Comprehensive blood tests

Moyglish

I'm due to get my bloods taken tomorrow and want to get a comprehensive test done including all the basics including liver function and cholesterol, but I also want to get a few extra such as HbA1c, endocrinology, thyroid function and vitamin levels checked.

Are there any specific tests for vitamin levels that I need to ask for? I have a suspicion that I may be low on vitamin B12 as I have a lot of the symptoms.

Is it possible to check Potassium and magnesium, electrolyte levels?

Is there anything else I should be thinking of getting done? As I said, I want to get a full comprehensive check done as I've been feeling very low and run down and tired all of the time.

What am I missing?

Thanks all.

not yet

Routine blood work covers most, if not all of the above. Once you mention to your doc about feeling run down he will automatically check all these thins..

uli84

Vit D

Martina1991

This might be a bit late if you had bloods today.
Vitamins B12 and D are done routinely. As is thyroid function and HbA1c.
Renal function profile includes the electrolytes sodium, potassium and chloride. Renal function is always requested anyway.
If you are male its probably worth asking the doctor to request PSA as well.

Riraw

Martina1991 wrote: »

Vitamins B12 and D are done routinely.

I was just wondering where you had your vit d done routinely.
Where I live, the local hospital won't take vit D requests from a GP.

Martina1991

Riraw wrote:

I was just wondering where you had your vit d done routinely. Where I live, the local hospital won't take vit D requests from a GP.

Well in the hospital lab i work in we do them on all GP requests. We're looking to cut that down as most irish people are deficient anyway, especially in winter.

Ideally vitamin D should only be requested if theres a clinical need.
If we only did vit D on those that needed it we'd save over 100k a year.

echo beach

Martina1991 wrote: »

Well in the hospital lab i work in we do them on all GP requests. We're looking to cut that down as most irish people are deficient anyway, especially in winter.

Ideally vitamin D should only be requested if theres a clinical need.
If we only did vit D on those that needed it we'd save over 100k a year.

But how do you know if they need it unless you do the test? The clinical symptoms could be due to something else.
That said there is a case for taking Vitamin D anyway, at least during the winter months. How does the cost of the tests compare to the cost of treatment? Is the 100k saving in your lab or nationally?

Martina1991

echo beach wrote:

But how do you know if they need it unless you do the test? The clinical symptoms could be due to something else. That said there is a case for taking Vitamin D anyway, at least during the winter months. How does the cost of the tests compare to the cost of treatment? Is the 100k saving in your lab or nationally?

If a patient doensn't have symptoms of vit D deficiency then it shouldn't be requested. People should be taking vit D supplements in winter anyway.

I dont know off hand or by brand how much supplements are but the cost of the test is around €8 or €9. The 100k is just the lab i work in. In the bigger hospitals in dublin id imagine the cost would be 5x that.