Blood Tests & Investigations

 Getting Your Annual Bloods Done

Keeping an eye on your health with annual blood tests is a smart step — but it’s important to know when they’re needed, what’s included, and any costs involved.

Blood Tests Are Carried Out by Our Nursing Team

Our highly trained nursing staff will carry out your blood tests and related assessments in a comfortable and professional setting.

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 Free Blood Tests — Are You Eligible?

We offer free blood tests if you are:

• Enrolled in our Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programme

• Part of our Prevention Programme

• Identified through our Opportunistic Case-Finding assessments

 To learn more about these programmes, click here.

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 Fees for Routine or Hospital-Requested Bloods

If you're having bloods done because:

• A hospital consultant advised it

• You’re seeking an annual check-up for general health

Then the following charges apply:

• €25 for patients with a medical card

• €70 for private patients

This €70 covers:

• Lifestyle questionnaire

• Height, weight, and blood pressure measurements

• ECG, if relevant

• A follow-up appointment to review your results with the GP

 These additional checks are important — understanding your blood pressure, weight, and ECG alongside your blood results gives a more complete and accurate picture of your health.  

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 What Do “Routine Bloods” (Generally) Include?

When we say “routine blood tests,” we’re usually referring to a panel of common tests that help check your general health, even if you don’t have specific symptoms. Here’s what they involve:

• Liver Function Tests (LFTs):
  These check how well your liver is working and whether it’s inflamed or under stress. The liver processes medicines, hormones, and alcohol, so these tests are important in catching problems early — even before symptoms appear.

• Kidney Function Tests (Urea & Creatinine, eGFR):
  These measure how well your kidneys are clearing waste from your blood. Poor kidney function can affect energy, blood pressure, and how you respond to medication.

• Cholesterol Profile (Lipids):
  This tells us about the levels of fats in your blood. High cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. If raised, it may be managed through lifestyle changes or medication.

• Full Blood Count (FBC):
  This gives a snapshot of your red and white blood cells and platelets. It helps check for anaemia, infections, and other hidden issues like inflammation or clotting problems.

• Thyroid Function (TSH ± T4):
  Your thyroid gland helps control energy, weight, temperature, and mood. This test checks if it's overactive or underactive — which is quite common and treatable.

• HbA1c (Diabetes Screening):
  This is a blood sugar average over the past 2–3 months. It helps detect pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes early — often before symptoms develop.

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 What About Vitamin or Prostate Checks?

Some people request tests like:

• Iron Studies (for tiredness or low iron levels)

• Vitamin B12 / Vitamin D (important for nerves, bones, mood)

• Prostate Blood Test (PSA)

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These are not included in routine bloods because they:

• Can be misleading if done without a clear reason

• May show normal results even when there's a problem, or the reverse

• Could lead to unnecessary worry or follow-up tests

Because of this, these tests are only offered after discussion with a GP to ensure they’re appropriate. 

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 Do I Need to Fast Before Blood Tests?

In most cases, fasting is not required.

Routine bloods such as liver, kidney, thyroid, HbA1c, full blood count, and even most cholesterol tests can be done without fasting.

However, if your GP has specifically asked for a fasting blood test (e.g. fasting glucose or fasting lipids in some rare cases), then:

• You should avoid food and drink (except water) for 8–10 hours before your test.

• You can take your medications unless told otherwise.

If you're not sure whether to fast, just ask our nursing team or reception when booking.

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 When Will I Get My Results?

You should always hear from us within 2 weeks by:

• Text

• Phone

• Or a follow-up appointment

 If you haven’t been contacted within that time, please call reception.

 

“No news is good news” no longer applies — the responsibility lies with you to follow up on your results if you have not been contacted. Your health matters, and we want to ensure nothing is missed.

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 What Happens When Results Come Back?

If something abnormal is found, we’ll always explain:

• What it means

• Why it matters

• What you can do about it

Most people find understanding their health and blood tests complex! This is nothing to be ashamed of, if you do not understand, please ask ​

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 How to Get the Most Out of Your Blood Tests

Blood tests are useful when there’s a specific reason for doing them — like a symptom to investigate, a medication to monitor, or a condition we’re keeping an eye on. Being open about your worries or concerns will allow us to progress your care.

But more testing doesn’t always mean better care. Before booking in, ask yourself:

Do I have a concern, or am I just doing this out of habit?

If you're well and have no new symptoms, a blood test may not be necessary — and could lead to unnecessary stress or expense. It's often more helpful to focus on:

•  Understanding your previous results

•  Following the advice already given

•  Making lifestyle changes based on what we already know

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 Final Thought:

Blood tests are a tool, not a solution on their own. The value lies in

1. the context of the blood tests (your worries, your metrics - weight and blood pressure and your lifestyle and previous blood tests to compare with) and

2. the follow on plan to improve your health, not just monitor it.

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