General preventive panel

The general preventive panel is a set of nine basic blood tests assessing blood count, blood sugar, blood fats and liver enzymes. It is performed as part of a regular preventive or general health check even if you have no symptoms, because elevated sugar, cholesterol or liver enzymes may cause no symptoms for a long time. All tests are performed from a single blood draw.

Who the panel is for

• adults who feel healthy and want a basic laboratory check;
• people who have not had blood tests for a long time;
• people with high blood pressure or excess body weight, and smokers;
• those with a family history of diabetes, high cholesterol, or a heart attack or stroke at a young age;
• people who regularly drink alcohol or take medicines long term;
• those changing their diet or physical activity who want to know their baseline values.

What the panel contains and shows

• Complete blood count (CBC): red and white blood cell and platelet counts and haemoglobin, together with an automated differential blood count (the proportions of different types of white blood cells). It may reveal anaemia, signs of inflammation or infection, and abnormalities requiring further investigation.
• Glucose fasting: blood sugar level, a basic test for detecting prediabetes and diabetes.
• Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides: fats in the blood, known as the lipid profile. LDL is “bad” cholesterol, which builds up in blood vessel walls, while HDL is “good” cholesterol, which carries excess cholesterol to the liver.
• AST, ALT and GGT: liver enzymes that rise when liver cells or bile ducts are under strain or damaged, for example because of fatty liver, alcohol or medicines.

How often tests should be repeated depends on age, previous results and risk factors, so agree this with your doctor. If you already have symptoms, the panel does not replace an examination: the doctor then selects tests according to your symptoms. The panel is the laboratory component of an examination; read more about comprehensive examinations on the page Comprehensive health check-ups.

Preparation and sample

Blood is taken from a vein, and a single draw is sufficient for all tests in the panel. Because of glucose and triglycerides, attend in the morning after fasting:

• do not eat for 12 hours before the blood draw; you may drink water, but avoid coffee, juice and chewing gum;
• avoid a large, fatty meal the day before and alcohol for two days beforehand, because these raise triglycerides, while alcohol also raises GGT;
• avoid very strenuous exercise for two days beforehand, as it may temporarily raise AST;
• take regular medicines as prescribed unless your doctor has told you otherwise, and tell the staff which medicines you take when your blood is drawn.

How results are interpreted

Each result is accompanied by a reference interval, which depends on the method and, for some tests, age and sex. A value slightly outside the interval does not necessarily mean disease. Your doctor interprets the results, considering your age, blood pressure, body weight, medicines and family history.

• Glucose: a fasting value of 7,0 mmol/L or above, confirmed by a repeat measurement, is one of the criteria for diabetes. Slightly raised values below this threshold may indicate prediabetes, so the doctor usually requests HbA1c or glucose tolerance test.
• Blood fats: there is no single “good” value for everyone. The target LDL cholesterol depends on overall cardiovascular risk: the greater the risk, the lower the target. The doctor assesses risk according to age, sex, blood pressure, smoking and diabetes.
• Liver enzymes: slightly elevated ALT, AST or GGT most commonly accompanies fatty liver, alcohol, medicines or recent strenuous activity. If a repeat test confirms the elevation, the doctor investigates the cause with additional tests.
• CBC: shows the number and size of blood cells and the proportions of different types of white blood cells, but not the cause of an abnormality. Low haemoglobin, for example, calls for checking iron stores.

General or extended preventive panel

The general panel does not include kidney function tests, electrolytes, uric acid or erythrocyte sedimentation rate. These are included in the Extended preventive panel: alongside all tests in the general panel, it includes sodium, chloride, urea, urate (uric acid), creatinine and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The extended panel makes sense if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, regularly take medicines or have had gout. Thyroid tests, urine tests and iron stores are not part of either panel and are performed separately.

How to arrange testing

You can come for blood collection without an appointment or referral at one of our branches throughout Croatia (listed on the Contactpage). Prices for all tests and panels are listed in the service price list.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to fast?

Yes. Cholesterol can now be measured without fasting, but glucose is interpreted as a fasting value, and triglycerides are higher after a meal. For this panel, therefore, drink only water for 12 hours before your blood draw.

Is a preventive panel the same as a general health check?

No. The panel includes only laboratory blood tests. In addition to laboratory tests, a general health check usually includes a medical examination and other tests, depending on age and sex.

Does the panel detect thyroid disease or cancer?

No. Thyroid assessment requires TSH, which is not part of the panel. The panel tests are not intended to detect cancer, and normal results do not rule it out. If you have unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue or other symptoms, see your doctor.

What if only one result is slightly outside the limits?

This is common and usually of little significance, particularly for liver enzymes and triglycerides after alcohol, a fatty meal or strenuous activity. Show the results to your doctor, who will assess whether a test should be repeated or additional tests performed.