Types of blood tests

There are many different types of blood tests, from general health checks to tests that look at specific areas like your hormones, heart health, vitamin levels or risk of certain conditions. Whether you'd like a routine check-up, want to understand symptoms you've been noticing or simply want peace of mind, the right blood test can help you get clear answers about your health.

In this guide, we explain the main types of blood tests, what each one checks and who it's useful for. If you're not sure where to start, our Blood Test Finder can point you in the right direction in a few quick questions, or you can use our quick-reference table to compare your options at a glance.

Blood Tests At a Glance

Type Of Test	What It Checks	Useful if You...	Find Out More
General Health	Full blood count, kidney and liver function, glucose	Want a routine check-up or a baseline for your health	Health Screens
Haematology	Red and white blood cells, platelets, haemoglobin and clotting	Feel tired, get frequent infections or bruise easily	Blood Tests
Nutritional and Metabolic	Vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, blood sugar and cholesterol	Feel run down or have a restricted diet	Blood Tests
Biochemistry	Liver and kidney function, cholesterol and triglycerides (most common type of fat in your blood)	Want to check how your organs are working	Blood Tests
Hormones and thyroid	Thyroid function, sex hormones and cortisol	Have tiredness, weight changes, mood swings or menopause symptoms	Menopause health screen
Allergy and immunology	IgE antibodies and autoimmune markers	Have rashes, a persistent cough or joint pain	Allergy Testing
Infectious Diseases	Glandular fever and Lyme disease	Think you may have been exposed to an infection	Blood Tests
Neurological and mental health	Vitamin B12, folate, thyroid, vitamin D and iron	Notice changes in memory, energy or mood	Private GP Appointment
Heart health	Cholesterol, blood sugar and inflammation (hs-CRP)	Have a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol	Heart Health Blood Tests
Cancer risk	BRCA1 and BRCA2, PSA and CA125	Have a family history of certain cancers	Blood Tests
Diabetes	Average blood sugar (HbA1c) with optional glucose, cholesterol and kidney checks	Family history, extra weight, or symptoms like thirst and tiredness	Diabetes Blood Tests
Sexual health	HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C	Are sexually active or have a new partner	STI Testing
Reproductive health	AMH, FSH, LH, oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone	Are planning a family or having difficulty conceiving	Fertility Clinic

How do I know which type of test I need?

The right blood test depends on why you're testing:

For a general health check: Our Lifestyle and Well Person health screens are some of our most popular options, checking key markers from cholesterol to liver function.
For specific symptoms: If you're experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, pain or weight loss, individual tests can focus on areas like your hormones or heart health.
For a family history: If conditions like cancer or heart disease run in your family, you can choose tests that look at your risk.

As Dr Tang, private GP at Pall Mall, explains: "It's important to take a personalised approach to testing. Your individual health needs and concerns should guide the tests you consider."

You can explore the right tests for your needs below, or if you're unsure where to start, our team can guide you through your options or you can book a private GP appointment for tailored advice.

Checking Your Overall Health

General health

What it checks: General health tests give you an overview of your wellbeing by checking key markers in your blood. These usually include a full blood count (FBC), which looks at your red and white blood cells and can help detect anaemia, infections or blood disorders, along with tests for kidney function, liver function and glucose levels.

Who it's useful for: Anyone who'd like a routine check-up, a baseline to track their health over time, or reassurance that everything is working as it should. These tests can also pick up some conditions before you notice any symptoms.

Book your test: Explore our general health blood tests and get a clearer picture of your health.

Haematology tests

What it checks: Haematology tests look at the different components of your blood. The most common is a full blood count (FBC), which measures your red and white blood cells, platelets and haemoglobin. Results outside the normal range may point to issues such as anaemia or infection, or sometimes a need for further investigation into conditions affecting the blood or bone marrow. Coagulation (clotting) tests check how well your blood clots.

Who it's useful for: Anyone with symptoms such as tiredness, frequent infections or unusual bruising or bleeding, as well as people with a history of bleeding disorders or who take blood-thinning medication and need their levels monitored.

Book your test: Explore our haematology blood tests and find out more about your blood health.

Nutritional and metabolic health

What it checks: These tests look at how well your body is getting and using the nutrients it needs. They can include:

Vitamin D: Important for healthy bones and your immune system.
Vitamin B12: Low levels can cause tiredness, memory problems and mood changes.
Iron: Low iron is a common cause of anaemia, which can leave you feeling tired and weak.
Blood sugar (glucose and HbA1c): Shows how well your body manages blood sugar and can help diagnose diabetes. Find out more about our diabetes blood tests, or speak to one of our diabetes specialists for ongoing support.
Cholesterol: Measures the fats in your blood, which can affect your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Who it's useful for: Anyone who's feeling tired or run down without a clear reason, has a restricted diet, or wants to understand their health before making changes to what they eat or how they live. As Dr Tang explains, "Regular screening for nutritional and metabolic health helps maintain balance, avoid deficiencies, and provide a foundation for dietary and lifestyle improvements to optimise overall well-being."

Book your test: Explore our nutritional and metabolic blood tests and find out what your body might be missing.

Biochemistry tests

"Biochemistry blood tests are designed to measure various chemical substances in the blood, such as enzymes, proteins, hormones, and metabolites. These tests play a vital role in diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of medical conditions, particularly those related to organ function, metabolism, and overall health," explains Dr Tang.

What it checks:

Liver function: Checks enzymes and proteins in your blood that can show signs of liver conditions, such as fatty liver disease or hepatitis.
Kidney function: Measures waste products such as creatinine and urea to see how well your kidneys are filtering your blood.
Cholesterol and triglycerides: Measures the fats in your blood, which can affect your risk of heart disease.

Who it's useful for: Anyone who wants to check how their key organs are working, as well as people managing conditions such as diabetes or thyroid problems who need regular monitoring to keep track of their health.

Book your test: Explore our health screens and find out what your body might be missing.

Investigating Symptoms

Hormonal and Endocrine Tests

"Hormonal imbalances can lead to a variety of health problems, including weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, and infertility. Through these tests, healthcare professionals gain valuable insight into how well your endocrine system is functioning, enabling timely intervention and personalised treatment for a wide range of conditions that might otherwise go undiagnosed or untreated," says Dr Tang.

What it checks: Hormones help control many of your body's functions, including your metabolism, energy, mood and reproductive health. These tests can include:

Thyroid function (including TSH): Checks whether your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism), which can affect your energy levels, weight and mood. If your results show a thyroid problem, our endocrinology specialists can help you find the right treatment.
Sex hormones: Measures hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, which play a key role in fertility, periods and menopause.
Cortisol: Checks how well your adrenal glands are working and can help investigate conditions such as Addison's disease or Cushing's syndrome.

Who it's useful for: Anyone experiencing symptoms such as tiredness, unexplained weight changes, mood swings or changes to their periods, as well as people going through menopause or having difficulty conceiving.

If your results show a hormone or thyroid imbalance, our diabetology and endocrinology specialists can help you understand what's going on and agree the right treatment for you.

Book your test: Explore our hormone blood tests and get answers about how your hormones are affecting how you feel.

Allergy and immunology tests

"Allergy and immunology blood tests are used to assess the body's immune response and identify allergic reactions or autoimmune conditions. These tests can help diagnose a wide range of issues, from food and environmental allergies to immune system disorders. They provide valuable insights into how the body's immune system is functioning and can help guide treatments for allergies, asthma, or autoimmune diseases," says Dr Tang.

What it checks: These tests look at how your immune system responds to certain triggers. They can include:

IgE testing: Measures antibodies your body makes when it reacts to allergens, helping identify allergies to things like foods, pollen, dust or pet dander. Our ALEX3 allergy test can check for reactions to around 300 allergens from a single blood sample.
Antibody tests: Look for signs of autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, where the immune system attacks healthy tissue by mistake.

Who it's useful for: Anyone with symptoms that could be linked to an allergy or immune response, such as a persistent cough, skin rashes or joint pain, who'd like to understand what might be causing them.

Book your test: Explore our allergy and immunology blood tests and take the first step towards understanding your symptoms.

Infectious diseases

What it checks: These tests look for signs of infection caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites, either by finding the infection itself or the antibodies your body makes to fight it. They can include:

Glandular fever (mononucleosis): A common viral infection that can cause tiredness, a sore throat and swollen glands.
Lyme disease: An infection spread by tick bites that can cause a rash, flu-like symptoms and joint pain.
Zika virus: An infection spread mainly by mosquitoes in certain parts of the world. It often causes mild or no symptoms, but testing can offer peace of mind after travel, especially if you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

"Other tests, such as mononucleosis screening or Lyme disease tests, identify less common infections, enabling targeted treatment," explains Dr Tang.

Who it's useful for: Anyone who may have been exposed to an infection, has symptoms they'd like to understand, or wants peace of mind. Finding an infection early means treatment can start sooner, which can help prevent long-term complications and reduce the risk of passing it on to others.

Book your test: Explore our infectious disease blood tests and get the answers you need.

Neurological and mental health

What it checks: Blood tests can't diagnose neurological or mental health conditions on their own, but they can help rule out physical causes of symptoms such as memory problems, brain fog, tiredness or low mood. They can include:

Vitamin B12 and folate: Low levels can affect your memory, concentration, energy and mood.
Thyroid function: An underactive or overactive thyroid can cause tiredness, low mood or anxiety.
Vitamin D and iron: Low levels are common and can leave you feeling tired and run down.

"They also provide essential data for managing ongoing mental health conditions, ensuring appropriate interventions and improving patients' quality of life," says Dr Tang.

Who it's useful for: Anyone noticing changes in their memory, concentration, energy or mood who'd like to check whether something physical could be playing a part. If you're concerned about your mental health or a condition affecting your brain or nervous system, our private GPs can talk through your symptoms and recommend the right next steps, which may include support from our psychiatry or psychology teams.

Book your test: Explore our blood tests or book a private GP appointment to talk through how you're feeling.

Woman getting a private blood test at Pall Mall

Understanding Your Risks

Cardiovascular health tests

"Regular testing can uncover silent risk factors that might go undetected otherwise, enabling early intervention. By monitoring these indicators, healthcare professionals can work with patients to manage and mitigate their risk through lifestyle changes, medications, or other interventions, ultimately helping to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the likelihood of heart-related problems in the future," Dr Tang shares.

What it checks: These tests look at markers in your blood linked to the health of your heart and blood vessels, helping to identify risk factors for heart disease and stroke. They can include:

Cholesterol (lipid profile): Measures LDL ("bad") cholesterol, HDL ("good") cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood.
Blood sugar (glucose): High blood sugar levels can increase your risk of heart disease.
hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein): Measures inflammation in your body, which can be linked to a higher risk of heart problems.
You might also consider a CT calcium score, a quick heart scan that checks for calcium build-up in the arteries supplying your heart, giving another way to understand your risk of heart disease.

Who it's useful for: Anyone with a family history of heart disease or stroke, people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or anyone who'd like to understand their heart health and make informed choices about their lifestyle. If you'd like specialist advice, you can also see one of our cardiologists. Find out more about the benefits of a private cardiology appointment.

Book your test: Explore our heart health blood tests and take a positive step towards looking after your heart.

Cancer risk tests

"Cancer risk tests are used to identify factors that may increase the likelihood of developing certain cancers. These tests measure biomarkers or genetic mutations in the blood that could indicate a higher risk. For example, BRCA1/BRCA2 genetic testing can identify mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancers, while the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures a protein in the blood that can be elevated in prostate cancer," says Dr Tang.

What it checks: These tests look for markers in your blood that may suggest a higher risk of certain cancers. They can include:

BRCA1 and BRCA2: Genetic tests that look for inherited changes linked to a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Find out more about why early detection matters.
CA125: Measures a protein that can be raised in ovarian cancer. Levels can also be raised by more common, non-cancerous conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, periods or pregnancy, so results are always looked at alongside your symptoms.
PSA (prostate-specific antigen): Measures a protein made by the prostate. Raised levels can be caused by prostate cancer, but also by more common conditions such as an enlarged prostate or infection. If your level is higher than expected, your doctor may suggest a prostate MRI scan to get a clearer picture and give you peace of mind.

These tests can't diagnose cancer on their own. Instead, they help your doctor understand whether you might benefit from further tests, more regular check-ups or changes to your lifestyle.

Looking for other cancer tests? Our Colo-Alert bowel cancer test uses a simple stool sample rather than a blood test to help detect early signs of bowel cancer.

Who it's useful for: Anyone with a family history of certain cancers, or who'd like a better understanding of their risk so they can make informed choices about their health. A doctor will talk you through your results and what they mean for you. If you have symptoms that are worrying you, such as persistent bloating, speak to a GP so they can recommend the right tests.

Book your test: Explore our cancer risk blood tests and take a proactive step towards understanding your health.

Diabetes

Many people with raised blood sugar feel completely well, so it’s easy not to realise anything has changed. A simple blood test can pick this up early, often at the prediabetes stage, when lifestyle changes can make the biggest difference. Knowing where you stand means you and your clinician can take steps to protect your long-term health and lower your risk of complications in the future.

What it checks: These tests look at how your body is managing sugar, helping to identify diabetes, prediabetes and related risks to your health. They can include:

HbA1c: Shows your average blood sugar over the last 2–3 months. It’s the main test used to check for diabetes and prediabetes in the UK.
Fasting glucose: Measures your blood sugar at a single point in time, after not eating for at least 8 hours.
Kidney function (U&Es, creatinine and eGFR): Checks how well your kidneys are working, as diabetes can affect them over time.
Cholesterol (lipid profile): Diabetes can increase your risk of heart disease, so checking your cholesterol gives a fuller picture. You might also consider our heart health blood tests to understand your heart health in more detail.

Who it’s useful for: Anyone with a family history of diabetes, people carrying extra weight, those with high blood pressure or who had diabetes during a pregnancy, or anyone noticing symptoms such as increased thirst, needing the loo more often or feeling unusually tired. Your risk is also higher if you’re over 40, or over 25 if you’re of South Asian, Chinese, African-Caribbean or Black African background. If you’d like specialist advice, you can also see one of our diabetes and hormone specialists. Not sure which test is right for you? Book a free five-minute GP call to talk it through.

Book your test: Explore our diabetes blood tests and take a positive step towards understanding your health.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Sexual health tests

What it checks: Sexual health tests check for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), many of which don't cause any symptoms. Blood tests can check for:

HIV: A virus that affects the immune system, which can be managed effectively when diagnosed early.
Syphilis: A bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics.
Hepatitis B and C: Viral infections that affect the liver.

Other common STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, are usually tested for with a urine sample or swab rather than a blood test. If you'd like quick answers, our rapid result STD testing can check for a range of infections.

"HIV and syphilis tests help prevent complications from untreated infections," says Dr Tang.

Who it's useful for: Anyone who is sexually active, has a new partner, or would like peace of mind. As many STIs don't cause symptoms, testing is the only way to know for sure. Finding an infection early means treatment can start sooner, reducing the risk of long-term health problems and of passing it on to partners.

Book your test: Explore our sexual health tests and get the reassurance you need, quickly and confidentially.

Reproductive health tests

What it checks: These blood tests measure hormones that play a key role in fertility and reproductive health. They can include:

AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone): Gives an indication of ovarian reserve, the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries.
FSH and LH: Hormones that control ovulation and your menstrual cycle, which can help assess fertility or signs of menopause.
Oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone: Can help investigate irregular periods, ovulation or symptoms that may be linked to conditions such as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). If you need further support, our gynaecology specialists can talk you through your results and treatment options.
Testosterone in men: Low testosterone can affect sperm production, libido and energy levels, so testing can help men understand whether their hormones could be affecting their fertility. Low levels can also be linked to the male menopause, which can cause symptoms such as tiredness, low mood and reduced sex drive.

These results can give you and your doctor a clearer picture of your reproductive health, whether you're hoping to conceive naturally or exploring fertility treatment.

Who it's useful for: Anyone planning a family, having difficulty conceiving, or experiencing changes to their periods, libido or other symptoms that could be linked to their hormones. If you're trying to conceive, our early pregnancy blood tests can confirm a pregnancy with a simple blood test.

Book your test: Explore our reproductive health blood tests and get a clearer picture of your fertility.

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