prostaatconsult Prostate consultation service conducted at Star-shl Rotterdam locations by Erasmus MC physicians, including rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound, and risk assessment using the Prostaatwijzer tool.
• Eerstelijns oogonderzoek (Primary Eye Examination) Primary eye examination service delivered by specialized optometrists in Rotterdam and Breda, in collaboration with ophthalmologists from Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, IJsselland Ziekenhuis, and Amphia.
• POCT (Point-of-Care Testing) Point-of-care rapid testing services, including D-dimer and troponin quick tests, enabling immediate diagnostic results at the point of care in primary-care settings.
• Praktijkondersteuning Huisartsen (GP Practice Support) Practice support service where Star-shl staff are embedded in general practitioner offices to assist in managing patients with chronic conditions and supporting organized primary-care delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.5 million blood tubes processed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• SAN (Branchevereniging van centra voor medische diagnostiek)coreOthersStar-shl is a member of the SAN, the industry association for medical diagnostic centers in the Netherlands. SAN represents the interests of diagnostic centers and promotes quality standards, vision, and codes of conduct within the sector.
• Erasmus MCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStar-shl collaborates with Erasmus MC for prostaatconsult (prostate consultation) services. Doctors from Erasmus MC perform consultations at Star-shl locations in Rotterdam. Erasmus MC also conducts scientific research into prostate cancer and uses the Prostaatwijzer (prostate guide) for risk calculation.
• Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, IJsselland ZiekenhuismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStar-shl's optometrists for first-line eye examinations in Rotterdam collaborate closely with ophthalmologists from Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, and IJsselland Ziekenhuis.
• AmphiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStar-shl's optometrists for first-line eye examinations in Breda collaborate closely with ophthalmologists from Amphia hospital.
• Stichting Prenatale Screening Zuidwest Nederland and Stichting Prenatale Screening Randstad MiddencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStar-shl has a collaboration agreement with the Stichting Prenatale Screening Zuidwest Nederland and Stichting Prenatale Screening Randstad Midden, regional centers for prenatal screening. These partnerships enable Star-shl to conduct prenatal screening ultrasound examinations (13 and 20 weeks echoes) on behalf of these regional screening organizations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Reinier Haga Medisch Diagnostisch Centrum: Dutch diagnostic center affiliated with the Reinier Haga hospital group offering routine and specialized lab testing to regional GPs, comparable in service breadth and clinical integration.
• Saltro: Dutch regional diagnostic center offering laboratory, imaging, and function testing to GPs and patients, directly comparable to Star-shl in scope and B2B referral model. Operates primarily in the Utrecht region.
• Atalmedial: Netherlands-based medical diagnostic center providing laboratory and related services to primary care, with a comparable non-profit / cooperative-style model and GP referral channel.
• U-Diagnostics: Netherlands-based diagnostic provider offering laboratory testing services with a GP-referral model and patient-friendly online workflows, mirroring Star-shl's B2B go-to-market.
• SHO Medisch Diagnostisch Centrum: Dutch diagnostic center serving the Haaglanden region with lab and imaging services, overlapping with Star-shl's offering and insurance-funded reimbursement model.

Broad incumbents

• Synlab: Large European medical diagnostics chain providing routine and specialty lab services across multiple countries, including the Netherlands, representing the broader incumbent against which regional players like Star-shl compete.
• Cerba Healthcare: European specialty and routine diagnostics group serving hospitals, clinicians, and patients; comparable to Star-shl on routine lab and specialty testing dimensions at much broader scale.
• Eurofins Clinical Diagnostics: Global clinical diagnostics and lab services provider with European footprint, including routine and specialty testing, providing a reference point for centralized lab scale versus regional operators like Star-shl.
• Unilabs: Pan-European diagnostics provider offering laboratory, imaging, and pathology services; a scaled incumbent whose centralized lab model and cross-region reach contextualize Star-shl's regional density.

Emerging players

• NMDL (Nederlands Moleculair Diagnostisch Laboratorium): Dutch specialty molecular diagnostics lab providing advanced test panels to clinicians, a narrower but technically adjacent peer to Star-shl's lab business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StarSHL_
• Facebookfacebook.com/Star-shl-255051755175942

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star-shl