Medically reviewed by Dr. Farhana Mukhtar, M.B.B.S., M.Phil (Pb.), Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre. Updated September 2026.
Quick answer: A useful full body checkup covers five areas: blood count, blood sugar, kidney function, liver function and lipid profile, usually with a urine test and thyroid screen. It requires 8 to 12 hours of fasting and most reports are available the same day. What else you need depends on your age, sex and risk factors, not on the size of the package.
Book a health checkup: call 0300 0341944, or arrange home sample collection across Lahore on 0309 1166944.
What should a full body checkup include?
| Test | What it checks | Why it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Blood Count | Anaemia, infection, platelet problems | Anaemia is very common, especially in women |
| Fasting sugar and HbA1c | Diabetes and prediabetes | Pakistan has one of the highest diabetes rates in the world |
| Kidney Function Test | Creatinine, urea, eGFR, electrolytes | Kidney damage is silent until advanced |
| Liver Function Test | ALT, AST, bilirubin, proteins | Fatty liver and hepatitis are widespread |
| Lipid Profile | Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides | Heart disease is the leading cause of death |
| Urine Routine Examination | Infection, protein, glucose | Picks up early kidney damage and silent infection |
| Thyroid Profile | TSH, T3, T4 | Thyroid disorders are common and often missed |
| Vitamin D and B12 | Two very common deficiencies | Explain fatigue, body aches and poor concentration |
What should be added at different ages?
A checkup is only worth doing if it is matched to you. Broadly:
- Twenties and thirties: the core panel above, plus hepatitis B and C screening at least once, and iron studies for women with heavy periods
- Forties: add an ECG and consider an ultrasound of the abdomen. Blood pressure recorded properly at every visit
- Fifties and beyond, men: add PSA after discussing it with your doctor, and consider a cardiac assessment
- Fifties and beyond, women: add mammography and a bone density scan, since osteoporosis risk rises sharply after menopause
- Anyone with diabetes: annual kidney function, urine protein, lipids, eye examination and foot check regardless of age
How to read a health package honestly
A larger package is not automatically a better one. Two things are worth knowing.
First, more tests produce more borderline results. Reference ranges are set so that a small percentage of perfectly healthy people fall outside them. Order enough unnecessary tests and something will come back mildly abnormal, leading to worry and further testing for no benefit.
Second, the valuable tests are mostly the boring ones. Blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and kidney function detect conditions that are common, silent and treatable. That is what makes a screening test worth doing.
A good checkup is targeted to your age, sex, family history and symptoms. If a package contains tests nobody can explain the purpose of, that is a fair question to ask.
How to prepare
- Fast for 8 to 12 hours. Plain water is allowed and helps. Do not fast longer, as very prolonged fasting distorts sugar and lipid results
- Come in the morning where possible, since some hormones vary through the day
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours and heavy exercise the evening before
- Bring a list of your medicines, including supplements. Iron and B12 tablets in particular affect results
- Bring previous reports if you have them. A trend over time is far more informative than a single snapshot
- Ask about the morning dose of any regular medicine before you fast
How often should you have one?
For a healthy adult without risk factors, once a year is reasonable from around the mid thirties, and every two to three years before that unless something prompts it sooner.
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, a strong family history or take long term medication, your doctor will usually want more frequent and more specific monitoring rather than a repeated generic panel.
Health checkups at Al-Nasar Lab
Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre has provided laboratory and imaging services in Lahore since 1996 and holds ISO 15189:2022 accreditation from the Pakistan National Accreditation Council. Our Johar Town campus offers laboratory testing, ultrasound, X-ray, CT, MRI, ECG and bone density under one roof, so a checkup that needs imaging can usually be completed in a single visit.
Home sample collection is available across Lahore for the blood and urine portion, and reports are delivered digitally, most on the same day.
Find your nearest collection centre, browse our full test list, or contact us to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to fast for a full body checkup?
Yes, 8 to 12 hours for the standard panel, because blood sugar and lipid results depend on it. Plain water is allowed.
How long do the reports take?
Most routine tests are reported the same day. A few specialised tests take longer, and cultures need 24 to 48 hours.
At what age should I start annual checkups?
Around the mid thirties for most people, and earlier if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or a strong family history.
Is a bigger package always better?
No. Extra tests with no clear purpose produce borderline results that cause worry without improving health. A panel matched to your age and risk factors is more useful than a long list.
Can the sample be collected at home?
Yes, blood and urine samples can be collected at home across Lahore. Tests needing equipment, such as ECG, ultrasound or bone density, require a visit to the centre.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please discuss your results with a qualified doctor.
