Choosing a check-up should not feel like reading a menu in another language. The Well Man and Well Woman blood tests are two of the most complete general panels in the BPR catalogue, and each comes in two versions. This guide explains what the panels share, where the men's and women's versions differ, and why there is a version "minus FBC".
What the Well Man and Well Woman blood tests share
Both Premier Plus panels are built around the same core:
- a full cholesterol profile and HbA1c;
- liver function (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, bilirubin, albumin, globulin, total protein);
- kidney function (urea, creatinine, eGFR);
- calcium, magnesium, urate and creatine kinase;
- a full iron status profile, including ferritin;
- thyroid function, with TSH and free T4;
- vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D;
- high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP);
- a full blood count.
The hsCRP is the marker that most often raises questions. A review in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology describes it as an inflammatory marker that adds information on cardiovascular risk comparable to blood pressure or cholesterol (Ridker, 2016). The LML points out that it can also rise for many other reasons, such as infections or autoimmune conditions, so it is always read in context.
Vitamin D is included in both. The NHS explains that between October and early March the UK sun is not strong enough for the body to make enough vitamin D, which is why a result taken in late winter can look different from one taken in summer.
Where the men's and women's panels differ
Well Man Premier Plus Profile
The LML lists 50 markers. Alongside the shared core, it includes testosterone and a white cell differential (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils) within the full blood count.
Well Woman Premier Plus Profile
The LML lists 47 markers. Instead of testosterone, it includes oestradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). The LML notes that these hormones can give useful information about fertility and the menopause. If you have periods, note the first day of your last one and share it with whoever reviews your results.
Premier Plus or minus FBC?
The minus FBC versions keep almost everything from the Premier Plus panels but leave out the full blood count. The LML lists 36 markers in the Well Man Profile (minus FBC) and 38 in the Well Woman Profile (minus FBC).
The reason is practical. The LML explains that a full blood count tends to become unreliable if the sample takes longer than 24 to 48 hours to reach the laboratory, and that the minus FBC versions exist for situations where delivery may take longer. Research on sample handling supports this: a study of blood count stability found that storage time was the main factor affecting accuracy, with white cell and platelet counts falling within 24 hours of storage (Al-Najdawi et al., 2025).
In short:
- Premier Plus suits most people, when the sample can reach the laboratory promptly.
- Minus FBC suits situations where a delay in delivery is likely, for example over a weekend or a bank holiday, or when a recent blood count is already available.
If in doubt, ask us before ordering and we can explain the options in our catalogue.
Keeping expectations realistic
A broad panel gives a lot of information, but information alone does not change health. A Cochrane review found that general health checks in unselected adults had little or no effect on overall mortality (Krogsbøll et al., 2019). The value of a Well Man or Well Woman panel comes from reading it with a professional and deciding together what, if anything, to do next.
