Order an anemia blood test and check your levels

Symptoms like persistent tiredness, shortness of breath or pale skin can be linked to anemia, but on their own they say little. An anemia blood test gives you concrete measured values to put those symptoms into context.

By looking at hemoglobin, your iron values and vitamin B12 together, you get a broader view of your red blood cells than a single hemoglobin test provides. It remains a snapshot rather than a diagnosis, but it is a solid first step towards seeing where you stand.

This anemia blood test may be relevant for men who:

• experience persistent fatigue or reduced exercise performance
• follow a diet that may be low in iron or B12
• want to record a baseline of their iron stores and blood cell values
• notice unexplained shortness of breath or pale skin and want to check what is going on

This test measures seven biomarkers in your blood:

• Complete blood count (CBC): a broad overview of your red and white blood cells and platelets.
• Hemoglobin (mmol/l): the oxygen-carrying protein in your red blood cells.
• Iron (umol/l): the amount of iron circulating in your blood.
• Ferritin (ug/l): reflects your iron storage in the body.
• Transferrin (g/L): the protein that transports iron through your bloodstream.
• Transferrin saturation (%): the percentage of transferrin that is loaded with iron.
• Vitamin B12 (pmol/l, ref: 145-569): involved in the production of red blood cells.

You can read more about individual markers on the pages about hemoglobin and ferritin.

Individually, each marker tells part of the story; together they give more context. Low ferritin with low hemoglobin could, for example, be associated with iron-deficiency anemia, while normal iron with low B12 might point in a different direction.

Transferrin saturation can help distinguish between different forms of iron imbalance. By looking at these markers as a group, you get context that a single test cannot provide. It is about patterns, not a ready-made conclusion.

Blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are 700+ locations across the Netherlands, which you choose yourself after ordering.

This is a blood test without a referral: you do not need to see your GP first. You pick a location and time yourself, and the draw usually takes around 10 to 15 minutes and is done by trained staff.

This test can be useful when you notice ongoing tiredness, difficulty concentrating or reduced stamina during workouts, or when you simply want to rule anemia out as a factor.

It can also be relevant after changes to your diet or periods of intense training. If you only want to look at your iron, the smaller iron studies panel may be enough. This anemia blood test adds your hemoglobin, blood count and B12 on top of that.

Your results show, for each marker, whether it falls within, above or below the reference range. A value outside the expected range may point to an imbalance worth exploring further.

For instance, low hemoglobin together with low iron and ferritin could be associated with iron-deficiency anemia. What counts as a healthy value varies by lab and person, so numbers alone say little. A doctor can review your result in the context of your full situation.

For this test you are asked to come fasted. Avoid iron supplements for at least 24 hours before the blood draw, as they can temporarily affect your values.

If you are unsure whether something could influence your result, such as medication, check with your doctor.

Your results are available online within a few working days in your personal dashboard. You receive a clear report showing each marker alongside its reference range.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.