The NHS Health Check tests 3 to 4 blood markers every 5 years. Bupa's mid-tier assessment tests around 30 to 40. A comprehensive private blood test covers 114. The label "full body health check" can mean almost anything. This guide explains what it should mean, what each option actually includes, and where the real gaps are.
The words "blood test" and "health check" can mean almost anything. Here is what each option actually tests, what it costs, and what it misses.
What it misses: Liver function, full blood count, thyroid, hormones, vitamins, iron, inflammation, immune markers, advanced lipids (ApoB, Lp(a)), metabolic depth (insulin, HOMA-IR), tumour markers. Nothing available before age 40. Designed as population-level cardiovascular screening, not a personal health check.
What it misses: Free T3, thyroid antibodies, full hormonal panel (testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol, cortisol), fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, ApoB, Lp(a), immunoglobulins, tumour markers, vitamin D (not routine), vitamin B12 (only if suspected), advanced liver markers (GGT, bile acids), and any cross-system analysis. GP decides which markers to request based on your symptoms. You cannot request specific tests. Results take 1-4 weeks including follow-up appointment.
Strengths: Good breadth across multiple systems. Medically reviewed. Solid mid-tier option. Weaknesses: No fasting insulin or HOMA-IR (misses insulin resistance). No tumour markers (CEA, CA 19-9, PSA, CA-125). No immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM). No coeliac screen. No C-peptide. No cystatin C. No cortisol. No LH, FSH, or prolactin. No Lp(a). Results are individual marker comments, not cross-system pattern analysis. 70 markers for £399 = £5.70 per marker.
114 markers for £349 = £3.06 per marker. The most comprehensive private blood test available in the UK under £1,000. Phlebotomy: £19 clinic, £39 at-home. 103+ clinic locations nationwide. Results in 48 hours. Does not include physical measurements (ECG, hearing, vision). For blood depth specifically, this is the deepest available.
If you just want the free basics and you're 40 to 74, the NHS Health Check is a reasonable cardiovascular screening. Take it when offered. But understand it tests 3 to 4 blood markers and does not look at thyroid, hormones, vitamins, liver enzymes, immune function, or metabolic depth. It is a starting point, not a health check.
If you have a specific symptom, see your GP first. A GP can order a targeted panel of 10 to 20 markers at no cost. For acute concerns, this system works. But if the GP says "your bloods are normal" and you still feel unwell, the markers they excluded are usually where the answer lives. Why "normal" bloods don't mean you're fine.
If you want a solid private panel at mid-range depth, providers like Lola Health offer ~70 markers with doctor review for around £399. That's a genuine step up from the GP. It covers the main systems and is a good option if you don't need metabolic depth (insulin, HOMA-IR), immune profiling (immunoglobulins), or tumour markers.
If you want the deepest available blood test in the UK under £1,000, the TrueVitals Ultimate panel tests 114 biomarkers for £349, with AI cross-system analysis that identifies patterns between markers that individual-marker reports cannot see. It includes everything in the mid-range competitor panels plus fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, immunoglobulins, tumour markers, coeliac screening, cortisol, advanced kidney markers, and the full hormonal profile. More markers, lower price, deeper reporting.
If you want physical measurements too (ECG, hearing, vision, body composition), a Bupa-style assessment (£500 to £700+) adds those alongside a blood panel of 30 to 40 markers. The smartest approach if you want both: a comprehensive blood test annually for depth, plus a Bupa-style assessment every 2 to 3 years for the physical components. They complement each other.
If you're under 40, the NHS offers you nothing. No routine screening exists. A comprehensive private blood test is the only way to establish a health baseline before age-related risks begin to accumulate.
A full body check means every major body system, tested simultaneously, with cross-system analysis. Here are the 12 systems a comprehensive panel should cover.
Full blood count: red cells, white cells, platelets, haemoglobin, haematocrit. The foundation of every health check.
Ferritin, transferrin saturation, serum iron, TIBC, vitamin D, B12, folate, zinc. The markers that explain energy and immunity.
TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Anti-TPO, Anti-Tg. Full thyroid, not just TSH. Subclinical dysfunction affects 8-10% of UK adults.
ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin, albumin. Essential for anyone who drinks, takes medication, or wants to catch NAFLD early.
Creatinine, eGFR, urea, uric acid, cystatin C, electrolytes. Often the first system to show silent damage.
Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, ApoB, Lp(a), homocysteine, hs-CRP. Standard cholesterol is not enough. ApoB and Lp(a) are the markers that matter most.
HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, C-peptide. Catches insulin resistance 5-15 years before diabetes diagnosis.
Testosterone, SHBG, free testosterone, oestradiol, progesterone, cortisol, DHEA-S, FSH, LH, prolactin. The system that governs energy, mood, drive, and body composition.
hs-CRP, ESR. Chronic low-grade inflammation is a precursor to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions.
IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE, complement, rheumatoid factor, Anti-CCP. Your immune system's capacity and autoimmune screening.
Anti-tTG (coeliac screen), H. pylori, amylase, lipase. Gut problems that show up in blood before digestive symptoms become chronic.
CEA, CA 19-9, PSA (men), CA-125, CA 15-3 (women). Tumour markers included in the Ultimate panel. Not available on NHS without referral.
Most people get a blood test only when something feels wrong. But the highest-value test is the one you take when you feel fine. That test becomes your baseline: the reference point every future result is measured against.
A ferritin of 45 means nothing on its own. But a ferritin of 45 that was 90 a year ago is a trend worth investigating. An HbA1c of 38 is "normal." An HbA1c that has risen from 32 to 35 to 38 over three years is insulin resistance developing in real time. Without a baseline, you cannot see trends. Without trends, you cannot intervene early. You can only react late.
The NHS does not offer proactive baseline testing. It tests reactively: when you present with symptoms, when you reach 40, or when a condition is already suspected. Private comprehensive testing fills the gap between "feeling fine" and "finding out too late." It is health maintenance, not health repair.
The TrueVitals AI report includes longitudinal tracking from your second test onwards. Every marker gets directional arrows and percentage changes. The AI identifies which markers improved, which declined, and what might explain the shift. Each test makes the health picture richer and the recommendations more precise. See how the report works.
114 biomarkers across every major body system. AI-powered cross-system analysis. Medical professional review. Results in 48 hours. From £349.
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