Health Tests & Screening
Understand health tests and screening — what they measure and what results can tell you.
Magnesium deficiency: symptoms, causes and when to get tested
Magnesium deficiency symptoms, what causes low magnesium, how it is diagnosed with a blood test, and the treatment options a clinician may consider.
Folate deficiency: symptoms, testing and treatment explained
Folate deficiency symptoms, what causes low folate, how it is diagnosed with a blood test, and the treatment a clinician may recommend, including in pregnancy.
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): symptoms, causes and treatment
An overactive thyroid speeds the body up, causing a racing heart, weight loss and anxiety. Learn the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and UK treatment options.
AMH test: what your ovarian reserve result means
AMH test explained: what it measures, how UK results are read against your age, and what a low or high result can (and can't) tell you about fertility.
Underactive thyroid: symptoms and when to get tested
Underactive thyroid symptoms explained: tiredness, weight gain and feeling cold, plus how it's diagnosed, treated and when a blood test is worthwhile.
Kidney function tests: what your results mean
A kidney function test measures eGFR, creatinine and electrolytes. Here is what a low or raised result means, common causes and what happens next.
Full blood count (FBC): what your results mean
A full blood count (FBC) checks red cells, white cells and platelets. Here is what a raised or low result can mean, and what typically happens next.
HbA1c test: what your blood sugar result means
Understand your HbA1c blood test result: what normal, prediabetes and diabetes readings mean, how often to test, and what can affect the number.
Liver function tests: what your results mean
A liver function test measures ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin and albumin. Here is what a raised or normal result means, common causes and what happens next.
Sports and fitness blood tests: what active people should know
What sports and fitness blood tests check, from iron and thyroid to testosterone, when they can help, and how they differ from routine NHS blood tests.
Vitamin B12 deficiency: symptoms, testing and treatment explained
Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms, who is more likely to be affected, how it is diagnosed with a blood test, and the treatment options a clinician may recommend.
What your cholesterol test results mean
Cholesterol test results explained: what total, LDL, HDL, non-HDL and triglyceride numbers mean, healthy UK ranges, and what a raised result means for you.
PSA test explained: what a raised result means and what happens next
PSA test results explained: what counts as a normal level by age in the UK, what else can raise PSA, and what happens after a raised result.
STI testing explained: which tests you need and how often
How often should you get tested for STIs, and what does a full screen actually cover? A clear guide to testing frequency, window periods and results.
Iron deficiency anaemia: symptoms, testing and treatment explained
Iron deficiency anaemia symptoms, who is at risk, how it is diagnosed with a blood test, and the treatment options a clinician may recommend.
What your vitamin D result actually means
What your vitamin D result actually means: how to read the nmol/L number, what counts as deficient, insufficient or adequate, and what to do next.
Tired all the time? The blood tests that explain fatigue
Tired all the time? The blood tests that can explain fatigue — from iron and thyroid to vitamin B12 and blood sugar — and what a normal result still means.
Blood tests for hair loss: what they can reveal
Blood tests for hair loss: which markers — iron, thyroid, hormones and more — can explain shedding, and when testing is genuinely worth doing.
How often should you check your thyroid?
How often should you check your thyroid? UK guidance on testing frequency — with symptoms, on treatment, after a borderline result or in pregnancy.
General health checks: what a full health MOT includes and when to consider one
What's included in a general health check or health MOT in the UK, how it differs from the NHS Health Check, and when it might be worth booking one.
Women's health tests explained
Women's health tests explained: what hormone, iron, thyroid and wellbeing checks measure, how life stage matters, and how a UK clinician can help interpret them.
Private blood tests — what they can tell you
Private blood tests explained: what common panels measure, how results are interpreted, what a test can and cannot tell you, and when to seek clinical advice.
Men's health tests explained
Men's health tests explained: what checks such as testosterone, cholesterol, blood sugar and PSA measure, and how a UK clinician can help interpret your results.
Hormone tests — what they measure
Hormone tests explained: what thyroid, reproductive and stress hormones measure, why timing affects results, and how a UK clinician helps interpret them.
Fertility tests — what to expect
Fertility tests explained: what checks for women and men measure, when timing matters, what results can and cannot tell you, and how a UK clinician can help.
Allergy tests — what they can identify
Allergy tests explained: what blood and skin tests can identify, their limits, the difference from intolerance, and why a clinician should interpret results.