Understanding blood test results?

[The Gauge]

I paid for private blood tests via Medichecks and went to a clinic last week to give my bloods, which got sent off by post to Medichecks.
Got my results back on Medichecks website, all mostly green light apart from three red flags..

Cholesterol
Vitamins
Hormones





Here's the cholesterol results expanded...

Edited by The Gauge on Thursday 9th May 18:48

[Nightmare]

That overall you have a decent cholesterol level of literally zero interest to anyone, but your HDL is very slightly low. Clearly not having a particularly negative impact on your LDL level tho (the bad stuff)

Cut down alcohol a bit, smoke a bit less and do a bit more exercise and that’ll prob increase it. All or none of these may apply to you!

This is matched by the low Apolipoprotein marker (it’s basically the main component of HDL so no surprises there)

It is generally a good plan to get both these increased as they’re responsible for keeping your arterial network healthy and beating up LDL.

[The Gauge]

Nightmare said:

That overall you have a decent cholesterol level of literally zero interest to anyone, but your HDL is very slightly low. Clearly not having a particularly negative impact on your LDL level tho (the bad stuff)

Cut down alcohol a bit, smoke a bit less and do a bit more exercise and that’ll prob increase it. All or none of these may apply to you!

This is matched by the low Apolipoprotein marker (it’s basically the main component of HDL so no surprises there)

It is generally a good plan to get both these increased as they’re responsible for keeping your arterial network healthy and beating up LDL.

Thanks for the explanation. I don't drink or smoke, but am overweight and do little exercise, working at a PC all day.. Though the other day I prepped my pushbike to use now the better weather is here.

I've just found further information on the website about my red flag results, which suggests everything points to being overweight, needing more exercise and needing to eat more oily fish.

Looks like I need to get on my pushbike sooner rather than later.


One of the other red flags was Vitamins..





And also Hormones..

Edited by The Gauge on Thursday 9th May 18:48

[drmike37]

If someone is doing blood checks on you, they should at least explain the results to you. The rules according to the GMC are that if you ask the question, you deal with the answer.
Or is this a “cream off the easy bit and leave the fallout to the NHS” outfit?

[The Gauge]

drmike37 said:

If someone is doing blood checks on you, they should at least explain the results to you. The rules according to the GMC are that if you ask the question, you deal with the answer.
Or is this a “cream off the easy bit and leave the fallout to the NHS” outfit?

No, its an online blood testing facility. I went with Medichecks and paid for the tests I wanted, then you choose from one of their registered clinics to attend and get the blood samples taken, Medichecks send you the blood sample pack which you take to the clinic and they take your bloods, then you post the samples to Medicheck and they put the results to your online account.

What I didn't realise when I started this thread was the little drop down boxes next to each result that gives further information..

e.g

[Mr.Chips]

Just had my annual health check at my local Health Centre. Had the blood tests on the Tuesday, checked the results on Patient Access and the NHS app on the following Friday. There were a few abnormalities, so saw the GP the following Tuesday ( 1 week after blood tests) and got an explanation of abnormalities and reassurance that there were no problems. In fact, her exact words were, “whatever it is you are doing, keep doing it!”
All it cost me was time. I appreciate that different GP’s/health authorities may have different approaches and may encourage people to sort out their own blood tests, but I have nothing but praise for the set up in Staffordshire.

[jontysafe]

hormones look ok obviously except estradiol but there are also benefits to having a slightly higher level.
A higher level also points to being a little overweight.

Id also want confirmation that the estradiol test was "sensitive" or that number will be wrong.

[Nethybridge]

That's a lorra tests, I give about half an arm full of blood and they only check cholesterol, I ask the nurse about the results for liver and kidney function and she said they don't test for that.

Wouldn't it be good if they did, while they have so much of my blood ?

[Mr Magooagain]

Diet and exercise. Exercise alone won’t get you where you need to be.

[Bill]

Nethybridge said:

That's a lorra tests, I give about half an arm full of blood and they only check cholesterol, I ask the nurse about the results for liver and kidney function and she said they don't test for that.

Wouldn't it be good if they did, while they have so much of my blood ?

Tests cost money.

[popeyewhite]

Your HDL cholesterol is within limits, the Medichecks reference range is too high. AFAIA the current clinical lipid profile range for HDL cholesterol is 0.9 - 1.5. Your reading is 0.9, so no red light.

Dodged a bullet there lol.

[The Gauge]

Nethybridge said:

That's a lorra tests,

It is Cilla

I bought Medichecks most comprehensive set of blood tests, cost me just over £200


I didn't know you could see your blood test results on Patient Access. I've just looked at my blood results from February and all seem within range apart from..


Full blood count

[Mr.Chips]

Patient Access is good, but my blood tests results are shown and then compared with a range and finally a comment as to whether the results are normal or abnormal. The NHS App gives a similar idea but presents the results against a basic bar chart so you can see whereabouts your results are on the bar. I always ask my GP or practice nurse to discuss any results which are deemed to be abnormal, usually the discussions are very reassuring, but a couple of years ago I had a high PSA result and the discussion lead to a very thorough investigation which thankfully, was nothing serious. As previously stated, my GP practice is brilliant and very helpful.

[The Gauge]

Mr.Chips said:

Patient Access is good, but my blood tests results are shown and then compared with a range and finally a comment as to whether the results are normal or abnormal. The NHS App gives a similar idea but presents the results against a basic bar chart so you can see whereabouts your results are on the bar. I always ask my GP or practice nurse to discuss any results which are deemed to be abnormal, usually the discussions are very reassuring, but a couple of years ago I had a high PSA result and the discussion lead to a very thorough investigation which thankfully, was nothing serious. As previously stated, my GP practice is brilliant and very helpful.

I've not used the NHS app, would my sane blood results be on there too?

My surgery has just allowed booking appointments on Patient Access, which they didn't used to do, had a quick look and the nearest appointment was 21st May.