Understanding your blood test results
Blood tests provide valuable insights into your health, helping to assess everything from your hormone balance and organ functions to key nutrient levels. At Newson Clinic, we understand that the choice of blood tests available can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why we have created this guide to help you understand what each test measures and why they are important.
Your clinician will take you through your results and explain the next steps, but this guide provides a helpful overview of what your test can reveal about your health.
Blood health & general wellbeing
Your blood carries essential nutrients and oxygen throughout your body. These tests help assess overall health, identify deficiencies, and detect potential issues such as anemia or infection
A Full Blood Count (FBC) checks the number and types of red and white blood cells. It helps assess general health and identify issues like anemia or infections.
Ferritin measures iron storage in your body. Low ferritin can indicate low iron, often leading to fatigue and poor concentration, while high levels may indicate underlying conditions.
Vitamin B12 and folate are essential for nerve function, red blood cell production, and brain health. Deficiencies can cause fatigue, memory issues, and nerve problems.
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium for strong bones and supports your immune function. Many people have low vitamin D levels, particularly in winter. Vitamin D can also help control infections and reduce inflammation.
Metabolic and organ function
Your organs work together to maintain a healthy internal balance. These tests assess kidney and liver function and help detect conditions like diabetes.
This test measures creatinine, urea, and eGFR to assess how well your kidneys filter waste and regulate important chemicals in the body.
Your liver plays important roles in hormone balance, protein production, and detoxification. This test measures ALT, ALP, AST, GGT, bilirubin, and albumin to assess liver health.
HbA1c reflects average blood sugar levels over the past few months. It helps diagnose diabetes and prediabetes and can guide lifestyle changes to reduce future risk.
Lipid and cardiovascular health
Cholesterol and other lipids play a vital role in heart health. These tests help assess your risk of heart disease, which can increase during perimenopause and menopause.
Lipids include cholesterol and triglycerides, which are essential for building hormones and cells. However, imbalanced lipid levels can increase the risk of heart disease.
HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) helps remove excess cholesterol from your blood, while LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) can build up in arteries and increase heart disease risk.
TC:HDL is the ratio of HDL to total cholesterol. During perimenopause and menopause, cholesterol levels, especially LDL levels, often rise as lipid metabolism slows. HRT can help by lowering LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol.
Hormonal health and menopause
Hormones regulate many body functions, from mood to metabolism. These tests help assess hormone levels and guide treatment options during perimenopause and menopause.
Oestradiol is the commonest and most beneficial form of oestrogen and is important for symptom control in perimenopause and menopause. It also supports bone, heart, and brain health.
Testosterone is a female hormone that supports libido, mood, concentration, energy, bone, and muscle strength. Levels decline with age, and testing can guide treatment.
SHBG is a protein which binds to sex hormones in your blood, affecting how much testosterone and oestrogen are available for use. Measuring SHBG helps assess hormonal balance.
FAI is calculated using SHBG and testosterone levels to estimate how much active testosterone is available in your body.
Thyroid function & autoimmune markers
Your thyroid gland controls metabolism, energy, and temperature regulation. These tests help diagnose thyroid conditions, which can impact overall wellbeing and future health.
A thyroid function test measures TSH, T4, and T3 to check for overactive or underactive thyroid conditions.
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPOAb) is tested to check for autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or Graves’ disease which can cause hypothyroidism.
TgAb can indicate autoimmune thyroid disease and may suggest a higher risk of developing thyroid dysfunction.
What happens next?
Your clinician will discuss your test results with you, explaining what they mean and any next steps. If your results indicate a deficiency or imbalance, they will guide you on potential treatment options, lifestyle changes, or any further investigations which may be needed.
If you haven’t yet booked a blood test or need more details on available options, visit Blood tests at Newson Clinic to explore the tests we offer.
For frequently asked questions about blood testing, including booking process, and results timing, visit Frequently asked questions - blood tests at Newson Clinic’.