Doctor Today

Blood tests

Doctor Today offer most blood tests. Prices and result times vary depending on the type of blood test required. Please call or email the practice for more information.

Pregnancy Test (blood)

The pregnancy blood test that we offer is the quantitative Beta-HCG test. HCG is a hormone that is released in your blood by the developing placenta during early pregnancy. Some HCG also gets released into the urine. HCG helps to maintain your pregnancy and affects the development of the baby. Levels of HCG increase steadily in the first 14-16 weeks of pregnancy and then decrease gradually. The amount that HCG increases in early pregnancy can give doctors information about the pregnancy and health of the baby. 

The quantitative beta-HCG test can be done as early as 3 weeks after your last period, although we advise waiting until you miss a period. The test is highly accurate (>90%) and results are available the following working day. We are able to either email or post you the results and will advise whether the result is positive or negative. The doctor will not consult you about the result unless you have attended for a consultation as they will need to take a full history from you before offering any medical advice.  

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

Blood results explained by the doctor

If you would like our doctors to explain the blood results to you but do not wish to come in for a consultation, we offer a service whereby you can have them explained to you by phone. When you come in for the blood test, please indicate whether you would like this service. If you would like to discuss the results with the doctor by phone, we will give you a time slot that is convenient for you where you can call the practice and speak to the doctor. If you would like this by email, our doctor will send you a written explanation at the time the results are emailed to you.

General well person blood test

This blood test is a good general blood test to check general wellbeing. It includes a full blood count (check for anaemia or infection), kidney and liver function, blood sugar levels (diabetes), cholesterol levels, calcium levels, uric acid levels (gout) and iron. 

Results are available the same day for morning samples and next day for afternoon samples. It is best to fast before for the blood test for 12 hours (water only). 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

Full Blood Count

This is a full blood count including the following levels - haemoglobin, white cell count, platelets and ESR. These tests can tell a doctor about whether you are anaemic, have an infection or inflammatory disorder or a problem with your clotting (platelets). 

The results are available same day for morning tests and next day for afternoon tests. There is no need to fast before this blood test. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

Basic Thyroid blood test

The basic thyroid blood test includes levels for free T4 and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). This test can tell you whether your thyroid gland is functioning properly. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits low on the front of the neck, just below your Adam’s apple. The purpose of your thyroid gland is to make, store, and release thyroid hormones into your blood, which affect almost every cell in your body, and help control your body's functions. An underactive thyroid gland means that your thyroid is not producing enough hormones. Common symptoms of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed. An overactive thyroid is a relatively common hormonal condition that occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the body. Symptoms include nervousness and anxiety, hyperactivity (where a person can’t stay still and is full of nervous energy), unexplained or unplanned weight loss and sometimes swelling of the thyroid gland (known as a goitre). The results are available same day for morning tests and next day for afternoon tests. There is no need to fast before this blood test. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

PSA (prostate) profile

Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood. The blood level of PSA is often elevated in men with prostate cancer. In addition to prostate cancer, a number of benign (not cancerous) conditions can cause a man’s PSA level to rise. The most frequent benign prostate conditions that cause an elevation in PSA level are prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (enlargement of the prostate). There is no evidence that prostatitis or BPH leads to prostate cancer, but it is possible for a man to have one or both of these conditions and to develop prostate cancer as well. A PSA test cannot identify prostate cancer on its own, and changes in PSA levels alone are not a good reason to start treatment. Because the results of the PSA test are not as reliable as doctors would like, other tests and investigations are needed to diagnose prostate cancer. The results are available same day for morning tests and next day for afternoon tests. There is no need to fast before this blood test. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

Cholesterol test (lipid profile)

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance made by your liver. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs but you take in additional cholesterol from certain foods, particularly animal fats. If you have too much cholesterol in your body, it can build up in the walls of your arteries and eventually harden, causing the arteries to narrow and making it harder for blood to get to your heart.

A routine blood cholesterol test is a good way of finding out what your cholesterol level is. This test includes total cholesterol level, a breakdown of the good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol and the ratio of good to bad cholesterol, as well as the triglyceride level (also a fat found circulating in the blood). 

Results are available same day for morning tests and next day for afternoon tests. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

Blood Group Test

Red blood cells have certain proteins on their surface, called antigens. There are various types of red blood cell antigens - the ABO and rhesus types are the most important. These 2 types make up your blood group and are what is tested for in this test. 

The results of the test take 2 working days and the laboratory will also issue you will a blood group card which we can post to you at your request. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

Liver blood test

This is a test for kidney and liver function. It includes a full liver function test including liver enzymes, bilirubin and proteins. This blood test can detect inflammation and damage to the liver as well as check how well the liver is working. 

The results are available same day for morning tests and next day for afternoon tests. There is no need to fast before this blood test. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

Hepatitis B blood test

We offer a range of blood tests for hepatitis B. These include Hepatitis B antigen, to detect whether you are currently infected, hepatitis immunity to detect if you are immune and a hepatitis B profile which is usually done if you are infected to determine the stage of disease. 

The results are available same day for morning tests and next day for afternoon tests. There is no need to fast before this blood test. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment. For information on how to get in touch see our contact us page. Please note the price excludes a consultation with clinician which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory.

Semen Analysis

This test analyzes the health and viability of a males sperm. The test will help determine if someone is infertile. It is important to have a consultation (included in the price) with one of our doctors who will advise on preparation in regards to getting the best sample. Sample collection is to be done at the laboratory to ensure accuracy.

Vitamins & Minerals Status

This blood test includes the following: Vitamin A, Beta Carotene, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Chromium, Manganese, Total Iron binding capacity, Ferritin and Transferrin Saturation.

Resting ECG

Regular ECGs are done at rest, and are designed to pick up disturbances of heart rate, rhythm and electrical conduction. They may also show evidence of the effects of high blood pressure, and other potentially dangerous conditions such as Brugada syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White and poor blood supply to the heart muscle (ischaemia). Regular ECGs are suitable as part of the general assessment for palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness at rest or as a pre-operative assessment for over 45s.

When you have a regular ECG with us, it is a full 12 lead study that is read by an experienced doctor who will give you a report which can be used by any doctor to whom you may subsequently be referred. If abnormalities are found which need attention, a recommendation will usually be made for further evaluation by a cardiologist, which we can arrange.