Hair Loss Blood Test

£85.00

Investigate possible causes of hair thinning or loss including hormone imbalance, thyroid problems, and low iron, with our home blood test.

Results estimated in 7 working days

View 7 Biomarkers

How do you want to take your sample?

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  • Book a venous draw at a clinic   +£35.00

    Visit one of our national clinic partners for a nurse to take your venous blood sample from a vein in your arm. We’ll email you instructions on how to book after we’ve processed your order.
  • Book a venous draw at home with a nurse +£59.00

  • Self-arrange a professional sample collection Free

Hair Loss Blood Test

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Is it for you?

Concerned about the amount of hair you’ve lost recently? Maybe you’ve noticed your hair is thinning across your whole scalp or you have specific patches of hair loss. Perhaps you’ve just spotted more of your hair than usual on your hairbrush, in the bath, or on your pillow.

Our Hair Loss Blood Test is the ideal first step in exploring possible causes of hair thinning and loss. It includes checks for some common medical causes and may provide insights that can help you improve hair growth.

Biomarker table

Hormones

Testosterone

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Testosterone is a hormone that causes male characteristics. For men, it helps to regulate sex drive and has a role in controlling bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, strength and the production of red blood cells and sperm. Testosterone is produced in the testicles of men and, in much smaller amounts, in the ovaries of women. Testosterone levels in men naturally decline after the age of 30, although lower than normal levels can occur at any age and can cause low libido, erectile dysfunction, difficulty in gaining and maintaining muscle mass and lack of energy. Although women have much lower amounts of testosterone than men, it is important for much the same reasons, playing a role in libido, the distribution of muscle and fat and the formation of red blood cells. All laboratories will slightly differ in the reference ranges they apply because they are based on the population they are testing. The normal range is set so that 95% of men will fall into it. For greater consistency, we use the guidance from the British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) which advises that low testosterone can be diagnosed when testosterone is consistently below the reference range, and that levels below 12 nmol/L could also be considered low, especially in men who also report symptoms of low testosterone or who have low levels of free testosterone.

Free androgen index

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The free androgen index (FAI) is a calculation used to determine the amount of testosterone which is free (unbound) in the bloodstream. Most testosterone is bound to proteins sex hormone binding globulin and albumin and is not available to interact with the body's cells. The FAI is a calculation based on the ratio of testosterone and SHBG and is a measure of the amount of testosterone that is available to act on the body's tissues. The free androgen index is used in women to assess the likelihood of polycystic ovarian syndrome. In men, free testosterone gives a better indication of testosterone status.

Inflammation

hs-CRP

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C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an inflammation marker used to assess whether there is inflammation in the body - it does not identify where the inflammation is located. High Sensitivity CRP (CRP-hs) is a test used to detect low-level inflammation thought to damage blood vessels which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. When you suffer a serious injury or infection you experience significant inflammation around the site of injury - such as the swelling around a twisted ankle. Any injury like this will cause your CRP-hs to rise.

Iron status

Ferritin

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Ferritin is a protein which stores iron in your cells and tissues. Usually, the body incorporates iron into haemoglobin to be transported around the body, but when it has a surplus, it stores the remaining iron in ferritin for later use. Measuring ferritin levels gives us a good indication of the amount of iron stored in your body.

Proteins

SHBG

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SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) is a protein which transports the sex hormones (testosterone, oestrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)) in the blood.Hormones which are bound to SHBG are inactive which means that they are unavailable to your cells. Measuring the level of SHBG in your blood gives important information about your levels of free or unbound hormones which are biologically active and available for use.

Thyroid hormones

TSH

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Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is produced in the pituitary gland in order to regulate the production of thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) by the thyroid gland. If thyroid hormones in the blood are low, then more TSH is produced to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more of them. If thyroid hormone levels are high, then the pituitary produces less TSH to slow the production of thyroid hormones. If TSH is too high or too low, it normally signifies that there is a problem with the thyroid gland which is causing it to under or over produce thyroid hormones. Sometimes a disorder of the pituitary gland can also cause abnormal TSH levels.

Free thyroxine

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Thyroxine (T4) is one of two hormones produced by the thyroid gland. It works to speed up the rate of your metabolism. Most T4 is bound to carrier proteins in the blood - it is only the free, or unbound, T4 that is active in the body, which is measured in this test. Free T4 is the less active of the two main thyroid hormones. To have an impact on your cells it needs to convert to the more active T3 when your body needs it.
Special instructions

How to prepare for your test

Prepare for your Hair Loss Blood Test by following these instructions. Please take your sample before 10am. Take this test when any symptoms of short-term illness have settled. Do not take biotin supplements for two days before this test, discuss this with your doctor if it is prescribed.

Blood testing made easy

How it works

Your personalised, actionable health results are only a few clicks away. Order your test, take and post your sample, then view your results online with our doctors' comments.

Your results, simplified

Track, improve, and monitor your health over time

MyMedichecks is your personal online dashboard where you can view your results, access clear and simple explanations about individual health markers, monitor changes in your health, and securely store information about your medical history, lifestyle, and vital statistics.

FAQs

What is a Hair Loss Blood Test?

Our blood test for hair loss lets you explore some specific health issues that could be to blame for hair loss or thinning.

It checks your thyroid hormones levels, which can indicate whether you have an underactive or overactive thyroid — both conditions can cause hair thinning. It also checks your ferritin level (iron store), as low iron is another possible cause.

Conversely, raised ferritin levels may indicate an inflammatory disorder, which could be affecting your hair growth. Our hair loss test includes an inflammatory marker (hs-CRP) to check whether this is likely.

Our test also checks your free testosterone level, as a high level of testosterone can contribute to hair loss in males. In females, hair loss is more likely to be caused by a hormonal imbalance where there’s excess androgens (a class of hormones that includes testosterone).

What causes hair loss?

There are many reasons for hair loss. The most common is genetics — this is known as hereditary male or female pattern baldness. This can happen at any life stage but is more common with age.

Occasionally, hair loss can be the sign of a medical issue. These include autoimmune conditions (like a thyroid disorder, lupus, alopecia areata, or Crohn’s disease), hormone imbalances, and micronutrient deficiencies, such as low iron.

Other causes of hair loss include stress, illness, drug side effects, overstyling, and regularly applying chemicals to your hair, such as hair dye.

If you’re experiencing hair thinning or loss in addition to other symptoms, we recommend you see your GP.

How much hair loss is normal?

Shedding hair is a normal part of life. On average, we have around 100,000 hair follicles on our heads and lose between 50–100 hairs per day, as part of the hair’s natural growth cycle.

Hair loss isn’t normally anything to worry about, but if you’re concerned about the amount of hair you’re losing, a blood test is a great first step to begin investigating possible causes.

How can I prevent hair loss?

This depends on the cause. Some types of hair loss are permanent, like male and female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss usually runs in families.

Other types of hair loss may be temporary, such as hair loss caused by stress, an illness, cancer treatment, or weight loss, and normally goes away as your body recovers from the trigger event.

Which vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause hair loss?

Iron deficiency can cause hair loss and is more common in women who have periods, people with anaemia, and people who follow a plant-based diet.

Adding iron-rich foods to your diet may help to prevent hair loss if you find your iron level is below the normal range. And your doctor may recommend supplements if you have iron deficiency anaemia.

Healthy levels of riboflavin, biotin, B12, folate, selenium, zinc, and magnesium are also important for healthy hair.

Does testosterone cause hair loss in males?

The relationship between hair loss and testosterone is complicated. Testosterone itself doesn’t directly cause hair loss. It’s the action of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — a hormone made from testosterone — that can affect hair follicles leading to hair loss.

It’s not the amount of DHT that causes hair loss, it’s the sensitivity of the hair follicles to DHT. And that sensitivity is determined by genetics. Age, stress, and other factors can also play a part, but if you’re male and have a close male relative with male pattern baldness, you’re more likely to develop it too.

Is hair loss more common in men than women?

Hair loss is more common in males than females. It also tends to follow a different pattern. Genetic male pattern baldness typically begins with a receding front hairline and a bald spot at the crown of the head, while women tend to experience diffuse hair loss across the scalp.

It’s thought that as men constantly produce testosterone throughout their lives, they’re more likely to experience hair loss. For women, hormonal changes may lead to excess shedding, with many women noticing their hair thinning around menopause and after childbirth.

What can I do if my hair loss is affecting my wellbeing?

Hair loss and thinning can be upsetting. For many people, their hair is an important part of their identity.

If hair loss or thinning is affecting your mental health, we recommend that you seek help from your GP. You may also benefit from joining support groups and online forums, where you can talk to other people going through the same experience.

Can I take a Hair Loss Blood Test at home?

Yes, you can take our hair loss test at home. We’ll send you everything you need including a finger-prick test kit and a return envelope for your sample.

Limitations of the test

Read before you order:

Our Hair Loss Blood Test can't diagnose male or female pattern baldness — this condition is usually diagnosed based on symptoms. However, our test can help you rule out other common causes of hair loss.

This test screens for the common causes of hair loss, but there are other less common causes (e.g. a skin/scalp condition, medications, and autoimmune conditions where the immune system attacks the hair follicles) that may be worth discussing with your GP.

If your hair loss follows the typical male pattern (a receding hairline above the temples and thinning hair over the crown of the head), then some high street chemists offer over-the-counter treatments and there are hair loss clinics that may suit you.

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