Blood Test FAQs

No — you can book directly online without seeing your GP first. Private blood testing is available to anyone. Our clinicians review all results before releasing them to you and will flag anything that needs medical attention.

Appointments take 5–10 minutes. A trained phlebotomist (blood-draw specialist) takes a small sample from a vein in your inner arm. The process is quick and most people feel only a brief, mild sensation when the needle is inserted.

Yes. Simply enter the patient's details (full name, date of birth) at checkout so the sample and results are linked to the right person. You can pay for someone else's appointment without any issue.

Blood tests are available for patients aged 16 and over. For younger children, please speak to your GP who can refer to an appropriate paediatric service.

You can reschedule through the booking confirmation email. We ask for at least 24 hours' notice where possible. Contact us directly if you need to cancel with less notice.

It depends on the test. These tests require fasting for 10–12 hours beforehand (water is fine):

• Cholesterol & lipid profile
• Fasting glucose
• Triglycerides
• Insulin & C-peptide

Most other tests — including thyroid, hormones, vitamins, inflammation markers and full blood count — do not require fasting. We'll confirm what's needed when you book.

• Stay hydrated — drink plenty of water beforehand (it makes veins easier to find)
• Wear loose clothing with easy access to your inner arm
• Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours before tests involving muscle or inflammation markers
• Fasting tests: avoid food (but not water) for 10–12 hours
• Take any regular medications as normal unless your doctor has said otherwise

In most cases, continue taking your regular medications. Some supplements (like biotin/B7 at high doses) can interfere with certain hormone assays — if you're taking high-dose supplements, let us know when you book. If you have specific concerns, check with your prescribing doctor.

Most people describe it as a brief, mild sharp sensation lasting one to two seconds. The needle is small and the process is over very quickly. If you're anxious about needles, let our team know — they can take extra time to help you feel comfortable.

Most results are available within 24–48 hours. Genetic tests and some specialist markers may take a little longer. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready to view.

Yes. All results are reviewed by a qualified clinician before being released to you. If anything is outside the normal range and requires urgent attention, we'll contact you directly rather than just releasing the result.

Don't panic — a result outside the reference range doesn't always mean something is seriously wrong. Many factors can affect a single reading. Our clinicians provide context alongside each result. For borderline results, we may suggest a repeat test or advise you to speak to your GP. For anything urgent, we'll contact you directly.

Yes — your results are yours to share freely. You can download a PDF report to share with your NHS GP or any other healthcare provider. GPs generally welcome private blood test results as additional clinical information.

Individual tests start from £18 with the promotional discount. Health panels range from approximately £119 to £259 with the discount applied. All prices are transparent — no hidden fees, no consultation charges.

Browse all tests and prices →

Enter MAYJUNE2026 in the discount code field at checkout. The 20% reduction is applied automatically to all tests and panels. No minimum spend, no exclusions — every test qualifies. Valid until 31 August 2026.

This depends on your policy. Some private health insurers do cover routine blood tests — check with your insurer before booking. We can provide a receipt and results report for insurance purposes.

No. The price you see is the price you pay. There are no extra charges for the appointment, the phlebotomist, the laboratory analysis, or the clinician result review. Everything is included in the test price.

The most common reversible causes of persistent tiredness can all be picked up with blood tests:

• Anaemia — Full Blood Count (FBC) + Ferritin (iron stores)
• Thyroid problems — TSH, FT4, FT3
• Vitamin deficiency — Vitamin D, B12, Folate
• Blood sugar — HbA1c or fasting glucose
• Inflammation / infection — CRP, ESR

Our TATT (Tired All The Time) panel covers all of these in one appointment — £174 with code MAYJUNE2026 (save £43, valid until 31 Aug 2026).

A basic thyroid test measures TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) — the main screening marker. Our extended thyroid profile also checks:

• FT4 (free thyroxine) — the main thyroid hormone
• FT3 (free triiodothyronine) — the active form
• Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg antibodies — for autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's or Graves' disease

Together these show whether your thyroid is overactive, underactive, or affected by an immune condition.

HbA1c reflects your average blood glucose over the past 2–3 months. It's the main test for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes — and unlike a fasting glucose, it doesn't require you to fast.

• Below 42 mmol/mol — normal
• 42–47 mmol/mol — pre-diabetes (raised risk)
• 48 mmol/mol or above — consistent with diabetes

A lipid profile measures fats circulating in your blood:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol — "bad" cholesterol linked to arterial plaque
• HDL cholesterol — "good" cholesterol that protects against heart disease
• Triglycerides — blood fats linked to diet and metabolic health
• LDL:HDL ratio — the key cardiovascular risk ratio

This test requires fasting for 10–12 hours for an accurate triglyceride reading.

For women: Oestradiol, Progesterone, LH, FSH, Prolactin, DHEA-S, SHBG, Testosterone. AMH is added for fertility assessment (ovarian reserve).

For men: Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone, SHBG, LH, FSH, Prolactin, DHEA-S.

Our hormone panels cover all of these in a single appointment. View hormone panels →

Certain tests called tumour markers can raise suspicion of some cancers:

• PSA — prostate cancer screening
• CA-125 — associated with ovarian cancer
• CEA — bowel and other GI cancers
• AFP — liver and testicular cancer
• CA 19-9 — pancreatic and GI cancers
• CA 15-3 — breast cancer monitoring

Important: elevated tumour markers are not a cancer diagnosis. Many other conditions can raise these markers. An elevated result always requires further investigation with your doctor.

Vitamin D deficiency is very common in the UK — particularly from October to April when sunlight is low. Symptoms include fatigue, low mood, muscle weakness, bone aches and poor immune function.

A blood test measures your 25-OH vitamin D level accurately. If you're deficient, a clinician-guided supplement dose is more effective than guessing — and avoids taking too much (which carries its own risks).

A Full Blood Count measures the number and type of cells in your blood:

• Red blood cells — carry oxygen; low count = anaemia
• White blood cells — immune cells; elevated = infection or inflammation
• Platelets — blood clotting; abnormal levels affect bleeding risk
• Haemoglobin — the oxygen-carrying protein in red cells
• MCV — average red cell size (indicates type of anaemia)

FBC is usually the first test ordered when a doctor wants a general health overview.

Our blood testing room is inside The Vesey building on Boldmere Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73. Look for The Vesey — reception will direct you to the testing room.

We're easily reached from across the West Midlands: 20 minutes from Birmingham city centre, 15 minutes from Lichfield, 20 minutes from Tamworth, 25 minutes from Solihull and Walsall.

Yes — free parking is available directly outside The Vesey building. No ticket, no time limit for the duration of a typical appointment. This is one of the reasons many patients prefer us to city-centre clinics.

Yes. Sutton Coldfield train station is about a 10-minute walk from the clinic (Cross-City line from Birmingham New Street runs every 10 minutes). Several bus routes also stop near Boldmere Road.

We serve patients from across the West Midlands and beyond. Most patients travel from Birmingham, Erdington, Lichfield, Tamworth, Solihull, Walsall and Coventry. Because we're on the edge of the city with free parking, we're accessible without the usual city-centre hassle.

We're open Monday to Sunday, 8am–8pm. Same-week and next-day appointments are usually available. You can book any slot online — evenings and weekends are popular for patients who can't take time off work.

Currently all blood draws take place at our Sutton Coldfield clinic. For corporate health screening, we can discuss on-site arrangements for larger groups — call 0121 387 3727 or WhatsApp us to discuss.