Private blood tests: what each panel costs
A basic private blood panel covering full blood count, glucose, lipids, kidney and liver function costs between thirty and sixty euros, with results usually available within twenty four to seventy two hours.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- A basic panel costs 30 € to 60 €.
- Adding thyroid, iron and vitamin D takes it to 70 € to 130 €.
- Fasting of 8 to 12 hours is only needed for certain values.
- In a panel of 20 values, one falling outside range in a healthy person is likely.
Ordering tests is cheap and easy. Interpreting them without clinical context is what generates unnecessary appointments and avoidable worry.
What each level includes
The basic panel covers a full blood count, glucose, total cholesterol with its fractions, triglycerides, creatinine with estimated filtration rate, liver enzymes and a urine sample. Beyond that each block is added separately: thyroid function, iron metabolism, vitamin D and B12, inflammatory markers, or specific serology according to the reason for testing.
| Block | Content | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic panel | blood count, glucose, lipids, kidney, liver | 30 to 60 € |
| Thyroid function | TSH and thyroid hormones | 20 to 40 € |
| Iron metabolism | ferritin, iron, transferrin | 18 to 35 € |
| Vitamin D and B12 | two determinations | 25 to 50 € |
| Full extended panel | all of the above | 90 to 160 € |
| Specific serology | per test | 20 to 60 € |
| Time to results | 24 to 72 hours |
How to prepare
Fasting of 8 to 12 hours is needed for glucose, triglycerides and some hormone measurements, not for everything. Water is allowed. Avoid intense exercise in the preceding 24 hours, since it raises certain muscle values and can lead to a repeat test. And declare current medication, including supplements, because several of them alter vitamin B12 and iron readings.
Why a range is not a diagnosis
Reference ranges are constructed so that around 5 per cent of healthy people fall outside them. In a panel of 20 values, the probability that at least one comes back outside the range in a healthy person exceeds 60 per cent. So a single mildly abnormal value, with no symptoms and no context, rarely means anything, and chasing it with further tests generates more noise than information.
What does carry weight is a trend: a value moving consistently across 2 or 3 successive tests says far more than one reading in isolation.
When to request one
When symptoms justify it. For monitoring a known condition on the schedule advised. And for preventive checks at the interval appropriate to age and risk factors, commonly every 1 to 3 years in healthy adults. Outside those cases, widening the panel out of curiosity tends to produce irrelevant findings that cost time, money and peace of mind.
Frequently asked
+What does a private blood test cost?
Thirty to sixty euros for a basic panel and 90 € to 160 € for a full extended one.
+Do I have to fast?
For glucose, triglycerides and some hormones yes, with 8 to 12 hours. Water is allowed.
+When do results arrive?
Usually within 24 to 72 hours depending on the laboratory and the tests requested.
+Does a value outside the range mean illness?
Not by itself. Reference ranges leave about 5 per cent of healthy people outside them for each value.
+How often should I have one?
Every one to three years in healthy adults, and as advised for a known condition.
Sources
- 1Ministerio de Sanidad, Gobierno de España (August 2026)
- 2Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE (August 2026)