Do you want to keep a track of your health condition? Are you not sure from where to start with it? If you feel overwhelmed or tired, then you should conduct necessary blood tests to know about your health. Talk to a doctor and know how your health condition is and where you can actually improve. Even when you feel healthy, these blood tests will ensure you have good health.
Read on to know about 10 important private blood tests you should perform on a regular basis.
1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Complete blood count or CBC is among the commonly ordered tests with which the blood cells tell about your present health condition. CBC enables you and your doctor to know when there are issues with inflammation or infections, though it will signal when your diet is not balanced.
When you do not include certain micronutrients in your diet, your body will not be able to produce blood cells normally. It is essential to maintain a track of CBC values as many of them leave a strong impact on your overall quality of life.
Having low level of haemoglobin may be the reason why you feel low in energy and fatigued, while a low white blood cell count may make you catch infections easily.
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2. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Comprehensive metabolic panel or CMP is a group of blood tests which enables you and your doctor to know how healthy your kidneys and liver are. It will also alert whether there are any problems in:
- Sugar levels
- Acid/base balance
- Protein levels in the body
You will be aware about this panel well when you suffer from chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney or liver damage. Doctors generally use CMP to evaluate the progression of your ailment.
A CMP usually comprises of 14 biomarkers including:
- Calcium, Albumin, Glucose
- Potassium, Protein, Sodium
- Chloride, Bicarbonate, Bilirubin
- BUN (Urea), ALP, AST, ALT, Creatinine
👉 View Liver Function Tests | View Kidney Function Tests
3. Lipid Panel (Cholesterol and Triglycerides)
A lipid panel calculates the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. These markers are strongly linked to heart disease. If you want to keep it simple:
- ✅ Higher good cholesterol (HDL)
- ✅ Lower bad cholesterol (LDL)
- ✅ Lower triglycerides
If you have greater risk of heart disease, the doctor will maintain a track of additional markers such as ApoB, LDL particles and Lp(a). But a routine lipid panel is a great way to take care of your heart health.
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4. HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)
Though a glucose test shows the present glucose levels, HbA1c will tell you about your average blood sugar levels for the past 3 months. This makes it one of the most important tests for diabetes monitoring.
Testing frequency: If you remain healthy, you should check it at least once a year. People with diabetes may want to test 4 times a year.
Other than being a risk factor for diabetes, high HbA1c levels may increase the risk of:
- Heart disease
- All-cause mortality
This is among the markers which you want to keep in the optimal range.
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5. hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)
C-reactive protein or CRP is a protein that can help fight bacteria and viruses and prevents infection. However, it also increases in response to extreme stress.
You may have higher CRP levels if you:
- Are overweight
- Have diabetes or high blood pressure
- Smoke
- Have periodontal (gum) disease
- Do not exercise regularly
- Are exposed to emotional stress
Important: When CRP and cholesterol levels are both elevated, the overall risk of heart disease may increase by almost 9-fold.
The positive news is that there are several things you can do to decrease CRP levels, making this an important marker to track.
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6. Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy Vitamin D)
It is essential to test your Vitamin D level and check for this common nutritional deficiency. Vitamin D can be lessened in your body when you do not lead a healthy lifestyle or suffer from chronic health problems.
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include:
- Muscle aches and low back pain
- Digestive problems
- Fatigue and mood swings
- Weakened immunity
- Unexplained weight gain
You can get Vitamin D from sun exposure, certain foods, or supplements. However, be careful when supplementing as too much can cause Vitamin D toxicity. Always consult with a doctor before starting supplementation.
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7. Ferritin/Iron
Iron deficiency is a common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anaemia. According to the CDC, iron deficiency may affect nearly 60–80% of the entire world population.
On the other hand, some severe diseases may lead to iron overload which is very toxic to our bodies. So, you need to test your iron levels occasionally, whether it is blood iron or ferritin.
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8. GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase)
GGT is an enzyme that doctors use to assess the function of your liver. Unlike other liver markers, it is not typically part of the standard CMP panel.
There is a link between higher GGT levels, inflammation and oxidative stress, which means this test is helpful beyond just estimating your liver health.
According to research, higher GGT has been linked with increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.
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9. Uric Acid
Too much uric acid may cause kidney stones and increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Generally, the lower it is, the better for your health.
Interestingly, uric acid is also a natural antioxidant which makes up almost 60% of your body's antioxidant capacity. Studies suggest it can protect the brain from diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
The key is to keep uric acid in an optimal range — not too high, not too low.
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10. Thyroid Hormones (TSH)
Thyroid hormones control your metabolism rate and affect insulin sensitivity and cholesterol levels. An overactive or underactive thyroid may lead to issues with:
- Weight (gain or loss)
- Energy levels
- Mood
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is the most commonly tested marker for thyroid function:
- Higher-than-normal TSH = underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Lower-than-normal TSH = overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
For a complete picture, you may opt for a full thyroid panel which includes: TSH, Total/Free T3, Total/Free T4, Free T4 Index, and T3 uptake.
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🩺 Book Your Blood Tests Today
Visit our Walk In Clinic in London to conduct necessary blood tests and maintain good health. Most tests are available on a walk-in basis with results typically within 24-48 hours.