At Glasgow's latitude, the skin produces virtually no vitamin D from October to March. Then there's iron — a deficiency in this parameter often begins many months before anaemia shows up on a full blood count.
Symptoms to Get Checked, Not Just Wait Out
Chronic fatigue, feeling sleepy even after a full night's rest, hair loss, brittle nails, muscle and bone pain, frequent infections, low mood in winter, and shortness of breath during exercise — this is a typical set of symptoms for vitamin D or iron deficiency.
The symptoms of these two deficiencies are almost identical, which is why it's a good idea to check both parameters at the same time.
Which Parameters Matter
When it comes to iron, ferritin — your body's iron store — is the key parameter. 'Serum iron' alone fluctuates throughout the day and can be misleading. A full blood count (MCV, RDW), transferrin, and CRP are good complementary tests, as inflammation can artificially raise ferritin levels.
For vitamin D, the standard test is 25(OH)D. Results below 30 ng/ml are very common in the Scottish population, especially in winter.
- Ferritin + full blood count — your true iron stores
- 25(OH)D — vitamin D status
- B12 and folic acid — a common co-existing deficiency
- CRP — inflammatory context for ferritin interpretation
Price and Availability
Individual biomarkers start from £39 — you can have your vitamin D and ferritin tested during a single visit. A mandatory appointment fee of £25 is added to every visit, covering the blood draw, sample handling, and shipping to the laboratory.
If you want a broader picture, consider our premium packages or panels from our test catalogue.
When to Re-test
After starting iron supplementation, a follow-up ferritin test is usually done after 8–12 weeks. For vitamin D, it's about 3 months. The best time for a screening test in Scotland is February–March, at the end of the low-sunlight season.
Book your blood draw via our booking system or get in touch through our contact page.
