Bone Health Check blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

Healthy bones depend on a careful balance of minerals and hormones. Calcium and phosphate are the main minerals in bone. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), made by four small glands in the neck, raises blood calcium when it falls, partly by drawing calcium from bone. Vitamin D helps the gut absorb calcium and works closely with PTH.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in bone and liver, and rises when bone turnover is increased. Calcium is reported as adjusted calcium, corrected for your albumin level, because much of the calcium in blood is carried by albumin. Together these markers show whether the systems that maintain bone are working in balance.

The price includes your sample taken at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a review of your result with an Omnia practitioner, and a GP feedback report on request.

Who it is for

• You are approaching or going through the menopause.
• You have a parent or sibling with osteoporosis or a history of fractures.
• You have had a fracture from a minor fall.
• You have limited sun exposure, avoid dairy or follow a restrictive diet.
• You take long-term steroids or other medicines that can affect bone.

Understanding your result

Your report shows the laboratory reference range beside each figure. Low vitamin D with a raised PTH often means the body is working hard to maintain calcium, a pattern called secondary hyperparathyroidism, which usually improves with vitamin D replacement. High calcium with a high or normal PTH can suggest an overactive parathyroid gland and needs follow-up.

A raised ALP may reflect bone turnover, healing fractures or liver causes. Blood tests do not measure bone density itself, which needs a DEXA scan arranged through your GP. Abnormal results are a prompt to discuss your health in more depth, not a final verdict.

Preparing for your test

No fasting is strictly required, although a morning sample before breakfast gives the most consistent phosphate and PTH results. Stop calcium and vitamin D supplements for 24 hours before the test unless told otherwise, and tell us about thiazide diuretics, lithium or high-dose biotin, which can affect calcium or PTH results.

For a single vitamin, our vitamin D blood test is available on its own, and Advanced GP3 includes bone markers within a wider review. If you are weighing up options, browse our list of every blood test and price in Chiswick.

Questions

How much is a Bone Health Check in Chiswick?

The Bone Health Check costs £119 at our Chiswick clinic. This includes your blood sample, analysis of all six markers at the Randox accredited laboratory, a practitioner review and a GP feedback report on request.

Can a blood test show if I have osteoporosis?

No. Osteoporosis is diagnosed with a bone density scan. Blood tests help look for causes of bone loss and show whether calcium and vitamin D balance is healthy.

What is parathyroid hormone?

PTH is made by the parathyroid glands and controls the level of calcium in your blood. Too much or too little can affect bones, kidneys and energy levels.

Should I test during the menopause?

Falling oestrogen speeds up bone loss, so many women find it helpful to check bone markers around this time, especially with other risk factors.