Premium GP Practice
Private Blood Tests
Stay on top of your health with our comprehensive blood test services, tailored to meet your individual needs. We offer a wide range of tests with fast results—most available by the next day. Our professional team will guide you through every step, ensuring a smooth and comfortable experience.
Comprehensive Range of Blood Tests
Monitor Your Health with Confidence
Blood tests are a reliable way to gain insights into your health and detect any early signs of potential issues. Our skilled clinicians provide expert recommendations on the tests best suited for your specific concerns and will personally handle the sample collection.
Our partner lab ensures rapid analysis, with most results available within 24 hours, helping you make informed decisions about your health.
A Holistic, Patient-Centred Approach
Why Choose DGA Health for Your Blood Tests?
At DGA Health, our private GPs may recommend blood tests during consultations to investigate certain physical symptoms, or you may opt to have them as part of one of our comprehensive health screening packages. In either scenario, we are committed to ensuring you receive the highest quality care, reflecting the highest standards of care at out London-based private clinic.
Understanding Your Blood Tests
What Are the Most Common Blood Tests?
There are numerous blood tests available, each one providing its own set of insights. Some evaluate several different elements at once, such as a Full Blood Count (FBC) or basic metabolic panel (BMP). Other tests home in on more specific factors. Below are some of the major categories of blood tests that we offer at DGA Health:
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Full Blood Count (FBC)
An FBC (sometimes referred to as a Complete Blood Count – CBC) typically measures
✓ Red Blood Cells (RBCs): Including haemoglobin levels for signs of anaemia, and haematocrit (the percentage of red cells in your blood).
✓ White Blood Cells (WBCs): Useful for gauging immune response and spotting signs of infection and allergy.
✓ Platelets: A type of blood cell important in blood clotting.
✓ Cell Size and Distribution: Measuring metrics like RDW (red blood cell distribution width) and MCV (mean corpuscular volume).
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Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
A BMP assesses multiple substances that hint at your overall wellbeing:
✓ Blood Glucose: Also known as blood sugar, this test helps identify whether you have or are at risk for diabetes.
✓ Calcium: A mineral essential for bone health, muscle function, and nerve signalling.
✓ BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): Reflects kidney function by measuring urea levels.
✓ Creatine Kinase (CK): An enzyme released by muscle cells. Raised CK levels indicates possible muscle injury or stress.
✓ Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride): Maintain fluid balance and support vital organs.
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Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A comprehensive Metabolic Panel typically includes all of the tests in a BMP plus some additional ones as follows:
✓ Albumin and Bilirubin: Both are important markers for liver and kidney health.
✓ Liver Enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP): Elevated levels can signal liver disease or certain bone disorders.
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Additional Electrolyte Panel
Electrolyte panel tests help confirm whether your mineral balance is correct. In addition to sodium, potassium, and chloride, the panel might check:
✓ Magnesium: Critical for heart rhythm and muscle function.
✓ Anion Gap: Used to evaluate acid-base balance in your blood.
Stay on Top of Your Health
Diagnose Specific Conditions
Alongside the broad panels above, many of the blood tests we offer at DGA Health can help us investigating particular symptoms or areas of concern.
Our private GPs may recommend blood tests during consultations to investigate certain physical symptoms, or you may opt to have them as part of one of our comprehensive health screening packages.
Visit our Health Checks page for detailed information and options.
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Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune disorders occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body. Tests that might help identify these conditions include:
✓ Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test: High levels can point to lupus, scleroderma, or other autoimmune conditions, although many normal healthy people can exhibit high ANA levels, so they must be interpreted with caution.
✓ C-reactive Protein (CRP): A nonspecific sign of inflammation that can be associated with autoimmune or inflammatory disorders.
✓ Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): Another marker of inflammation, measured by looking at how your red blood cells settle in a test tube over time.
✓ Peripheral Blood Film: Measuring metrics like RDW (red blood cell distribution width) and MCV (mean corpuscular volume).
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Blood Disorders
Blood disorders can impact clotting, inflammation, and the production of essential blood components, aiding in the diagnosis of conditions like clotting disorders, anemia, and multiple myeloma.
✓ D-dimer Test: Assists in diagnosing clotting disorders.
✓ Fibrinogen: Evaluates the protein that plays a key part in coagulation.
✓ Kappa or Lambda Free Light Chains: Elevated levels can indicate conditions like multiple myeloma or amyloidosis.
✓ Prothrombin Time (PTT): Assesses how long your blood takes to clot.
✓ Reticulocyte Count: Determines if your bone marrow is producing enough red blood cells.
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Cancer Blood Tests
Some test may be more valuable when exploring the risk of symptoms of certain cancers. These tests must always be interpreted with caution due to the risk of falsely elevated or even falsely negative results. Tests which may be valuable in cancer detection include:
✓ Full Blood Count (FBC): May detect abnormalities in circulating red and white blood cells which suggest blood cancers.
✓ Tumour Markers: Proteins like prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer, or CA-125 for ovarian cancer.
✓ Circulating Tumour Cells: A newer blood test that spots cancer cells in the bloodstream at a very early stage.
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Endocrine System Disorders
The endocrine system relies on glands that produce hormones, playing a vital role in your metabolic wellbeing. Endocrine blood tests may need to be carefully timed due to the usual daily rhythmic changes in our hormones. Blood tests can pinpoint imbalances, including:
✓ Blood Glucose (including HbA1c): Vital for identifying diabetes or pre-diabetes.
✓ Thyroid Function Tests (TSH, T3, T4): Reveals if your thyroid gland is underactive or overactive.
✓ Pancreatic Enzymes (Amylase, Lipase): Useful for detecting pancreatitis or other pancreatic or digestive issues.
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Heart Disease Tests
Blood tests can also be essential for managing or detecting heart-related conditions, especially checking for a heart attack or looking for signs of heart enlargement:
✓ Cardiac Blood Tests: These might measure enzymes released when heart muscle is damaged from a heart attack, infection or abnormalities of heart rhythm.
✓ N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP): This helpful test can indicate abnormal swelling of the heart, and can help doctors monitor treatment for heart failure.
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Allergies Tests
An allergy blood test identifies increased levels of antiboides immunoglobulin E (IgE), which may be raised in response to certain triggers like dust mites, pollen, or specific foods.
✓ IgE Total Levels: Measures overall IgE antibody levels in blood.
✓ IgE Specific Allergen: Identifies IgE response to individual allergens.
Health checks
Blood Test Profiles
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Basic Profile
Blood count, ESR, liver function, urea & electrolytes, CK, LDH, bone markers, glucose and cholesterol.
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Well Person Profile
Blood count, ESR, liver function, urea & electrolytes, CK, LDH, bone markers, glucose and cholesterol, thyroid function tests, ferritin.
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Advanced Well Person Profile
Blood count, ESR, liver function, urea & electrolytes, CK, LDH, bone markers, glucose and cholesterol, thyroid function tests, ferritin, vitamin D.
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Well Man Profile
Blood count, ESR, liver function, urea & electrolytes, CK, LDH, bone markers, glucose and cholesterol, thyroid function tests, ferritin, PSA (prostate antigen).
Answers to Common Questions
FAQs About Blood Tests
Our goal is to provide clarity and guidance on what to expect from our laboratory and blood tests services at DGA Health Clinic. Below, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions. If you have any other concerns or need more information, feel free to contact our clinic directly.
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Your ideal testing schedule depends on your medical history, personal risks, and any recommendations from your DGA Health GP. For many people, annual health checks that include a range of basic blood tests are a sensible approach. If you’re at an increased risk for particular conditions, for example if you have a strong family history, you might need tests more frequently.
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Preparation can vary based on the test. Certain blood tests require you to fast (avoid food and, sometimes, beverages other than water) for several hours. You’ll receive guidance from your DGA Health GP before your test, but in general:
Drink Plenty of Water on your test day. This helps keep your veins visible and easily accessible.
Consider Moisturising. Well-hydrated skin may ease the blood collection.
Ask for Specifics in advance. If you have queries about medications or dietary restrictions, discuss these before your appointment.
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One of our trained doctors usually performs the blood test at DGA Health directly within your consultation. Here’s what you can expect:
Preparation. You’ll sit down with your arm resting on a cushion, and the doctor will clean a specific area of your skin using an alcohol swab—commonly in the crook of your elbow.
Elastic Tourniquet. A band is wrapped around your upper arm to help the vein stand out. You may be asked to make a fist to encourage blood flow further.
Needle Insertion. The needle is guided into your vein. If multiple blood vials are needed, the practitioner may switch tubes but often leaves the needle in place, so you only feel one insertion.
Plaster Placement. Once enough blood is collected, the elastic band and needle are removed, and you’ll receive a small plaster or dressing
Most people experience minimal discomfort but let our staff know if you have any worries. We pride ourselves on delivering compassionate, high-end care that respects your comfort and health outcomes.
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The volume depends on how many tests your doctor has ordered but usually doesn’t exceed 20-30 ml of blood. Although seeing several tubes fill up can be disconcerting, it’s a very small fraction of the total blood in your body.
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Most blood tests cause only brief discomfort or a slight pinch. However, everyone’s pain threshold is different. Our clinicians are trained to minimise discomfort wherever possible. For particularly nervous individuals (including children) we can advise on the use of a numbing cream which is applied prior to the test and reduces the sensation of the blood test.
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Many patients experience a degree of worry before and during blood tests. Here are a few practical tips:
Tell the doctor. Share your concerns with our doctor so that they can help you stay calm and relaxed during the test.
Breathe Deeply Slow, steady breaths can help you remain calm.
Lie down and look away. If you don’t want to see the needle, let your doctor know. Lying down can also help if you feel faint or light-headed during tests.
Use a Distraction Technique. Count silently or plan a pleasant activity in your head to divert your focus. Sometimes, we suggest watching a video on your phone!
At DGA Health, we place great emphasis on creating a comforting environment, so please let us know if you have any concerns. We’re always happy to help.
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When your blood sample is ready, it’s labelled with your details and forwarded to a specialised laboratory. The time it takes to process results varies depending on the complexity of the tests. Most of our test results are available and shared with you withing 48 hours. Genetic or highly specialised tests might take longer.
Your GP at DGA Health will talk you through the best way to access your results via our online portal. And of course, if there are any significant abnormalities you’ll receive a phone call.
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Not necessarily. At DGA Health, we believe in maintaining open lines of communication regarding all test results, whether they’re routine or indicative of a potential health issue.
In many cases, your doctor may want to offer detailed guidance or suggest lifestyle changes which are hard to communicate on email alone. If your doctor feels a follow-up call is required, they will help arrange one so that you can have a clear conversation about the next steps.
