When you feel acutely unwell — fevers, aches, unexplained pain, or a general sense that something's wrong — a focused blood test can rule things in or out quickly. Acute Medical Panel 2 builds on our Panel 1 with additional markers for inflammation, muscle and joint involvement, and iron status, giving your clinician a fuller same-day picture without needing several separate tests.
What a broader acute panel can help identify
This panel is designed around the extra questions that often come up during an acute illness assessment:
- Active infection or inflammation — CRP rises quickly with infection or inflammatory illness and is one of the most useful acute markers available.
- Muscle involvement — creatine kinase can be raised with significant muscle injury, some infections, or certain medication reactions.
- Gout or uric acid-related joint pain — relevant if you have sudden, severe joint pain, classically in the big toe.
- Iron deficiency contributing to how unwell you feel — assessed through a full iron panel.
- Dehydration, kidney strain or liver involvement — as with Panel 1, checked through kidney and liver function.
When to seek help
This panel is designed for when you feel unwell but stable enough for a same-day appointment rather than emergency care. Call 999 or go to A&E immediately for chest pain, severe breathlessness, confusion, a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure, or any symptom that feels like a genuine emergency.
As a rule, seek urgent care for severe, sudden or rapidly worsening symptoms, and book a routine test for milder, longer-standing concerns like the ones above.
What the Acute Medical Panel 2 checks
Rather than testing one thing at a time, the Acute Medical Panel 2 panel screens 37 markers across 8 areas of your health in a single blood draw. Here's what each group can tell you:
Liver function
This panel checks ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin and albumin. Liver enzymes can flag early strain from alcohol, medication, weight gain or fatty liver disease long before any symptoms appear.
Inflammation
This panel checks C-reactive protein (CRP), a general marker of inflammation in the body that can point towards infection, a chronic inflammatory condition, or increased cardiovascular risk.
Bone & mineral health
This panel checks calcium and phosphate, giving an early picture of bone and mineral health that can also flag problems affecting energy and muscle function.
Blood sugar
This panel checks creatine kinase, glucose and HbA1c, screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes, which can develop silently for years with no obvious symptoms.
Kidney function & salts
This panel checks creatinine, eGFR, sodium, potassium, urea and uric acid. Kidney function can decline silently for years before it's noticed, so these markers give an early warning of reduced kidney function, dehydration or salt imbalances.
Iron status
This panel checks ferritin, serum iron, TIBC, transferrin and transferrin saturation. Low iron is one of the most common, treatable causes of fatigue, breathlessness and poor concentration, often well before a full anaemia develops — a complete iron picture is far more useful than a ferritin test alone.
Full blood count
This panel includes a full blood count — red cells, white cells, platelets and related indices — one of the single most useful all-round checks available, screening for anaemia, infection and abnormalities in your blood.
Heart & cholesterol
This panel checks your full lipid profile — total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, the cholesterol/HDL ratio and triglycerides, building an accurate cardiovascular risk picture. Cholesterol and related lipid markers are among the strongest predictors of long-term heart and stroke risk, and rarely cause symptoms until a problem is advanced.
Acute Medical Panel 2 — £180
CQC-regulated · Rated 4.88/5 on Doctify · Open 7 days 8am–8pm · No referral needed
Why the Acute Medical Panel 2 is the right test
Acute Medical Panel 2 exists for the acute presentations where Panel 1's core markers aren't quite enough — when infection, inflammation, muscle involvement or gout are genuine possibilities. Adding CRP, creatine kinase, uric acid and a full iron panel to the same liver, kidney, blood count, glucose and cholesterol markers in Panel 1 gives a meaningfully fuller same-day assessment for a modest price difference.
As with every panel, results are reviewed by a clinician on the same visit where possible, with clear next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose Panel 2 instead of Panel 1?
If your symptoms suggest possible infection, inflammation, sudden joint pain or muscle involvement, Panel 2’s additional markers (CRP, creatine kinase, uric acid, iron studies) give a fuller picture. Our clinical team can also advise on the day if you’re unsure which is more appropriate.
Can I be seen and tested the same day if I feel unwell?
Yes — same-day appointments are available for acute presentations. Call 0121 387 3727 or book online to check current availability; we’re open 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
Do I need to fast before this blood test?
For most people no fasting is required. Because this panel includes glucose, we may ask you to avoid eating for a few hours beforehand if your appointment is in the morning. Our team will confirm any preparation when you book.
Do I need a GP referral to book this test?
No referral is needed. You can book directly online or by calling 0121 387 3727. Same-week appointments are available 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
Can I claim this on private health insurance?
Self-funded blood tests are usually paid for directly rather than through insurance, as most insurers require a referral first. If you would like to use insurance, call us on 0121 387 3727 and our team will advise on the best route for your policy.
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and are influenced by age, sex and other individual factors. This article is for general information only and does not replace a clinical consultation — every result in the Acute Medical Panel 2 panel is reviewed by a clinician before it's released to you. Further reading: Lab Tests Online UK →