Blood tests are often only considered when something feels unusual, but this approach is backward. Routine blood work aims to detect potential issues early, before they develop into serious problems.
Your body’s needs and risks change as you age, whether you’re in your 20s or almost 70. So do the kinds of tests you should be getting and how often.
This article explains why it’s important at every stage of life, what to check, and when to get tested.
Table of Contents
Why Blood Tests Matter (Even When You Feel Fine)
Blood work aids in early detection. It allows you to see how your lifestyle is influencing your long-term health, how your hormones are tracking, and how your organs are functioning.
Silent problems can include inflammation, vitamin deficiencies, high cholesterol, prediabetes, and hormone imbalances. If you catch them early, you can take action before the damage is done.
One of the simplest strategies to prevent chronic illness is to have routine blood tests.
In Your 20s and 30s
You may not see the need for routine blood work because you are young and generally healthy. However, now is the ideal moment to obtain a baseline.
Things to check:
- Full blood count (FBC): a test for infection or anaemia
- Liver and kidney function
- Vitamin D, B12, iron – deficiencies are common even in young people
- Thyroid function, particularly in women (TSH, T3, T4)
- Lipid panel – cholesterol and triglycerides
- Fasting glucose and insulin – early signs of insulin resistance
How often:
- Every 2–3 years if healthy and low-risk
- More frequently if you have health objectives, family history, or symptoms (e.g., fatigue, hormonal issues, or planning pregnancy).
Additionally, if you’ve had new partners, now is a good time to get tested for STIs.
In Your 40s
Early indicators of chronic conditions frequently appear at this time. Small changes in blood work can indicate more serious problems down the road, even if you feel fine.
What to test:
- Everything from your 20s and 30s
- HbA1c to assess long-term blood sugar
- CRP and indicators of inflammation
- Hormone panels (testosterone, oestrogen, TSH, LH, FSH, SHBG)
- ApoB and lipoprotein (a) for elevated heart risk
How often:
- Annually for most people
- 3-6 months, If you have a family history of diabetes or heart disease, mood swings, sleep problems, or weight gain.
At this point, the value of preventative screening begins to outweigh that of reactive testing.
In Your 50s and 60s
As people age, risk factors rise dramatically. When detected too late, conditions like kidney disease, cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes have more serious consequences.
What needs to be tested:
- Continue annual checks of all the above
- Add:
- PSA for male prostate risk
- Iron studies for internal bleeding risk
- Calcium or bone indicators for osteoporosis
- Cancer markers if clinically indicated
- Kidney filtration (eGFR, creatinine)
- PSA for male prostate risk
How often:
- Once every 12 months, or more frequently based on chronic conditions, medication use, or results that are flagged.
Hormonal monitoring is beneficial to both men and women, particularly during the menopause or andropause.
In Your 70s and Beyond
Your general practitioner ought to be evaluating your entire health status once a year by now. Blood work is used to monitor risks such as frailty or cognitive decline, manage current conditions, and assess the effects of medications.
Things to check:
- All of the above, with additional focus on:
- Kidney and liver monitoring
- Nutritional indicators (vitamin B12, folate, albumin)
- Inflammation and cardiovascular risk
- Thyroid and testosterone
- Blood clotting function if on medication
- Kidney and liver monitoring
How often:
- Usually more frequently for the management of chronic conditions, but at least once a year
The goal here is to maintain quality of life and reduce avoidable hospital visits.
When to Test More Often (At Any Age)
You may need more frequent blood test if:
- You’re starting new medication
- You are tired, losing your hair, have brain fog or mood swings.
- You have a chronic illness—thyroid disease, PCOS, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
- You are striving for performance, fertility, or fitness.
- You have past abnormal test findings.
Final Word
Blood work helps identify potential problems and guide correction.
Knowing what to test and when will help you avoid blind spots, spot trends before they become problems, and make wiser medical decisions.
Blood work remains one of the most readily available, basic, affordable and potent health tools we possess in our arsenal of health care.
References
- Middle Park Health – How Often Should You Get Blood Work Done?
https://middleparkhealth.org/how-often-bloodwork/ - Comprehensive Primary Care – How Often Do I Need Routine Blood Work?
https://comprehensiveprimarycare.com/how-often-do-i-need-routine-blood-work/ - Australian Department of Health – National Preventive Health Strategy
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-preventive-health-strategy-2021-2030 - National Health Service (UK) – Health Checks and Screening
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/ - Heart Foundation – What is a Heart Health Check
https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/heart-health-check-toolkit/what-is-a-heart-health-check - Diabetes Australia – Screening and Prevention
https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/prevention/