Check how your liver is doing, near Cardiff
A liver function blood test covering seven markers, including the ALT, ALP, AST and GGT enzymes, plus bilirubin, albumin and ferritin. A clear snapshot of how your liver is working and whether anything is putting it under strain. Results next day. Self-refer at our Penarth or Cowbridge clinics near Cardiff.
Seven markers, results next day.
What is included for £68
- ✓Blood draw at Penarth or Cowbridge, near Cardiff
- ✓7 markers across liver enzymes, proteins and iron store
- ✓The ALT, ALP, AST and GGT liver enzymes
- ✓Bilirubin, albumin and ferritin
- ✓Plain-English report with reference ranges, anything out of range flagged
- ✓Report emailed to you, easy to share with a clinician
The liver rarely complains early
The liver handles hundreds of jobs, from processing food and medicines to clearing toxins, and it can be under strain for a long time without obvious symptoms. A liver function test measures the enzymes and proteins that reveal how it is coping, so problems can be spotted and acted on early. This panel gives you the same core measures a doctor uses.
The measures that matter
The four key liver enzymes alongside bilirubin, albumin and ferritin give a rounded view of how your liver is functioning.
A report you can read
Your results come with reference ranges and plain-English notes, with anything out of range flagged so it is easy to spot.
A doctor if you want one
Prefer to talk it through? Book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will go through your results and next steps.
Worth booking if this sounds like you
A liver check is sensible for monitoring, for reassurance, or when something has prompted you to look.
This is a wellness and monitoring panel, not an emergency test. Yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe tummy pain or confusion need urgent medical care, whatever a blood test shows.
Seven markers, one sample
Everything is taken from a single blood draw and grouped into three areas. Tap a group to see what is included.
Liver enzymes 4
Proteins & pigments 2
Iron store 1
Your report lists all 7 markers with reference ranges. Ferritin reflects iron stores but can also rise with inflammation, so it is read in context.
Difficult veins? We find them with ultrasound
If you have fragile or hard-to-find veins and have had failed attempts before, our consultant radiologists can take the sample under real-time ultrasound. It is the only such service in South Wales, and patients travel to us from across Wales and the West for it.
Nobody had managed to take my blood in years without several attempts. Here it was done first time with the ultrasound. Such a relief.
Verified Google reviewFrom booking to answers, step by step
Book
Self-refer online or by phone. No GP letter needed. Same-week appointments at Penarth or Cowbridge.
Your appointment
A quick single-sample blood draw, about 10 to 15 minutes. Tell us if you have difficult veins and we will use ultrasound.
Your report
A plain-English report with all 7 markers and their reference ranges, emailed to you, usually the next day.
Talk it through
Optional: book a private GP appointment to go through your results and plan any next steps.
Liver Health blood test
All inclusive. Seven markers of liver health in a single draw.
- ✓Blood draw at Penarth or Cowbridge
- ✓All 7 markers, including the ALT, ALP, AST and GGT enzymes
- ✓Plain-English report with reference ranges, emailed to you
- ✓Ultrasound-guided draw available for difficult veins
A £50 booking deposit secures your slot and comes off the total.
Common questions about the liver function test
How much is the Liver Health test?
£68 all inclusive. That covers the blood draw, all 7 markers, and a plain-English report with reference ranges emailed to you, usually the next day. A £50 deposit secures your appointment and comes off the total.
What does the test measure?
Seven markers in three groups: the four main liver enzymes (ALT, ALP, AST and GGT), proteins and pigments (total bilirubin and albumin), and ferritin, an iron-store marker. Together these show how your liver is functioning and whether it is under strain. You can see the full list in the panel above.
Should I avoid alcohol before the test?
Yes, it is a good idea. Alcohol can raise some liver markers, GGT in particular, so we suggest avoiding it for a day or two beforehand to get the clearest picture. Fasting is not usually needed for a liver panel, though it does no harm if you are having other tests at the same time. We will confirm anything specific when you book.
What is GGT?
GGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase) is a liver enzyme that is sensitive to alcohol and to problems with the bile ducts. It is often read alongside the other enzymes: for example, a raised GGT together with a raised ALP can point in a different direction than either on its own. A doctor interprets the pattern rather than any single number.
Why is ferritin included?
Ferritin reflects the amount of iron stored in your body, and the liver is closely involved in iron handling, so it sits naturally in a liver panel. One thing to know: ferritin also rises with inflammation, so a high value is not always about iron. This is why the result is best read in context by a doctor.
My results are slightly out of range. Should I worry?
Mildly abnormal liver results are common and often have a benign explanation, such as a recent drink, a viral illness, a medication or simple fatty liver. The usual approach is not to panic but to repeat the test and look at the trend, and a doctor can advise whether anything further is needed. A single result is a snapshot, not a diagnosis.
Who might find this test useful?
People reviewing their drinking, those with a raised BMI, diabetes or high cholesterol (which raise the risk of fatty liver), anyone on long-term medication that can affect the liver, and people who simply want a baseline. If in doubt, a GP can advise whether it is right for you.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. This is a self-refer test. Book online or call 029 2199 9300.
How quickly will I get my results?
Usually the next day. Your report lists all 7 markers with their reference ranges and flags anything outside the normal range. We will confirm timing when you book.
Where is the blood taken?
At our Penarth clinic (13 Washington Buildings, CF64 2AD) or our Cowbridge clinic (10 High Street, CF71 7AG). Both are a short drive from Cardiff with easy parking.
I have difficult veins. Can you still take blood?
Yes. Our consultant radiologists can take the sample under real-time ultrasound, the only such service in South Wales. Mention it when you book so we can allow time.
Can a doctor talk me through my results?
Yes. You can book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will go through your results and next steps.
Want a doctor to go through it with you?
Liver results are most useful as a pattern, and alongside your history, medications and any previous readings. Book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will explain what your numbers mean and whether anything is worth acting on.
Book a GP appointmentTwo clinics, close to Cardiff
Penarth Clinic
13 Washington Buildings
Stanwell Road, Penarth
CF64 2AD
Mon to Thu 9:00 to 18:00
Fri 9:00 to 17:00
Sat 9:00 to 15:00
Cowbridge Clinic
Beauty Within
10 High Street, Cowbridge
CF71 7AG
By appointment. Please call for availability.
Get directionsPatients travel to us from Cardiff, Penarth, Cowbridge, Barry, Newport, Bridgend and across the Vale of Glamorgan.
Important: This panel measures the markers listed and is a wellness and monitoring screen, not a diagnosis. Liver results are best read as a pattern and alongside your wider health, and mildly abnormal values are common and often have a benign explanation. Ferritin can be raised by inflammation as well as by iron overload, and a single set of results is a snapshot rather than the full picture. Values can be affected by alcohol, diet, medication and recent illness. Results are most useful when reviewed by a doctor who knows your history, so we recommend discussing them with your own GP or booking a private GP appointment with us before acting on any finding. Lab values alone do not constitute medical advice.
Know how your liver is doing.
Self-refer for the Liver Health blood test: seven markers across liver enzymes, proteins and iron store, checked in one appointment. £68 all inclusive at Penarth or Cowbridge, near Cardiff, with results next day.