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Patient guide · Pathology

Blood tests, the menu - full blood count, biochemistry, thyroid, iron, hormones and advanced biomarkers.

A guide to the modern menu of blood tests. From the core panels (FBC, U&E, LFTs, TSH, HbA1c, lipids) to advanced biomarkers (NT-proBNP, troponin, hs-CRP, ferritin, vitamin D, HRT-relevant hormones). Interpreted alongside your history and clinical picture.

A phlebotomist drawing blood in a private London clinic

Key facts

Blood tests, at a glance.

Six things worth knowing before you book a panel.

  • Definition

    Laboratory tests on venous blood samples.

  • Core panel

    FBC, U&E, LFTs, TSH, HbA1c, lipids.

  • Advanced biomarkers

    hs-CRP, NT-proBNP, ferritin, vitamin D.

  • Reference ranges

    Vary by age, sex and lab.

  • Fasting

    Required for lipid and glucose panels.

  • Interpretation

    Read with clinical context - no single test is diagnostic in isolation.

Indicative pricing

What private blood tests cost in London.

Indicative ranges across our partner labs.

In short

£180–£320, with results often the same day.

Panel Indicative range
Full blood count (FBC) £35–£60
Core panel (FBC, U&E, LFTs, TSH, HbA1c, lipids) £180–£320
Iron studies + ferritin + vitamin D + B12/folate £140–£240
Hormone panel (thyroid, sex hormones, cortisol) £220–£420
Advanced cardiac biomarkers (hs-CRP, NT-proBNP, troponin) £260–£450
Comprehensive well-person panel £450–£900

Prices vary by lab, by which analytes are added, and by turnaround.

Preparation

From consultation to report - what happens, in order.

A well-chosen panel starts before the needle - with the question you are trying to answer.

  1. 01

    Before

    Consultation to define the question

    What are we actually trying to answer? Fatigue, cardiovascular risk, thyroid symptoms, HRT baseline - the question shapes the panel.

  2. 02

    Before

    Fast 8–12 hours for lipids and glucose

    Water and usual medication are fine unless told otherwise. No fasting needed for most other panels.

  3. 03

    Before

    Attend phlebotomy appointment

    A short visit - 10–15 minutes for a standard draw. Bring photo ID and any prior results.

  4. 04

    On the day

    Blood drawn from arm vein

    A trained phlebotomist draws the samples into labelled tubes. Mild bruising is the only common side-effect.

  5. 05

    On the day

    Sample labelled and transported to lab

    Cold-chain courier to an accredited laboratory, with barcoded tubes and a chain-of-custody log.

  6. 06

    After

    Results within 4–24 hours (routine)

    Most core panels report the same day; specialist hormone and biomarker assays can take 2–5 days.

  7. 07

    After

    Clinician review with structured report

    A plain-English summary - what’s normal, what isn’t, and what to do about it - sent to you and, if you wish, your GP.

Typical end-to-end: 1–5 days. Urgent cases: same day.

What it shows

What each panel actually measures.

Every blood test answers a specific question.

  • Full blood count (FBC)

    Haemoglobin, white cell count, platelets - anaemia, infection and clotting screens.

  • Urea & electrolytes (U&E)

    Kidney function, sodium, potassium - hydration, medication safety, renal disease.

  • Liver function tests (LFTs)

    ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, albumin - liver injury, cholestasis, chronic disease.

  • Thyroid function (TSH, fT4)

    Under- and over-active thyroid - fatigue, weight change, mood.

  • HbA1c (3-month average glucose)

    Diabetes screening and diabetic control over the previous 8–12 weeks.

  • Lipid panel

    Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides - cardiovascular risk.

  • Hormone panels

    Testosterone, oestradiol, FSH, LH - HRT baseline, fertility, andropause.

  • Red flag: markedly abnormal result (severe anaemia, AKI, hyperkalaemia) - same-day medical review

    Do not wait for a routine follow-up. Contact your clinician or attend A&E.

Test types

Not all blood tests are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Full blood count (FBC)

    Haemoglobin, red and white cells, platelets - the workhorse of every routine screen.

  • U&E and kidney function

    Sodium, potassium, urea, creatinine and eGFR - hydration, medication safety, renal disease.

  • Liver function tests (LFTs)

    ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin and albumin - liver injury, cholestasis and chronic liver disease.

  • Thyroid function

    TSH plus fT4 (and fT3 or antibodies if indicated) - under- and over-active thyroid.

  • HbA1c and glucose

    Average glucose over three months - the modern diabetes screen.

  • Lipid panel

    Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides - used in QRISK and cardiovascular assessment.

  • Iron, ferritin, B12 and folate

    Deficiency and overload states - fatigue, hair loss, restless legs, haemochromatosis screen.

  • Advanced biomarkers

    hs-CRP, NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity troponin, vitamin D and hormone assays.

Safety and interpretation

One of the safest tests in medicine - read carefully.

Blood tests are exceptionally safe. The practical points sit around fasting, timing, medications and how the numbers are interpreted.

  • A very safe test

    Blood tests are one of the safest procedures in medicine - mild bruising is the only common side-effect.

  • Fasting rules matter

    Lipids and glucose need an 8–12 hour fast. Water and most medications are fine - we tell you which.

  • Reference ranges vary

    Ranges differ between labs and change with age, sex and pregnancy. A single number is rarely the whole answer.

  • No single test is diagnostic

    Results are interpreted alongside symptoms, examination and prior history - not read in isolation.

  • Bring prior results

    Trend beats snapshot. If you have older bloods, share them - the direction of travel matters.

  • Medications can skew results

    Biotin, steroids and some over-the-counter supplements interfere with assays.

  • Repeat before acting

    Borderline abnormal results are often repeated to confirm before starting treatment.

  • Red flag results are urgent

    Severe anaemia, acute kidney injury or dangerous electrolytes trigger same-day medical review.

Reading your report

A blood test report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.

A consultant reviewing blood test results on a clinical workstation at a UK private clinic

A quiet reminder

The report is written for your doctor - a good clinician translates it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and clinical context

    Your details, the question we were answering, and the medications and history that shape interpretation.

  2. 02 Results

    Values against reference ranges

    Each analyte with its result, the reference range, and a flag for anything outside range.

  3. 03 Findings

    What the numbers mean

    Plain-English commentary on abnormal or borderline results, and how they fit with your clinical picture.

  4. 04 Impression

    Conclusion and next step

    Reassurance if normal, repeat testing if borderline, and onward referral or treatment if action is needed.

Next steps

What happens after the results.

A blood test is only useful if it changes what you do. These are the eight most common next steps.

  • 01

    Reassurance if results are normal

  • 02

    Repeat and confirm borderline abnormal values

  • 03

    Address deficiencies (iron, B12, folate, vitamin D)

  • 04

    Lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise)

  • 05

    Onward specialist referral

  • 06

    Structured follow-up bloods

  • 07

    Optimise existing medication

  • 08

    Genetic testing for inherited conditions

Red flags

When a result needs urgent medical review.

Any of the following warrants same-day contact with a clinician - or, in some cases, A&E.

  • Severe anaemia (Hb < 70 g/L)

  • Acute kidney injury or severe electrolyte disturbance

  • Jaundice with coagulopathy

  • Suspected sepsis (very high CRP with neutropenia)

  • Undiagnosed diabetes (HbA1c > 90 mmol/mol)

  • Suspected leukaemia

  • Suspected haemochromatosis

  • Suspected pituitary disease

  • Suspected adrenal crisis

Sources

What this guide is based on.

Reviewed against the following UK and international clinical sources.

Published 2026-07-30. Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, . Next review 2027-07-30. Approximate reading time 7 minutes.

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Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about blood tests.

Quick answers on which panel to choose, fasting, cost, turnaround, reference ranges and advanced biomarkers.

  • What blood tests should I actually get done in London?

    A sensible core panel is FBC, U&E, LFTs, TSH, HbA1c and a lipid profile - that single draw screens the commonest medical questions and is what most private London GPs recommend. We can add vitamin D, ferritin, B12 and hormone panels based on your symptoms, with phlebotomy in central London and results back within 24–48 hours.

  • Do I need to fast for blood tests?

    Fasting for 8–12 hours is required for lipid panels and glucose. Water and most regular medications are fine. Most other tests - including FBC, U&E, LFTs, TSH and hormones - do not require fasting.

  • How much do private blood tests cost in London?

    A single test like a FBC is around £35–£60. A full core panel is typically £180–£320. Comprehensive well-person panels with hormones and advanced biomarkers run from £450 to £900 depending on the number of analytes.

  • How quickly will I get results?

    Most core panels report the same day. Iron studies, vitamin D and B12 come back within 24–48 hours. Specialist hormone assays and advanced cardiac biomarkers take 2–5 days.

  • What are advanced biomarkers?

    Advanced biomarkers are more specific assays used to answer targeted questions - hs-CRP for cardiovascular inflammation, NT-proBNP for heart failure, high-sensitivity troponin for cardiac injury, and ferritin for iron stores.

  • Are private blood test reference ranges different from the NHS?

    Reference ranges are set by each laboratory against its own reagent kits and equipment. Ranges vary slightly between labs, and by age, sex and pregnancy. Your report should always quote the lab’s ranges, and a good clinician interprets the number with those in mind.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

In practice, in London

Where blood tests sits in a private London pathway

With blood tests, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for blood tests is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.

Once you’re in the private system for blood tests, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different - one person on the other end of the phone, not a switchboard. For blood tests specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.