Your comprehensive blood panel
At our Kensington Clinic in London, we offer a complete and personalised full blood test. An in-depth analysis of several dozen parameters in a single sample, designed for patients who want a precise reading of their health.
The full blood test goes beyond a routine blood check. It maps out your metabolism, your nutritional status and your inflammatory markers in detail. The aim? To turn a simple blood draw into a real milestone for your health.
This comprehensive blood panel is prescribed and interpreted by Dr Emily Kara, consultant in longevity medicine, trained at Oxford and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). She consults in French and in English.
What is a full blood test?
A full blood test is an extended blood panel offered in private medicine. It decodes a wide range of biological parameters in a single sample.
This examination therefore combines several levels of analysis:
- Complete cellular analysis, equivalent to the FBC*;
- Metabolic panel (glucose, kidney function, liver function);
- Cardiovascular profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides);
- Essential vitamins and minerals;
- Selected inflammatory and basic hormonal markers.
It is this depth of panel that changes the clinical reading. A well-interpreted bloodwork does not deliver a diagnosis on its own; it sets out the picture and flags areas of concern. Where necessary, more targeted complementary tests are then prescribed.
*Not to be confused with the full blood count (FBC), the standard NHS blood test, which is limited to one or two markers. The FBC focuses on blood cells and remains useful for a targeted diagnosis, for instance in cases of suspected anaemia or infection.
Which parameters are analysed in a full blood test?
The full blood test prescribed at the Kensington Clinic covers four main families of biological markers. Each adds a distinct dimension to the overall reading of your health.
1 - Full haematology
The first foundation of the panel, the haematological analysis measures:
- The complete blood count (CBC);
- Haemoglobin and haematocrit;
- Platelets and basic coagulation markers;
- The detailed white blood cell differential.
This first reading helps to detect anaemia, an active infection, chronic inflammation or an emerging blood disorder.
2 - Metabolic and cardiovascular panel
This is the section that truly distinguishes the full blood test from a standard FBC:
- Fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c);
- Full lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides);
- Liver function (AST, ALT, GGT, bilirubin);
- Kidney function (creatinine, urea, estimated glomerular filtration rate).
These parameters provide a reading of cardiovascular and metabolic risk. They are essential for any patient over forty, and earlier when there is a family history.
3 - Vitamins and minerals
The full vitamin and mineral blood test measures fine-grained nutritional intake and deficiencies:
- Vitamin D (25-OH);
- Vitamin B12 and folates;
- Ferritin and full iron status;
- Magnesium, zinc, ionised calcium.
Deficiencies in vitamin D, B12 or iron are common and largely under-diagnosed. They account for a significant share of chronic fatigue, concentration problems and reduced energy levels.
4 - Inflammatory markers and basic thyroid
The panel is rounded off by an evaluation of systemic markers:
- C-reactive protein (CRP);
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate;
- TSH and basic thyroid screening.
These parameters detect silent inflammation or a latent thyroid imbalance, two frequent causes of poorly explained chronic symptoms.
Some specialised analyses go beyond the scope of this standard panel and are delivered through dedicated services at the Kensington Clinic: in-depth hormonal panels, specific oncological markers, genetic analyses, microbiological screening. Each is delivered through a dedicated consultation with the relevant specialist.
The full blood test, your annual health MOT
In the UK, the MOT is the mandatory annual technical inspection for vehicles. The metaphor is now widely used in healthcare: a complete check, at regular intervals, to anticipate rather than repair.
The full body MOT blood test plays exactly that role at a biological level.
When should you have a full blood test?
Several clinical situations justify a full blood test in London:
- Annual health check in adults, particularly over the age of forty;
- Persistent unexplained fatigue lasting more than a few weeks;
- Follow-up of a chronic condition (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, dyslipidaemia);
- Starting a longevity programme or a lifestyle optimisation plan;
- Following a period of prolonged stress or intense physical exertion;
- Family history of cardiovascular, metabolic or autoimmune conditions;
- Nutritional follow-up or assessment ahead of a significant dietary change.
This panel is not a one-off examination. It takes on its full value when repeated at regular intervals, allowing results to be compared over time and any future risks to be anticipated.
Who carries out a full blood test at the Kensington Clinic?
Dr Emily Kara is a consultant in general practice and longevity medicine at the Kensington Clinic. Your private full blood test is prescribed, supervised and interpreted by her, within a personalised medicine approach. She is a graduate of the University of Oxford and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP, 2008), as well as a Diplomate of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRCOG).
Her career combines several complementary dimensions:
- Clinical practice within the NHS for over 15 years;
- Medical Director of the Jiahui International Hospital in Shanghai for 6 years;
- Specialisation in longevity medicine, focused on prevention and detailed biological monitoring;
- An integrated approach combining in-depth blood panels, lifestyle support and personalised follow-up.
Dr Kara consults in English and in French. She is a particularly trusted reference for the French-speaking community in London and for international patients seeking premium medical care, grounded in precise biological data.
Where the results of a full blood test reveal abnormalities suggesting a genetic or hereditary origin (familial lipid disorders, iron overload, particular haematological signatures), a specialist opinion can be sought from Dr Ehsan Ghayoor Karimiani, consultant in genomic medicine at the Kensington Clinic.
How much does a full blood test cost in London ?
The price of a full blood test in London depends on the number of parameters included in the panel and the depth of analysis chosen.
Fees in private medicine in London vary considerably from one clinic to the next, depending on the biological scope and the level of medical follow-up.
At the Kensington Clinic:
- The exact fee is communicated at the time of booking, according to the panel selected;
- The medical interpretation consultation is billed separately from the laboratory analysis;
- Fees sit at the upper end of the private London market, in line with the clinic’s premium positioning and medical expertise.
Some private health insurance policies cover all or part of this examination. We recommend that you check your cover with your insurer before booking.
Book your full blood test at the Kensington Clinic in London
The Kensington Clinic is located at 2 North Terrace, London SW3 2BA, a six-minute walk from South Kensington station and eight minutes from Knightsbridge. We welcome patients from Greater London, Europe and the rest of the world.
To book your comprehensive blood panel with Dr Emily Kara, please contact us:
- By phone on 020 7589 9321;
- By email at contact@lamaisonmedicale.co.uk;
- Directly through our online booking system.
What to know before your appointment:
- A 10 to 12-hour fast is recommended to ensure the reliability of lipid and glucose parameters;
- The blood draw takes a few minutes;
- Results are available within 3 to 5 working days and are always returned during a dedicated medical consultation.
Consultations are available in English and in French.
FAQ
What does a full blood test show?
A full blood test gives a global view of your biological health through the simultaneous analysis of several dozen parameters.
It can notably detect:
- Anaemia or an emerging blood disorder;
- A metabolic imbalance (diabetes, prediabetes, dyslipidaemia);
- Silent inflammation through CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate markers;
- A nutritional deficiency in vitamin D, B12, folates, iron or essential minerals;
- An asymptomatic liver or kidney dysfunction;
- A latent thyroid disorder through TSH analysis.
Interpretation remains inseparable from the clinical context: only a doctor can turn this data into recommendations tailored to your profile.
How much does a full blood test cost in London?
The price of a full blood test in London varies according to the depth of the panel selected and the level of medical follow-up included.
Three factors drive the cost:
- The number of parameters analysed (standard or extended panel);
- The medical interpretation consultation, generally billed separately;
- The clinic chosen and its positioning (standard or premium private medicine).
At the Kensington Clinic, the exact fee is communicated at the time of booking, depending on the panel selected. Some private health insurance policies cover all or part of the examination.
What is the difference between a full blood test and a full blood count?
The full blood count (FBC) is a standard blood test, while the full blood test is a markedly more complete extended panel.
The full blood count test in London is limited to haematological evaluation: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets. It answers a precise clinical question, such as a suspicion of anaemia or infection.
The full blood test reuses this foundation but adds the metabolic, lipid, liver, kidney, vitamin and inflammatory panels. It fits into a global preventive logic, the kind of annual health MOT we have outlined above.
At the Kensington Clinic, this panel is prescribed within a logic of preventive and personalised medicine.
Kensington International Clinic: private medical care delivered by a French and international team of reference.
