You don't need to have a specific symptom to want a proper health check — sometimes it's simply been a few years, or you'd like a genuine baseline to compare future results against. The Standard Screen Plus (Female) panel is our solid, general-purpose women's health check: 41 markers covering thyroid, iron, liver, kidney, bone, blood sugar, cholesterol and vitamin D, giving a rounded snapshot of your health rather than testing for one thing in isolation.
What a general health MOT is really looking for
Even without specific symptoms, a general screen like this regularly catches things worth knowing about early:
- Borderline thyroid function — can sit quietly for years before causing obvious symptoms.
- Iron levels drifting low — especially relevant with heavy periods, vegetarian or vegan diets, or regular exercise.
- Rising cholesterol or blood sugar — the earliest, most modifiable signs of future heart disease and diabetes.
- Vitamin D deficiency — extremely common in the UK, and easy to correct once known.
- Early liver or kidney changes — often related to lifestyle factors and easily missed without testing.
When to seek help
A general MOT like this is designed for routine, non-urgent health monitoring. If you have severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, unexplained 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 Standard Screen Plus (Female) checks
Rather than testing one thing at a time, the Standard Screen Plus (Female) panel screens 41 markers across 9 areas of your health in a single blood draw. Here's what each group can tell you:
Thyroid
This panel checks TSH, free T4, free T3 and thyroid antibodies. An underactive or overactive thyroid can cause tiredness, weight changes, low mood, hair thinning or a fast or irregular heartbeat — often mistaken for stress or "just getting older" — so a clinician can spot dysfunction even before it's obvious from symptoms alone.
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.
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.
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 glucose and HbA1c, 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.
Vitamins
This panel checks vitamin D. Deficiencies here are widespread in the UK and are linked to fatigue, low mood, muscle aches and poor immunity — and are simple to correct once identified.
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.
Standard Screen Plus (Female) — £210
CQC-regulated · Rated 4.88/5 on Doctify · Open 7 days 8am–8pm · No referral needed
Why the Standard Screen Plus (Female) is the right test
Standard Screen Plus (Female) is designed to be a genuine, well-rounded health check rather than a stripped-down basic test — it includes thyroid function, a full iron panel, kidney and liver function, bone markers, blood sugar (glucose and HbA1c), a full lipid profile with hs-CRP, and vitamin D. If you want more depth — thyroid antibodies, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a), or reproductive hormones — the Advanced GP2 and GP3 panels build directly on top of this one.
Every result is reviewed by a clinician, so you get more than a list of numbers — you get a clear explanation of what they mean for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this enough for a general annual check-up?
For most people with no specific symptoms, yes — it’s a genuinely broad screen covering the organ systems and deficiencies most worth monitoring. If you have specific symptoms like persistent fatigue or irregular cycles, a more targeted panel (like Tired All The Time or a fertility panel) may be a better fit.
What’s the difference between this and the Basic Screen?
Standard Screen Plus adds thyroid function, a full iron panel, bone markers, hs-CRP and vitamin D on top of what’s included in the Basic Screen — meaningfully broader for a modest price difference.
Do I need to fast before this blood test?
Yes — because this panel includes glucose and HbA1c, we recommend avoiding food for around 8-10 hours beforehand (water is fine). Our team will confirm exact 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 Standard Screen Plus (Female) panel is reviewed by a clinician before it's released to you. Further reading: Lab Tests Online UK →