Medically reviewed by Dr. Chorphut Lorchutnopphakhun (Dr. Neem), General Practitioner, HealthDeliver.
A standard blood test in Bangkok checks five things: your blood count, blood sugar, cholesterol, liver and kidney function. Most panels need an 8–12 hour fast with plain water only, and results usually come back within one to two days. The numbers matter more than many people expect: the IDF Diabetes Atlas estimates that one in three Thai adults with diabetes has not been diagnosed.
This guide explains what each common panel measures, how to prepare, how to read the results, and what blood testing costs in Bangkok.
In this article
Common Blood Tests in Bangkok: What Each Health Screening Panel Checks
Most health screening starts with the same core lab tests. Your doctor adds specific tests based on age, symptoms and risk factors, such as a family history of cancer or heart disease.
Complete blood count (CBC)
A complete blood count measures red cells, white cells and platelets. It can show anaemia, infection, inflammation and some blood disorders, and it is part of almost every health check.
Blood glucose and HbA1c
A fasting blood glucose test measures sugar in your blood at that moment. HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months, so it is the better guide for spotting prediabetes and for managing diabetes.
Lipid profile
A lipid profile measures total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, HDL (“good”) cholesterol and triglyceride. Together they help estimate your risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
Liver function test (LFT)
A liver function test measures liver enzymes and proteins, including ALT, AST and albumin. Raised enzymes can point to fatty liver, alcohol-related damage, hepatitis or the effect of some medicines.
Kidney function tests and eGFR
Kidney function tests measure creatinine and use it to calculate your eGFR, an estimate of how well your kidneys filter blood. Many labs add a urine test for protein. These matter most for people with diabetes or high blood pressure.
Thyroid, vitamins and other specific tests
Thyroid tests (TSH and free T4) check for an under- or overactive thyroid. Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin explain many cases of tiredness. Tumour markers, hormone tests and women’s health panels are added only when there is a clear reason, because on their own they can give misleading results.
How to Prepare for Your Blood Test
Fast for 8–12 hours before glucose and lipid tests: no food or drinks except plain water. Water keeps you hydrated and makes the blood draw easier. Coffee, tea, juice and chewing gum all count as breaking your fast.
Book a morning appointment so most of the fast happens while you sleep. Keep taking prescribed medicines unless your doctor says otherwise, but tell them about everything you take. Biotin supplements can distort thyroid results, so stop them two days before if your doctor agrees. Avoid alcohol and hard exercise for 24 hours prior.
How to Read Your Blood Test Results
Each result is printed next to a reference range, the values seen in most healthy adults. An H or L flag means your result sits above or below that range. A result just outside the range is common and is not automatically a problem; your doctor reads it alongside your age, medicines and previous results.
These thresholds, in the mg/dL units Thai labs use, are the ones doctors watch most closely:
| Test | Normal | Needs attention |
|---|---|---|
Fasting blood glucose | Under 100 mg/dL | 100–125 prediabetes; 126+ diabetes |
HbA1c | Under 5.7% | 5.7–6.4% prediabetes; 6.5%+ diabetes |
LDL cholesterol | Under 100 mg/dL | 160+ high |
Triglyceride | Under 150 mg/dL | 200+ high |
eGFR | 90 or above | Under 60 for 3+ months suggests kidney disease |
Glucose and HbA1c thresholds follow the American Diabetes Association, LDL and triglyceride the US National Cholesterol Education Program (ATP III), and eGFR the KDIGO 2024 kidney guideline. Your LDL target may be lower if you have diabetes or heart disease.
What to do if a result is outside the range
One abnormal result usually means a repeat test, not a diagnosis. Patterns matter more than single numbers: a glucose that creeps up each year tells your doctor more than one reading. That is why keeping your results together, and comparing them over time, is worth more than any single check-up.
Who Should Get a Health Check-Up, and How Often?
Blood testing is preventive care: it finds problems while they are still silent and easier to treat. How often you need it depends on age, weight and family history.
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adults aged 35 to 70 who are overweight for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, and notes that a lower BMI cut-off of 23 may suit Asian adults. Individuals with a family history of heart disease, diabetes or kidney disease, and anyone with a chronic disease, usually need checks at least once a year. For healthy younger adults, a baseline panel followed by periodic wellness checkups is reasonable.
Blood Test Cost in Bangkok: Hospital, Laboratory or Clinic?
In Bangkok you can get blood tests at three kinds of place, and each suits a different need.
Private hospitals such as Bumrungrad International Hospital and Bangkok Hospital offer comprehensive health check-up packages, often based on age and sex, with imaging and specialist review in one visit. They are the right choice if you want everything in a single morning, but they are also the most expensive.
Standalone laboratories offer the lowest prices per test. Published Bangkok clinic price lists show single tests from about ฿200 to ฿1,000: a CBC around ฿250, fasting glucose ฿200 and HbA1c ฿800. The catch is that a lab gives you numbers, not an explanation.
Clinics sit in between: a full range of lab tests, a doctor to order the right ones and explain the results, and shorter waits than a hospital. Expect to pay for the consultation on top of the tests.
Blood Testing at HealthDeliver: Clinic in Bangkok Near BTS, Plus Home Blood Collection
HealthDeliver offers blood testing at three clinics in central Bangkok, each near a BTS station:
- Asok, BTS Asok / MRT Sukhumvit
- Sathorn, BTS Chong Nonsi
- Phrom Phong, BTS Phrom Phong, serving Thonglor and Ekkamai
Home blood collection is also available anywhere in Bangkok: a nurse comes to your home, hotel or office with sterile equipment.
Here is how it works:
- A doctor reviews your health status and history and chooses the tests you need.
- A nurse takes your blood in-clinic or at home.
- You receive your results in a doctor-reviewed report that compares them with your previous tests.
- A doctor explains the results and agrees next steps, from lifestyle changes to treatment or referral.
Consultation fee: ฿500.
Conclusion on Blood Tests in Bangkok
A blood test is one of the simplest ways to catch problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol or early kidney disease before they cause symptoms. Prepare properly, keep your results together, and have a doctor read them rather than relying on the flags alone. Book your blood test at your nearest HealthDeliver clinic or arrange home collection.
Frequently Asked Questions: Blood Tests in Bangkok
Here are straight answers to the questions people ask most about blood tests in Bangkok.
How much does a blood test cost in Bangkok?
Single tests at Bangkok clinics and laboratories start at about ฿200, and most cost under ฿1,000. A panel costs the sum of its tests, while hospital check-up packages cost more because they bundle imaging and specialist review. At HealthDeliver, a doctor consultation is ฿500 plus the tests.
Where can I get a full body check-up in Bangkok?
Private hospitals such as Bumrungrad International Hospital and Bangkok Hospital offer full check-up packages with imaging. For blood-based screening with a doctor’s review, clinics such as HealthDeliver in Asok, Sathorn and Phrom Phong are quicker and usually cheaper.
Is Bangkok Hospital cheaper than Bumrungrad Hospital?
Neither is consistently cheaper. Both are premium private hospitals, and their check-up package prices overlap and change with promotions. Compare packages by the tests they include, not the headline price; for blood tests alone, a clinic is usually cheaper than either.
How much do foreigners pay to see doctors in Thailand?
It depends on where you go. A GP consultation at HealthDeliver costs ฿500. Specialist and private hospital doctor fees are usually higher and vary by specialty, and many expat and travel insurance policies cover them.
About HealthDeliver
HealthDeliver is a doctor-led medical clinic with branches in Asok, Sathorn and Phrom Phong, Bangkok. Our English- and Thai-speaking doctors offer in-clinic and telehealth consultations without hospital waiting times. We provide blood testing, health check-ups and doctor-reviewed results, with home collection across Bangkok.
Sources
- International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas: Thailand country report, 2024 estimates
- American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis: A1C and fasting plasma glucose thresholds
- US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. ATP III Guidelines At-A-Glance: LDL and triglyceride classification
- KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney International, 2024
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes, 2021
- BLEZ Clinic. Laboratory tests and price list in Bangkok (published single-test prices)