Iron Deficiency Anaemia Blood Test

Most people put up with tiredness for months before doing anything about it. They assume it's stress, poor sleep, or just life. Sometimes it is. But iron deficiency anaemia is one of the most common and treatable causes of persistent fatigue, and a single blood test can rule it in or out.

If you've been tired for more than a few weeks, testing is a reasonable thing to do. You don't need a referral. Results come back within 24 hours.

What is iron deficiency anaemia?

Iron deficiency anaemia occurs when your body doesn't have enough iron to produce haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen to your tissues. When haemoglobin drops, your organs and muscles are starved of oxygen. That's why the fatigue feels so physical, more like your body is heavy than like you simply didn't sleep well.

In the UK, low iron stores affect roughly 1 in 5 women of reproductive age, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. It's also common in vegetarians, frequent blood donors, and adults over 65.

Recognising the symptoms

Iron deficiency builds slowly. Many patients we see have been symptomatic for months without realising there's a testable, fixable cause. These are the signs:

You might have one or two of these. You might have several. Either way, a blood test takes the guesswork out of it.

Why a full iron profile?

A standard haemoglobin test from your GP tells you whether you're anaemic right now. It won't tell you why. And it won't catch the early stage, where your iron stores are depleted but your haemoglobin hasn't dropped yet. That's the stage where you feel terrible but your GP says your bloods are "normal."

Our Anaemia Profile measures six markers together to give the full picture:

Getting the diagnosis right first time matters. Treating iron deficiency when the problem is actually B12, or vice versa, wastes months.

Who should consider this test?

The most common patients we see for this panel are women with heavy periods, anyone with unexplained fatigue lasting more than four weeks, and vegetarians or vegans concerned about absorption.

We also regularly test pregnant women and those planning pregnancy, people with coeliac disease or Crohn's, over-65s with new-onset tiredness, endurance athletes (particularly runners), and regular blood donors. It's among one of our most commonly requested blood panels.

What happens at the appointment

You don't need a GP referral. Walk-in and booked appointments are both available, seven days a week.

When you arrive at 117a Harley Street, you'll be seen in a private consultation room by a registered doctor or nurse. The blood draw itself takes about 10 minutes. If you're nervous about needles, let us know. Our team does this hundreds of times a week and will keep you comfortable.

Results are returned within 24 hours by secure email, and if you have consulted one of our doctors, they'll call you for a review of all results or you can attend for an in-person follow up. If anything needs further investigation, we can refer you directly to a private haematologist or gastroenterologist within our Harley Street network without you needing to go back to your GP.

Accuracy is why where you test matters

Home finger-prick kits have become popular, and they have their place. But for a full iron profile, venous blood drawn by an experienced professional gives more reliable results. Finger-prick samples can be affected by hydration, temperature, and technique.

Your samples from Medical Express Clinic go to UKAS-accredited laboratories - the same accreditation standard used by NHS hospital labs, independently audited every year for accuracy and reliability. A falsely normal ferritin result, for example, could mean months more of avoidable fatigue while the real cause goes unaddressed.

Concerned about iron overload?

The Iron Overload Profile (£392.50) is designed for patients concerned about haemochromatosis, a genetic condition causing excess iron absorption. If you have a family history, this is the appropriate test. It includes iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, and haemochromatosis gene screening (C282Y, H63D).