What is the most common cause of anaemia?

Iron deficiency is the most common type of anaemia. It is often caused by heavy periods, pregnancy or bleeding from the stomach or bowel. Low vitamin B12 or folate is another cause.

Why does an anaemia test include CRP?

Ferritin can rise with infection or inflammation even when iron stores are low. Measuring CRP alongside it helps the doctor judge whether your ferritin result reflects your true iron stores.

Do I need to fast for an anaemia blood test?

No. You can eat and drink normally beforehand. Tell us about any iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid supplements you take.

Energy & nutrition

Private blood test

Anaemia Profile Blood Test

Markers commonly used to look for anaemia and its causes, including iron and vitamin levels.

10 biomarkers
No fasting needed

£129Includes sample collection

Book this test Ask a question

We confirm your appointment and any preparation, such as fasting, before you attend.

What’s included

10 biomarkers in this test.

No fasting needed

Iron & anaemia5

Your iron levels and stores, a common cause of tiredness when low.

Ferritin
Iron
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Transferrin
Transferrin Saturation

Vitamins2

Key vitamins for energy, nerves, bones and healthy blood.

Folic acid
Vitamin B12

Blood count1

Your red cells, white cells and platelets.

Full Blood Count

Inflammation & immunity2

Signs of inflammation in the body and how your immune system is working.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP)

About this test

Is the Anaemia Profile Blood Test right for you?

Who it’s for

You have symptoms that can be linked to anaemia, such as tiredness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, headaches or paler skin than usual.
You have heavy periods or give blood regularly, which can lower your iron levels.
You follow a vegan or restricted diet, or you are older, which makes low vitamin B12 or folate more likely.
You take a medicine that can lower vitamin B12, such as metformin or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like omeprazole.
You have had anaemia before and want to recheck your levels.

What it can show

The full blood count measures haemoglobin and your red blood cells. It can show anaemia, and whether your red cells are smaller or larger than normal, which helps point towards the likely cause.
Ferritin reflects your body’s iron stores and is the most reliable single blood test for iron deficiency. Iron, transferrin, TIBC and transferrin saturation show how much iron is being carried in your blood.
Vitamin B12 and folic acid (folate) can show deficiencies that cause anaemia with larger than normal red blood cells. They can also cause symptoms such as pins and needles or memory problems.
CRP and high-sensitivity CRP are markers of inflammation. Inflammation can raise ferritin even when iron stores are low, so CRP helps the doctor interpret your iron results.

What it can’t tell you

A normal haemoglobin does not rule out low iron. Some people, especially women who have periods, have low iron stores before anaemia develops.
Some things change results without reflecting your true levels. Infection and inflammation can raise ferritin, B12 supplements can raise B12 without fully treating a deficiency, and the combined contraceptive pill can lower total B12.
Vitamin B12 results can be hard to interpret. Some people have symptoms with normal levels, and borderline results may need further tests.
This test can show anaemia or a deficiency, but not always why it has happened. Finding the cause, such as blood loss from the gut, may need further tests through your GP.
Results are interpreted alongside your symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment of anaemia are made with your GP or specialist.

How it works

From booking to results in three steps.

Step 1
Request your test
Send a booking request online or call us. We confirm your clinic, appointment time and any preparation.
Step 2
Visit the clinic
A short appointment for professional sample collection at Greysteel or Letterkenny. No GP referral needed.
Step 3
Receive your results
Usually within a couple of working days, emailed to you once a doctor has reviewed them.

Common questions

Questions about this test.

Not directly. A full blood count can show anaemia and changes in red blood cell size that suggest low iron, vitamin B12 or folate, but it does not measure those levels. That is why this profile also measures ferritin, iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid.