What is the difference between the Prevention Starter blood test and a standard blood test at the GP?

A standard blood test at the GP usually covers a basic profile: blood count, cholesterol, blood glucose and sometimes liver and kidney values. This is typically 10 to 15 markers, and it is often ordered reactively when symptoms are present.

Ahead's Prevention Starter blood test is a preventive blood test with 67 biomarkers that gives a picture of your health status and is designed to pick up early warning signs before symptoms appear. The main differences:

• Wider scope: We cover cardiovascular markers (ApoB, hs-CRP), metabolic health (HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, TyG index), the thyroid (TSH), iron status, vitamin D and more. Much of this is not part of a routine check at the GP.
• Targeted follow-up testing: If your TSH is low or your total bilirubin is raised, we automatically run further markers on the same blood sample (fT3/fT4 or direct and indirect bilirubin respectively), without a further blood draw.
• Proactive approach: Our panel is intended for the preventive check-up of healthy people, not for diagnosing existing symptoms.
• Detailed report: Your results come in an interactive online report with clear reference ranges, trend charts and personal recommendations.
• Doctor review: Every result is reviewed by a doctor.
• Optional add-on tests: You can extend your panel with hormones (women) / hormones (men), B vitamins or omega-3 & 6.

You can find the full list of the biomarkers we test in our biomarker overview.