Plenty of men go a decade or more between blood tests — usually because nothing feels obviously wrong. Standard Screen Plus (Male) is designed for exactly that gap: a solid, general-purpose health check across 42 markers covering thyroid, iron, liver, kidney, bone, blood sugar, cholesterol, PSA and vitamin D, so you get a genuine baseline rather than waiting for a problem to become obvious.
What a general health MOT is really looking for
Even with no specific complaint, a general screen like this regularly picks up on things worth knowing about early:
- Rising cholesterol or blood sugar — the earliest, most modifiable warning signs for future heart disease and diabetes.
- Prostate changes — a baseline PSA gives you and your clinician something to track over time.
- Borderline thyroid function — an under-recognised cause of fatigue and weight gain in men.
- Vitamin D deficiency — very common in the UK and simple to correct once found.
- Early liver or kidney changes — often related to alcohol, weight or lifestyle, and easy to miss without testing.
When to seek help
A general MOT like this is designed for routine, non-urgent health monitoring. New chest pain, breathlessness at rest, testicular lumps or blood in your urine warrant urgent same-day assessment rather than 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 (Male) checks
Rather than testing one thing at a time, the Standard Screen Plus (Male) panel screens 42 markers across 10 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.
Prostate health
This panel checks PSA (prostate specific antigen), a standard screening marker for prostate health — relevant for men particularly from their 40s and 50s onward, or with urinary symptoms or a family history of prostate problems.
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 (Male) — £210
CQC-regulated · Rated 4.88/5 on Doctify · Open 7 days 8am–8pm · No referral needed
Why the Standard Screen Plus (Male) is the right test
Standard Screen Plus (Male) is our genuine, well-rounded general health check — thyroid function, a full iron panel, kidney and liver function, bone markers, blood sugar, a full lipid profile with hs-CRP, PSA, and vitamin D. If you want testosterone, SHBG and free androgen index added, or more advanced cardiovascular markers, the Advanced GP2 and GP3 (Male) panels build directly on this one.
Every result — including PSA — is reviewed by a clinician, who explains what it means and what, if anything, needs following up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this include a PSA test?
Yes, PSA is included as standard. Vigorous exercise, cycling or ejaculation in the 48 hours before your appointment can temporarily raise PSA, so avoid these beforehand where possible for the most accurate result.
What’s the difference between this and the Basic Screen?
Standard Screen Plus adds thyroid function, a full iron panel, bone markers, hs-CRP, PSA and vitamin D on top of what’s included in the Basic Screen.
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 (Male) panel is reviewed by a clinician before it's released to you. Further reading: Lab Tests Online UK →