Bespoke Panel 1 is a blood count, ESR and electrolyte panel. It combines a full blood count with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), a long-established marker of inflammation, and four electrolytes and minerals: sodium, potassium, chloride and magnesium.
ESR and the blood count work well together, because red cell number, size and shape influence how quickly cells settle. This panel is available at partner collection locations in London only.
What is measured
- Full blood count: red cells, haemoglobin, white cells and platelets
- ESR: how quickly red cells settle, an indirect marker of inflammation
- Sodium, potassium and chloride: fluid and electrolyte balance
- Magnesium: a mineral needed for nerve and muscle function
Useful for
- Checking blood cells and a general inflammation marker in one sample
- Repeating an ESR or blood count that a clinician has asked you to recheck
- Reviewing electrolytes and magnesium if you take long-term medicines that can affect them, alongside your prescriber's monitoring
Sample: venous blood, taken at a partner London collection location. Biomarkers: 6 named tests, with the full blood count reporting several further values. Price includes: laboratory analysis and the laboratory report with reference ranges; interpretation is optional.
Bespoke Panel 1 (incl. ESR)
- Full blood count (measured; several parameters): typically haemoglobin, red cell count, haematocrit, red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW), white cell count with differential, and platelets. The exact parameters are set by the laboratory, and some indices are derived by the analyser.
- ESR (measured, mm/hour): the rate at which red cells settle; an indirect marker of inflammation.
- Sodium (measured): water and salt balance.
- Potassium (measured): nerve, muscle and heart rhythm function, regulated by the kidneys.
- Chloride (measured): usually tracks sodium; part of acid-base assessment.
- Magnesium (measured, serum): circulating magnesium; a partial guide to body status.
Apart from the red cell indices within the blood count, no results in this panel are calculated values.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESR measures how far red cells fall through a column of anticoagulated blood, in millimetres per hour. During inflammation the liver releases more fibrinogen and other proteins that make red cells stack together and settle faster. ESR is therefore indirect and non-specific: it also rises with age, female sex, anaemia, pregnancy, kidney disease, obesity and raised immunoglobulins such as paraproteins.
ESR changes slowly and can take weeks or months to normalise after inflammation, whereas CRP rises and falls within hours. It remains in use because it is simple and inexpensive, and it is particularly informative in polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis and myeloma.
Blood count
The full blood count measures haemoglobin, red cells, white cells and platelets. Because anaemia and red cell size and shape alter ESR, the two are interpreted together.
Electrolytes and magnesium
Sodium and chloride reflect the balance of water and salt outside cells. Most potassium sits inside cells, and the small plasma fraction is tightly controlled because it affects heart rhythm and muscle. Magnesium supports hundreds of enzymes and nerve and muscle function; most of it is held in bone and cells, so serum magnesium does not always reflect body stores, and low magnesium can make low calcium and potassium persist.
ESR rises with age and is higher in women, so laboratories may use age- and sex-adjusted limits.
ESR
- A mildly raised ESR is common and often has an ordinary explanation such as anaemia, pregnancy, menstruation, older age, kidney disease or obesity.
- A normal ESR does not exclude disease, especially early in an illness.
- A markedly raised ESR should be reviewed promptly with your GP.
Blood count, electrolytes and magnesium
- A low haemoglobin needs an explanation, usually starting with iron, B12 and folate tests.
- Potassium can read falsely high if the sample was difficult, haemolysed, kept cold or delayed, so an unexpected high result is usually repeated promptly.
- Low sodium can follow vomiting, diarrhoea, very high water intake or some diuretics and antidepressants.
- Long-term proton pump inhibitors have been linked to low magnesium (MHRA). Discuss a low result with your prescriber and do not stop or change a medicine because of it.
- A markedly abnormal result with palpitations, weakness or confusion needs urgent medical advice.
A result outside the range is a prompt for review, not a diagnosis. Where a result needs medical attention, we advise you to see your GP and, with your consent, Juvenology can write to them. Symptoms should never wait for a test result.
ESR and the blood count are often repeated to follow a known condition or recheck a borderline result. This panel lets you do that in one visit, with electrolytes and magnesium included. When the aim is simply to look for inflammation, CRP is usually the more responsive marker; ESR adds value where it has been specifically requested or compared with earlier ESR results. If you do not need ESR, Bespoke Panel 2 has the same remaining tests and can be collected in Maidstone.
May be helpful for
- People asked to repeat an ESR and blood count who can attend a London partner location.
- People on long-term medicines that affect electrolytes or magnesium who want an extra check alongside their prescriber's monitoring.
Probably not the right choice if
- You cannot attend in London: Bespoke Panel 2 has the same tests without ESR.
- You have a new headache with scalp tenderness, jaw pain when chewing or any change in vision, especially over 50. These can be signs of giant cell arteritis and need same-day assessment: contact your GP urgently or NHS 111, or go to A&E if your vision is affected.
- You feel acutely unwell or have signs of infection: contact your GP or NHS 111.
- You want to identify a specific condition: ESR cannot show what is causing inflammation or where.
Established clinical use. ESR, the blood count and electrolytes are diagnostic and monitoring tools, not markers of ageing.
Population associations. ESR drifts upwards with age in healthy people, so a higher result in an older adult does not by itself mean inflammation. Anaemia becomes more common in later life and always deserves an explanation.
Unproven ideas. There is no evidence that tracking ESR or magnesium without symptoms slows ageing. Do not start magnesium supplements on a single serum result without advice, particularly if you have kidney disease.
- Location: London partner locations only. ESR is measured on a fresh whole blood sample, so a postal kit is not possible.
- Food and drink: no fasting needed, but avoid drinking unusually large volumes of water just before, which can dilute sodium.
- During the draw: arrive warm and hydrated and keep your hand relaxed; a difficult draw or fist clenching can falsely raise potassium.
- Medicines and supplements: keep taking prescribed medicines, and tell us about diuretics, proton pump inhibitors, antidepressants, blood pressure medicines and any magnesium or potassium supplements.
- Recent events: tell us about recent infection, injury, menstruation or pregnancy, all of which can raise ESR.
Choose how your sample is taken when you book. We confirm the collection option, any collection fee and the expected turnaround time before you book.
- Juvenology Clinic, Maidstone (82 King Street, Maidstone ME14 1BH): Not available for this test.
- Partner collection location, including London: Available at our London partner collection locations. We confirm availability for your postcode before you book.
- Postal home finger-prick kit: Not available for this test.
Sample: Venous blood samples (whole blood for the blood count and ESR, serum or plasma for electrolytes and magnesium; tube types confirmed by the laboratory)
Collection notes: London partner collection locations only; availability confirmed by postcode before booking. Not available at the Maidstone clinic or as a postal kit. ESR needs a fresh venous whole blood sample; potassium can be falsely raised by haemolysis or delayed processing. No fasting needed; avoid drinking unusually large volumes of water beforehand.
The price of this test covers laboratory analysis and the laboratory's results report. The report lists each result beside the laboratory's reference range.
Beyond the blood test: optional support, priced separately
- Personalised written interpretation report: £50
- General consultation: £50
- Results consultation (results discussion and follow-up advice): £100
- Personalised programme: from £150, after we assess whether a programme suits you
Consultations are with Marina, an NMC-registered nurse with an Executive MSc in Longevity from the Geneva College of Longevity Science. She explains what your results show and how they relate to lifestyle. No prescription service is offered with these tests.
If a result suggests you need medical follow-up, we will recommend that you see your GP and, with your consent, can provide a letter to take with you. A blood test cannot rule out every condition. If you have symptoms, speak to your GP or NHS 111, and call 999 in an emergency.
Why is this panel only available in London?
It is currently offered only at partner collection locations in London, with availability confirmed by postcode before you book. Bespoke Panel 2 has the same tests without ESR and can be taken at our Maidstone clinic.
What is the difference between ESR and CRP?
Both reflect inflammation. CRP rises and falls within hours and tracks recent change; ESR changes over weeks and is also affected by age, anaemia and blood proteins. CRP is not part of this panel.
My ESR is slightly raised but I feel well. Should I worry?
Mildly raised results are common and often have an ordinary explanation, such as age, anaemia, menstruation or a recent infection. Your GP can decide whether to repeat it, particularly if it is markedly raised or you have symptoms.
Does a normal magnesium result mean my levels are fine?
Usually, but not always. Serum magnesium reflects only the small amount in the blood, so your clinician may look further if symptoms or other results suggest depletion.
Is interpretation of my results included?
The price covers laboratory analysis and the laboratory's report, showing each result beside its reference range. Interpretation is optional: a personalised written report costs £50 and a results consultation £100. Marina Kostadinova-Yankova, an NMC-registered nurse, provides these; she does not diagnose or prescribe, and will advise you to see your GP where a result needs medical attention.
Can I use a home finger-prick kit?
No. ESR needs a fresh venous whole blood sample, and potassium can read falsely high in delayed or haemolysed samples.
- Harrison M. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Australian Prescriber, 2015;38:93–94. https://australianprescriber.tg.org.au/articles/erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate-and-c-reactive-protein.html
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR). Lab Tests Online UK, Association for Laboratory Medicine. https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests/erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate-esr
- Full blood count (FBC). Lab Tests Online UK, Association for Laboratory Medicine. https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests/full-blood-count-fbc
- Electrolytes and Anion Gap. Lab Tests Online UK, Association for Laboratory Medicine. https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests/electrolytes-and-anion-gap
- Magnesium. Lab Tests Online UK, Association for Laboratory Medicine. https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests/magnesium
- Jahnen-Dechent W, Ketteler M. Magnesium basics. Clinical Kidney Journal, 2012;5(Suppl 1):i3–i14. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndtplus/sfr163
- Smellie WSA. Spurious hyperkalaemia. BMJ, 2007;334:693. https://www.bmj.com/content/334/7595/693
- Proton pump inhibitors in long-term use: reports of hypomagnesaemia. Drug Safety Update, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), 2012. https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/proton-pump-inhibitors-in-long-term-use-reports-of-hypomagnesaemia
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