If you've never had a blood test outside of a specific illness, or it's simply been a very long time, the idea of a comprehensive 60-marker panel can feel like overkill — and expensive overkill at that. The Basic Screen exists for exactly that starting point: 28 markers covering the essentials — liver and kidney function, a full blood count, cholesterol and blood sugar — at an accessible price, with the same clinician review as every other panel we offer.
Why the essentials still matter
Even a basic, entry-level panel regularly picks up genuinely useful information, including:
- Anaemia or blood abnormalities — picked up by a full blood count, one of the most informative tests in medicine.
- Early liver or kidney changes — often silent, and worth knowing about regardless of symptoms.
- Raised cholesterol — the earliest and most modifiable marker of future cardiovascular risk.
- Raised blood sugar — an early flag for pre-diabetes, often present with no symptoms at all.
When to seek help
This is a general screening test for routine, non-urgent health monitoring. If you have severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, unexplained significant weight loss, chest pain or breathlessness at rest, seek urgent medical attention rather than waiting for a routine blood test.
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 Basic Screen checks
Rather than testing one thing at a time, the Basic Screen panel screens 28 markers across 6 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.
Kidney function & salts
This panel checks creatinine, eGFR, sodium, potassium and urea. 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.
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.
Blood sugar
This panel checks fasting glucose, screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes, which can develop silently for years with no obvious symptoms.
Heart & cholesterol
This panel checks your full lipid profile plus hs-CRP as an additional marker of inflammation-related cardiovascular risk, 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.
Bone & mineral health
This panel checks phosphate levels, giving an early picture of bone and mineral health that can also flag problems affecting energy and muscle function.
Basic Screen — £153
CQC-regulated · Rated 4.88/5 on Doctify · Open 7 days 8am–8pm · No referral needed
Why the Basic Screen is the right test
The Basic Screen is deliberately focused — it doesn't include thyroid function, iron studies, vitamin D or hormones, so if you have specific symptoms like persistent fatigue, low mood or irregular cycles, a more targeted panel (like Tired All The Time, Standard Screen Plus, or Advanced GP2) will tell you more. But as a first step, or as a simple, affordable baseline to repeat every year or two, it covers exactly the essentials that matter most.
As with every panel at The Vesey, your results are reviewed by a clinician, who will explain what they mean and suggest a more targeted test if anything warrants a closer look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Basic Screen enough if I feel fine?
For a general, no-symptoms baseline check, yes — it covers liver, kidney, blood count, cholesterol and blood sugar. If you have any ongoing symptoms like fatigue, low mood or irregular cycles, a more targeted panel will give you more useful answers.
Can I upgrade later if I want more markers?
Yes — many patients start with the Basic Screen and move to Standard Screen Plus or an Advanced GP2/GP3 panel later if they want thyroid, iron, vitamin D or hormone testing added.
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 Basic Screen panel is reviewed by a clinician before it's released to you. Further reading: Lab Tests Online UK →