What we test
Ten metabolic markers across four systems, measured from a needle-free blood test at home: your baseline first, then a retest every six months.
Around half
Around half of UK adults have cholesterol above national guidelines, and high cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms: you can only find out from a blood test. [1] [2]
Total cholesterol
The overall amount of cholesterol in your blood: the headline number for heart health.
LDL cholesterol
The carrier cholesterol that can build up in artery walls. Lower is generally better.
HDL cholesterol
The clean-up cholesterol that helps move excess cholesterol away. Higher is generally better.
Triglycerides
The fats your body stores and burns for energy. High levels are linked to a higher risk of heart and circulatory disease.
Cholesterol ratio
Your total cholesterol divided by your HDL cholesterol: a single number used in UK heart-risk calculators.
Liver function [6]
ALT
Alanine aminotransferase: an enzyme that leaks into the blood when liver cells are under strain.
AST
Aspartate aminotransferase: a second liver enzyme, read alongside ALT for a fuller picture.
GGT
Gamma-glutamyl transferase: an enzyme that rises with liver stress, including from alcohol.
Diabetes risk [4]
Almost1.3 million
An estimated6.9 million
Almost 1.3 million people in the UK could be living with type 2 diabetes without a diagnosis, and an estimated 6.9 million are at increased risk based on their blood sugar levels. [3]
HbA1c
Your average blood sugar over roughly the past three months.
Thyroid function [5]
TSH
Thyroid-stimulating hormone: the signalling hormone that tells your thyroid how hard to work.
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Sources (7)
- British Heart Foundation, "UK Cardiovascular Disease Factsheet", July 2026 edition: "around half of adults in the UK are living with cholesterol levels above national guidelines". bhf.org.uk (PDF). Accessed 22 September 2026.
- NHS, "High cholesterol" (page last reviewed 13 March 2026): "High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test." nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol. Accessed 22 September 2026.
- Diabetes UK, "Diabetes statistics": "almost 1.3 million people could be living with type 2 diabetes who are yet to be diagnosed"; "An estimated 6.9 million people are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the UK based on blood sugar levels." diabetes.org.uk. Accessed 22 September 2026.
- NHS England Digital, Health Survey for England 2024, "Adults' health": "HbA1c reflects average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months". digital.nhs.uk. Accessed 22 September 2026.
- NHS, "Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism): symptoms" (page last reviewed 28 April 2025): common symptoms include "putting on weight"; diagnosis is by a blood test. nhs.uk. Accessed 22 September 2026.
- Association for Laboratory Medicine, Lab Tests Online UK, "Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test": a blood test measuring "the liver enzyme ALT", used "to detect and monitor liver damage or inflammation". labtestsonline.org.uk. Accessed 22 September 2026.
- Association for Laboratory Medicine, Lab Tests Online UK, "Lipid profile": "Cholesterol: HDL ratio is the calculated ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-C"; in the UK most doctors use a risk calculator (QRISK2 or QRISK3) "which uses the cholesterol: HDL ratio along with other known risk factors". labtestsonline.org.uk. Accessed 1 October 2026.
Numbered markers in the page text link to these entries. Statistics describe populations, not any one person’s results.