Health and Wellness Screening

We can offer several different screening options via our third-party laboratory. Here are some of the things they can check during different wellness packages.

Full blood count (FBC)

A general health check looking for both the type and numbers of cells in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. This can be used to diagnose deficiencies such as iron or vitamin B12.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

A check used to look for inflammation and help to diagnose conditions like arthritis or Crohn’s disease.

Urea and Electrolytes (Us and Es)

Us and Es checks for normal kidney function by checking for imbalance in the biochemical salts in your blood, including sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea, creatinine and eGRF (estimated glomerular filtration rate) to show how well your kidneys are filtering.

Glucose

The current levels of glucose or sugar in your blood is checked to diagnose and monitor your risk for type II diabetes. Similarly, the HbA1c level which indicates your average blood glucose levels for the last two to three months can be checked by analysing your red blood cells.

Iron

Iron deficiency in your blood or anaemia may cause tiredness, lack of energy, heart palpitations, or shortness of breath. The levels of iron in your blood are checked as part of the FBC by looking at the number of red blood cells. If this is low, you may benefit from supplementation with iron tablets, an iron-rich or iron-fortified diet.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is essential to good health; it comes from diet and is made by your liver. Your blood will contain two types – LDL (often called bad cholesterol) and HDL (referred to as good cholesterol). If your diet is wrong, you may build up high levels of the wrong type of cholesterol which can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. The levels of LDL and HDL and your overall cholesterol ratio can be checked.

Cardiac Enzymes

When checking for heart disease, the blood sample can also be tested for levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone

The level of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) also called thyrotropin, thyroxine (FT4) and triiodothyronine (FT3) are checked to diagnose conditions such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). The thyroid regulates your metabolism and can affect your weight, levels of tiredness, your mood, and sensitivity to hot or cold, depending on how well it is functioning.

Ferritin

If you have hyperthyroidism, you will likely have high levels of ferritin which is also checked during blood screening. Ferritin is a protein that helps your body to store iron so may also have a direct impact on iron deficiency or anaemia.

Liver function

Blood samples can be screened for several components which indicate the health of your liver. These includes levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), total protein, albumin, and globulin. Raised or lowered levels of one against another can be a marker for a concern with your liver.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. It can be sourced from certain foods (including fortified products) and made by your body through direct exposure to sunlight. Many adults, especially as we get older do not get enough Vitamin D through diet or sun exposure, and in fact sun levels in the UK are too low for half of the year to be useful. Many people, including the over 65s and those with darker skin types can benefit from vitamin D supplements, and it is often recommended by primary healthcare providers. A deficiency is easily confirmed by checking levels of Vitamin D in your blood.

C-reactive protein (CRP)

CRP is made in your liver. Screening will look for higher than usual levels to check for health conditions related to inflammation.

PLAC (Lp-PLA2)

The levels of an enzyme called LpPLA2 (lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2) in the blood are measured as a marker for the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Vitamin B12 and Folate (Vitamin B9)

B12 and folate carry out several important jobs within your body, keeping the nervous system healthy. A deficiency or lack of B12 or B9 is common, especially in the over 65s, but can also be found in those diagnosed with pernicious anaemia, and those who follow a vegan or restricted diet without supplementation. You may feel tired, with low energy, muscle weakness, pins and needles, a sore mouth, or have problems with memory, confusion, or depression.

When you have a lack of B12 or B9 in your blood, either through deficiency or restricted diet, it can cause your body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that do not function properly and thus cannot correctly carry oxygen around your body.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA)

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is made in the prostate of men. It is normal to have low levels in the blood, with the levels rising with age as the size of the prostate increases, however, high levels of PSA can be a marker for prostate cancer or other benign prostate problems.

Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4)

Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is produced by epithelial ovarian cancer cells in women. The levels of HE4 in your blood can be checked as a marker for ovarian cancer.

A wide variety of blood test screening options are available for both men and women, depending on age and specific health concerns, as a general health check and wellness screen, or with specific screening for deficiency or allergies. Our practice nurse will recommend the best screening options for you. These check for a variety of markers as detailed below.

General Wellness (DL2)

Screening includes: FBC, ESR, Us and Es (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea, creatinine, eGFR), liver function, cardiac enzymes (LDH/CK), glucose, iron, triglycerides and basic cholesterol, and bone markers (calcium, phosphate, uric acid).

General Wellness (DL5)

Screening includes: FBC, basic Us and Es (urea, creatinine, eGFR), liver function, glucose, triglycerides and basic cholesterol, and bone markers (excluding phosphate).

General Well-person (DL6)

Screening includes: the DL2 screening test, plus thyroid (TSH and FT4) and ferritin.

General Well-man (DL7)

Screening includes: the DL2 screening test, plus thyroid (TSH and FT4), ferritin and prostate profile screening.

Senior Male 60+ (DL9M)

Screening includes: the DL2 screening test, plus thyroid (TSH and FT4), ferritin, prostate profile screening, triglycerides and full cholesterol fasting lipids test (HDL/LDL), CRP, Vitamin D, PLAC, HbA1c, Quantitative Faecal Immunochemical Test (qFIT) for bowel cancer screening, and midstream urine test for infection.

(You will need to fast for 6 hours before blood samples are taken. A urine and stool sample are also required for the lab.)

Senior Female 60+ (DL9F)

Screening includes: the DL2 screening test, plus thyroid (TSH and FT4), ferritin, HE4 ovarian cancer screening, triglycerides and full cholesterol fasting lipids test (HDL/LDL), CRP, Vitamin D, PLAC, HbA1c, Quantitative Faecal Immunochemical Test (qFIT) for bowel cancer screening, and midstream urine test for infection.

(You will need to fast for 6 hours before blood samples are taken. A urine and stool sample are also required for the lab.)

Lipid Profile (Fasting Lipids)

An ideal test for anyone worried about their cholesterol levels, this provides enhanced screening of triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol analysis.

(You will need to fast for 6 hours before blood samples are taken.)

UK Allergy Profile

This seeks to determine positive markers to a range of common UK allergies, including cow’s milk, egg white, soya bean, peanuts, wheat, cod, grasses (cocksfoot, meadow fescue, meadow, rye, timothy), dogs, cats, house dust mite, mould (Cladosporium herbarum fungus) and latex.

Screening looks for levels of different IgE (immunoglobulin), a type of antibody in your blood that be linked to a specific allergen.

Eczema Provoking Profile

Like the UK allergy profile screening, this test screens for individual IgE allergen markers for common allergens that can provoke eczema, including egg white, egg yolk, fish, hazelnut, house dust mite, cow’s milk, peanuts, soya bean, wheat, and cats.

Sports Performance Profile

This test is ideal for amateur and professional athletes who wish to understand how their body is functioning and determine changes to diet or supplementation that would improve sports performance.

Screening includes: FBC, ESR, Us and Es (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea, creatinine, eGFR), liver function, cardiac enzymes (LDH/CK), glucose, triglycerides and full cholesterol fasting lipids test (HDL/LDL), bone markers (calcium, phosphate, uric acid), ferritin, CRP, Omega 3/Omega 6, mineral screen (calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, chromium, and manganese), Vitamin B9 and Vitamin B12.

(You will need to fast for 6 hours before blood samples are taken.)

Vitamin B12 and Folate (Vitamin B9)

These two elements can be tested individually to determine deficiency.