How often do I need routine blood work?

A blood test can reveal a lot about how healthy you are, whether you're experiencing symptoms or not. But how often do you actually need a health check?

In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of blood tests, what you can expect from a blood test, and how often you should consider taking a test.

We'll answer:

• What is a health check?
• Why are regular blood tests important?
• How often should you take a blood test?
• What happens during a blood test?
• What age to start blood tests?
• How to arrange an annual blood test

What is a health check?
 

A yearly health check helps find out if you are at risk for a disease or already have one. They include a review of your lifestyle and family history, important measurements such as height and weight, and blood tests.

Blood health checks are an essential part of this process, offering an up-to-date overview of your health and wellbeing. Think of it like a car MOT – only for your body. By identifying potential risks like diabetes or heart disease, you can take proactive steps to improve your health.

Why are regular blood tests important?
 

Just like your mood or energy levels, your blood markers fluctuate. This is known as biological variation – the normal ebb and flow in your results, even when you’re healthy.

Routine blood tests are a great way to keep track of your health. You can use them to catch potential issues early, even before symptoms appear. Conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and hormonal imbalances all have biomarkers which can give an insight into your current status and any risks.

By tracking your biomarkers over time and having regular check-ups, you and your healthcare team can make informed decisions to improve your health.

Four benefits of annual testing:

• Identify what’s normal for you: Track any changes over time.
• Understand your health risks: Spot any biomarkers outside the healthy range.
• Make lifestyle changes: Take steps to prevent diseases linked to lifestyle factors.
• Peace of mind: Know where you stand health-wise as you move through different life stages.

Common biomarkers tested include:

• Cholesterol levels
• Blood sugar levels
• Liver function
• Kidney function
• Vitamin and mineral levels (e.g., vitamin D, B12, iron, magnesium)

Some blood markers, known as biomarkers, fluctuate more than others. For example, a 30% change in your free testosterone level might be normal, whereas a 5% change in your HbA1c could be more significant.

Want to know if your results likely reflect a true change? Use the tool below. Just make sure you’re comparing like with like - test at the same time of day, phase of your cycle, and season, wherever possible.

^{Coefficient of variation values taken from: https://biologicalvariation.eu/}
 

How often should you take a blood test?
 

Some tests should be done as soon as possible, if you think you have an infection or condition, or if you're experiencing symptoms, for example. Once they’re done, and the infection or condition has been ruled out, there’s no reason for you to repeat that test.

For most healthy people, checks are advisable to keep on top of your healthcare. You can do this by monitoring your diet and lifestyle, key measurements like your weight and waist circumference, and by checking your blood biomarkers.

Diagnostic tests

If your blood test has diagnosed a condition and you are no longer symptomatic, you may not need any follow-up tests. If your test results were inconclusive, your doctor may recommend a repeat test in the next few weeks or months.

Monitoring tests

Blood tests can monitor a condition. Regular tracking can help to manage a condition through medication and/or lifestyle changes.

Sometimes, you may have a blood test after starting a medication. This could be to check the dosage is correct or make sure that the drug is not causing any damage to your organs, such as the liver or kidneys.

Optimising tests

People who want to optimise their health are not usually ill but are aiming to meet certain health goals through their diet or a fitness programme.

Someone seeking to improve their sports performance may choose to test at different points in their training cycle to see how well they are adapting to any additional training stresses.

People looking to refine their diet and lifestyle may want to test before and after they make significant changes – becoming vegan or giving up alcohol, for example. Some changes may show up in your blood quite quickly, and others may take longer. In general, it is best to wait at least three months for any changes to be seen.

It can be beneficial to get a general health check-up once a year to monitor your health. 

The exact frequency of routine blood tests depends on your health, age, and lifestyle factors.

How often should you blood test if you’re healthy?
 

For people in good health with no existing medical conditions, an annual check-up with blood tests could be a good idea.

This may include:

• Full blood count (FBC)
• Lipid profile (cholesterol)
• Blood sugar levels (diabetes risk)
• Liver and kidney function tests
• Vitamin and mineral levels

An annual test of our Advanced Well Woman Blood Test or Advanced Well Man Blood Test covers all of these checks and more. 

Should you do routine blood tests if you have a condition?
 

Some conditions mean it may be a good idea to have regular blood tests to monitor your condition.

Conditions include:

• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Thyroid conditions

Your doctor may recommend tests every three to six months to monitor your condition and make necessary adjustments.

How often should you blood test if you are a high-risk group?
 

People with a family history of heart disease, diabetes, or high cholesterol should be tested more often. This includes those with unhealthy lifestyles or those on long-term medications. Testing is usually recommended every six to twelve months.

When else should I consider a blood test?
 

One result is useful, but two or more is powerful.

It’s worth re-testing whenever something significant changes – just give it two to three months for your bloodwork to catch up. But if you’re experiencing new or worsening symptoms, don’t wait. It’s best to take a test sooner and check in with your doctor.

Consider another blood test after you’ve:

• Made big changes to your diet or started a new exercise routine
• Developed new symptoms
• Started taking supplements or medications
• Been sleeping much better, or worse
• Noticed a big shift in your stress levels
• Lost or gained a significant amount of weight
• Had a baby — the body undergoes massive changes during pregnancy and postpartum
• Gone through a major biological shift, like menopause

If nothing’s changed, we generally recommend testing once a year. Even without any major lifestyle changes, your results will likely have shifted.

At what age do you start blood tests?
 

Blood health checks are suitable for adults of all ages, with different priorities depending on your life stage.

Here’s a breakdown of what you could consider at various ages:

• In your 20s: Understand your fitness baseline and identify potential risks such as liver or kidney health.
• In your 30s: Monitor hormone levels, which can affect your mood, energy, fertility, and libido.
• In your 40s: Check for low energy, mood changes, low testosterone, or thyroid conditions.
• In your 50s: Investigate health conditions like menopause, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
• In your 60s+: Treat health checks like an MOT, identifying risks or conditions early.

The power of routine testing and tracking
 

If you’ve only tested once, you haven’t yet seen your full health picture.

Repeating your test allows you to:

• Spot trends and patterns
• Measure the impact of lifestyle changes
• Distinguish true changes from noise

Here’s what it looks like to track your health over time. Spot dips, peaks, and plateaus to make sure you’re a step ahead.

So, what next?
 

If it’s been a year or your lifestyle has changed, it might be time for another blood test. Your blood is always changing, and that’s a good thing. Tracking your markers over time gives you the insight to take action, feel better, and stay ahead of your health.

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References

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4. Koncz A, Demetrovics ,Zsolt, and Takacs ZK. Meditation interventions efficiently reduce cortisol levels of at-risk samples: a meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review. 2021;15: 56–84.