Advanced Tiredness and Fatigue Blood Test

We all feel tired from time to time. Often, we’re aware of the cause, such as doing too much or getting over a recent illness. But if you feel tired all the time and don’t know why, it could be a sign of a medical problem.

There are lots of reasons why you might feel constantly tired, many of which you can do something about. Anaemia is one of the most common causes of fatigue. There are several types of anaemia, and some are caused by vitamin or mineral deficiencies such as low levels of iron, vitamin B12, or folate. These conditions reduce the amount of oxygen your blood can carry around your body, which can make you feel tired and weak.

Other common causes of fatigue include vitamin D deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetes. Most of these issues involve other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss and mood changes. If you’re experiencing other symptoms in addition to feeling tired, or if fatigue is affecting your daily life, we recommend you see your doctor.

The Advanced Tiredness and Fatigue Blood Test is our most thorough check for common causes of chronic (long-term) tiredness.

It includes all the tests in our Tiredness and Fatigue Blood Test plus a full blood count (FBC), which looks at the number and size of your red blood cells. It also checks your white blood cells, levels of vitamin B12 and folate, and your blood glucose level (HbA1c).

Tiredness is one of the most common reasons people visit their GP, so it’s not surprising that it has its own acronym — TATT (tired all the time). A TATT blood test is the ideal first step in exploring the cause of your low energy levels and taking steps to reduce fatigue.

Our tiredness test checks whether you have an underactive or overactive thyroid — both of which can make you feel fatigued. Feeling more tired could also be an indication of diabetes, so our test checks your blood glucose level to detect whether this is likely.

It also checks for deficiencies in vitamin D, iron, B12, and folate, which can all impact your energy levels. And you’ll learn whether abnormalities in your red blood cells could be causing fatigue, as well as if there are signs of infection or low-level inflammation in your body.

The treatment for tiredness and fatigue depends on the cause. If you have an underlying health issue that’s causing fatigue like a thyroid condition, you should notice an improvement in your symptoms once you begin treatment to manage your condition.

If a vitamin or mineral deficiency is the cause of your low energy levels, you may need to make changes to your diet and/or take a supplement to get your nutrient levels back in the healthy range. Always follow your GP’s advice before starting to take supplements, or increasing the amount you take, as taking too much can be harmful

Making some healthy lifestyle changes may help boost your energy levels, such as drinking plenty of water and eating a nutritious, balanced diet, including plenty of essential vitamins and minerals.

You may feel too tired to exercise, but some gentle physical activity like a walk or a relaxing yoga session can make you feel more energised and help you get a good night’s sleep. Taking steps to manage stress, such as practising mindfulness or enjoying some me-time can also help reduce fatigue.

Try to stick to the same sleep times and aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Take a couple of hours before bedtime to relax by reading or listening to music. Avoiding screens and looking at your phone in the hour before bed can also help you drift off to sleep more easily.

Some conditions that cause fatigue are more common in women than men. For instance, women who have periods are more prone to iron deficiency anaemia due to blood loss during their menstrual cycle. Thyroid conditions, which have a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, are also more common in women than men.

Women can also be more likely to experience low energy levels at specific life stages due to hormonal imbalances. For example, fatigue is a common symptom of perimenopause (the transition phase before menopause) and is common during pregnancy.

Yes, you can take a blood test for tiredness at home by arranging for a nurse to visit you to take your blood sample. Alternatively, you can arrange to visit a clinic for your sample to be taken at a time that suits you.

As this is an advanced test covering 26 biomarkers, your blood sample will need to be taken from a vein in your arm (a venous sample) to ensure the sample is sufficient.