Routine blood tests are one of the most useful tools for spotting health problems early, often before you feel unwell or notice any clear warning signs. Living in Spain, you have access to both public and private routes for getting these tests done, but the process can look quite different depending on which system you use and whether you are an expat or long‑term resident. Understanding what common tests show, how often to have them and how results are delivered makes it much easier to stay on top of your health and make informed decisions about your care.
Why routine blood tests matter
Many common conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or mild anaemia, develop slowly over time and can be present for years before causing obvious symptoms. Regular blood tests allow your doctor to pick up these issues early, when lifestyle changes and simple treatments are more likely to work well and prevent complications later on.
Blood tests are also essential for monitoring long‑term conditions and checking the safety of medicines. If you take treatments for blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid problems, autoimmune disease, mental health conditions or pain, your doctor may use blood tests to make sure your liver, kidneys and blood counts remain within safe limits while you are on these therapies.
The most common tests and what they show
A typical routine panel in Spain includes several core tests that give a broad overview of how your body is working. Your doctor may add extra markers depending on your age, health history and current symptoms.
- Full blood count (FBC): Looks at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. It can detect different types of anaemia, some infections, inflammation and certain blood disorders. If you often feel tired, short of breath or pick up frequent infections, this test is particularly important.
- Kidney function tests: Measurements such as urea, creatinine and electrolytes assess how well your kidneys filter waste and balance salts like sodium and potassium. These tests are crucial if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems or take medicines that can affect kidney function.
- Liver function tests: Enzymes and proteins such as ALT, AST, gamma‑GT and bilirubin can indicate inflammation, fatty liver, alcohol‑related damage or the effects of some medications. Even if you do not drink much alcohol, these tests can pick up changes linked to weight, diet, infections or certain drugs.
- Lipid profile: Total cholesterol, HDL (“good”) cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides help to estimate your cardiovascular risk. Combined with blood‑pressure readings, smoking status and family history, these results guide decisions about lifestyle advice and possible medication to protect your heart and blood vessels.
- Blood sugar and HbA1c: Fasting glucose and longer‑term markers such as HbA1c help detect prediabetes and diabetes. They are also used to monitor how well your blood sugar is controlled over months if you already have diabetes, which is key for reducing the risk of eye, kidney, nerve and heart complications.
- Thyroid function tests: Markers such as TSH and thyroid hormones are sometimes included to check for underactive or overactive thyroid, which can affect energy levels, weight, mood, heart rate and temperature regulation.
- Inflammation markers: Tests like ESR or CRP may be added if your doctor is looking for signs of inflammation, infection or certain autoimmune conditions, especially when symptoms are vague or long‑lasting.
How often should you have routine blood tests?
There is no single timetable that suits everyone, but some general patterns are useful as a starting point. Many healthy adults with no significant risk factors benefit from a basic blood‑test panel every one to three years, as part of a general health review or check‑up with their doctor.
From around age 50, or earlier if you have risk factors, doctors are more likely to recommend regular checks for cholesterol, blood sugar, kidney function and liver health. People with long‑term conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, autoimmune disorders or chronic kidney disease typically need more frequent testing, sometimes every few months, to ensure treatment is working and to catch changes early.
Your GP or specialist may suggest shorter intervals between tests if you have strong family history of heart disease, stroke or diabetes, if you have previously had abnormal results, or if you start or change a medicine that needs monitoring. After starting a new long‑term medication, it is common to repeat blood tests after a few months to confirm that your liver, kidneys and blood counts remain within safe ranges.
Public vs private blood tests for expats in Spain
In the public system, your family doctor (médico de cabecera) usually orders blood tests after a consultation. You are then directed to an extraction point, which might be part of your local health centre or a nearby facility, where samples are taken at an allocated time. When results are ready, they are added to your electronic record and normally discussed at a follow‑up visit or online, depending on how your local service is organised.
Public services are designed to be comprehensive and affordable, but non‑urgent tests and follow‑up appointments can involve waiting times that vary between regions. For expats who are used to different systems, or who travel frequently, coordinating appointments and results within the public network can sometimes feel slow or inconvenient, especially when language adds another layer of complexity.
With private health insurance, the basic medical pathway is similar but often more flexible. Depending on your policy, you may be able to choose from a wider range of laboratories and clinics, book appointments at times that fit your work or travel plans, and receive results more quickly. For people who need frequent monitoring, or who feel more comfortable in a private setting, this extra control over timing and location can make a noticeable difference.
Why digital access to results is so useful
For many expats, one of the biggest advantages of using private healthcare is having clear digital access to test results. If you split your time between Spain and another country, or regularly consult doctors in both systems, being able to download, store and share PDF lab reports makes coordination of care much easier and reduces the risk of lost information.
Online access also removes some of the stress around communication. Instead of waiting for letters or phone calls, you can be notified when results are available and review them when it suits you. This is especially helpful if you are still improving your Spanish, live in an area with slower postal services, or simply prefer to manage as much as possible through your phone or computer.
Having your results organised in an app or portal over time lets you see trends more clearly. Watching cholesterol, blood sugar, liver enzymes or kidney markers improve as you adjust your lifestyle or fine‑tune medication can be very motivating, and it helps you to understand how daily habits translate into measurable health changes.
Preparing for a blood test in Spain
Before a routine blood test, your doctor may give you specific instructions to make sure results are accurate. For many tests, you will be asked to fast for a certain number of hours, usually overnight, which means having nothing but water during that period. This is particularly important for tests such as fasting glucose and some cholesterol measurements.
It is sensible to bring a list of your current medicines and supplements to your appointment, including any over‑the‑counter products or herbal remedies you use regularly. Some substances can affect liver enzymes, kidney function or clotting, so your doctor needs a clear picture of what you are taking when they interpret the results.
If you feel anxious about needles or have fainted during blood tests in the past, tell the staff before the sample is taken. They can often adjust the way they position you, take extra time or suggest simple coping strategies so the experience is as calm and comfortable as possible.
Making sense of your results with your doctor
When your results are ready, it is natural to focus on numbers that are marked as “high” or “low”, but context matters. A slightly abnormal result may be insignificant for one person and more important for another, depending on age, other illnesses and overall risk profile. This is why discussing the full picture with a doctor who knows your history is so important.
During your follow‑up appointment, it can be helpful to ask which results your doctor considers most relevant for you and what targets they would like to see at the next check‑up. If a value is outside the normal range, ask whether this might be due to something temporary, such as a recent illness, dehydration or a new medication, or whether it suggests a pattern that needs closer monitoring.
If your doctor recommends lifestyle changes or medication based on the results, ask how soon they would expect to see an improvement and when it makes sense to repeat the tests. Having a clear plan helps you understand what the numbers are telling you and how your actions over the next months can influence future results.
When a private route with Sanitas can help
If you like the idea of having routine blood tests and other clinical analysis done quickly, with appointments and results managed in one place, a private insurer can simplify the process. With Sanitas, medically necessary blood tests, urine tests and many other lab studies can be arranged through your GP or specialist, carried out at partner laboratories and viewed digitally once they are ready, which is particularly convenient if you are an expat, travel frequently within Spain or want to share results easily with doctors in more than one country.
To see exactly how this works in practice, including what is covered, how referrals function and where to find your reports, read the guide Sanitas clinical analysis: lab tests, booking and results in Spain in the Sanitas Knowledge Hub.
