Advanced blood test

Detailed preparation guidelines will be provided after your booking is confirmed, usually via a calendar invitation. General preparations include:

• Fasting: If your check-up includes blood tests, an 8–12 hour fast (water is okay) is recommended. Please confirm specific requirements for your booked package.
• Attire: You can wear comfortable clothes. At the check-up appointment you will receive comfortable scrubs.
• Hydration: Drink 2–3 glasses (about 500ml) of water before your scan to stay hydrated.
• Exercise: Avoid heavy exercise for about 2 hours before your scan. If you have a blood test, avoid heavy exercise about 24 hours before.
• Metal: Do not wear any metal items such as jewelry or watches. If you have any metal implants, please inform us.
• Caffeine: If you are prone to jitters, avoid caffeine for at least 2 hours before the scan. If you booked a blood test, stay fasted and avoid caffeine on the day of your scan.
• Medication: Continue taking your regular medications unless your GP has advised otherwise.

Blood test results are typically available within 5–7 business days after your blood draw. You'll receive a notification when your interactive report is ready in the Ahead portal.

If you booked a combined check-up (MRI + blood), both sets of results are delivered together in a single report. If you booked the Omega-3 & 6 add-on, the analysis may take longer, so your combined report may take up to 10 business days.

Once your results are ready, you can schedule a follow-up consultation with one of our physicians to discuss them in detail. This consultation is included in the price of check-up packages. See our sample report to get an idea of what to expect.

Yes. We recommend fasting for 8–12 hours before your blood draw (water is fine and encouraged). This ensures accurate results for fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and other metabolic markers.

During the fasting period:

• Drink 2–3 glasses of water to stay well hydrated (this also makes the blood draw easier)
• Avoid food, coffee, tea, juice, and other beverages besides water
• Continue taking any prescribed medications unless your doctor advises otherwise
• Avoid intense exercise for 24 hours before the test

If you have a morning appointment, the easiest approach is to stop eating after dinner the night before and drink water in the morning.

If fasting isn't possible for medical reasons (e.g. diabetes), please let us know when booking and we'll advise on the best approach.

A standard GP blood test in Switzerland typically covers a basic panel: blood count, cholesterol, blood sugar, and sometimes liver and kidney values. It usually includes 10–15 markers and is ordered reactively when symptoms are present.

The Ahead Advanced blood test is a preventive screening panel with 80+ biomarkers designed to catch early warning signs before symptoms appear. Key differences:

• Broader scope: we include cardiovascular risk markers (ApoB, hs-CRP), metabolic health (HbA1c, HOMA-IR, Insulin), a full thyroid panel (TSH, fT3, fT4), and more, most of which are not part of a routine GP check.
• Proactive approach: our panel is designed for preventive screening of healthy individuals, not diagnosis of existing symptoms.
• Detailed reporting: your results come in an interactive online report with clear reference ranges, trend tracking, and personalized recommendations.
• Physician review: every result is reviewed by a physician who can explain findings and suggest next steps. A follow-up consultation is included with check-up packages.
• Optional add-ons: you can extend your panel with hormones (women) / hormones (men), B-vitamins, or Omega-3 & 6.

For a deeper comparison, see our article on how a preventive blood test compares to a standard check-up. You can also explore the full list of biomarkers we test.

No — please continue taking your medications and supplements as usual. This allows us to assess your health in the context of your real-life routine.

Please include what you take and the dosage in your questionnaire so our medical team can interpret your results accurately.

Please note:

• Creatine: may influence markers related to kidney function — please mention it in your questionnaire - Thyroid medication: please pause it 2 hours before your appointment