Digestive health
Bloating Blood Test UK: 10 Biomarkers That Reveal What's Really Going On
Reviewed by a qualified clinician · analysed at UKAS-accredited UK labs (ISO 15189)
Last reviewed April 2026
Every Helvy guide is written by our health editors, then checked by a qualified clinician before it goes live and re-checked as the science moves. We name clinical roles, not individuals, until each reviewer has agreed to be credited publicly. This is wellness guidance to help you understand your own data, not a diagnosis.
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Bloating is a symptom, not a diagnosis. A standard NHS work-up covers a full blood count and coeliac screen, but ten markers are commonly abnormal: tTG-IgA, TSH, ferritin, hs-CRP, ALT, vitamin D, B12 and folate. Persistent bloating in women over 50 is a red flag for ovarian cancer and needs urgent GP review.
Your stomach swells after every meal. You undo the top button of your jeans by 2pm. You've tried cutting out gluten, dairy, and FODMAPs — and you're still bloated. So you Google “bloating blood test UK” and find conflicting advice about what to actually test.
Persistent bloating affects up to 16–31% of the general population, making it one of the most common gut complaints in UK primary care. Yet the standard NHS work-up for bloating usually covers a full blood count and a coeliac screen. That is two tests out of the ten that are most often abnormal in people who bloat all the time.
Bloating is not a diagnosis. It is a symptom with at least a dozen possible causes. These range from undiagnosed coeliac disease and subclinical hypothyroidism to iron malabsorption, low-grade gut inflammation, and liver problems. Each one leaves a specific fingerprint in blood work. Testing for all of them at once is the fastest way to move from “maybe it's IBS” to an actual answer.
This guide covers the 10 blood markers most commonly linked to persistent bloating, five result patterns we see repeatedly in private testing, the red flags that need urgent investigation (including ovarian cancer — where bloating is a key symptom), and which panels give you the clearest answers.
Researched by Helvy. Citations from NICE, NHS, BMJ, and peer-reviewed sources.
1. Why bloating needs blood tests
The default medical approach to bloating is dietary advice: reduce FODMAPs, eat slowly, avoid trigger foods. This helps some people. But it treats bloating as a standalone problem rather than what it often is: a downstream symptom of something you can measure in blood.
Blood tests matter for bloating because several serious and treatable conditions present with bloating as a primary symptom:
- Coeliac disease — affects approximately 1 in 100 people in the UK, but up to 75% remain undiagnosed. NICE NG20 explicitly recommends coeliac screening for anyone presenting with persistent or unexplained bloating.
- Hypothyroidism— an underactive thyroid slows gut motility, causing constipation and bloating. NICE estimates thyroid disorders affect 2–5% of the UK population, with many cases subclinical and undetected.
- Iron deficiency and malabsorption— low ferritin in the absence of heavy menstrual bleeding may indicate gut damage or malabsorption, which often presents as bloating before any other symptom.
- Liver dysfunction— even mildly elevated liver enzymes can indicate impaired bile production, which directly affects fat digestion and causes post-meal bloating.
- Ovarian pathology — NICE NG12 identifies persistent bloating as one of the key symptoms of ovarian cancer that should prompt investigation in women, particularly those over 50.
- Low-grade gut inflammation— elevated hs-CRP alongside bloating may suggest inflammatory bowel disease or another inflammatory cause rather than simple IBS.
NICE guidelines on irritable bowel syndrome (CG61, updated as part of ongoing IBS guidance) recommend that GPs should test for coeliac disease and check inflammatory markers before diagnosing IBS. In practice, many patients receive an IBS label without the full complement of tests that would either confirm or rule out these underlying causes.
“Sometimes, bloating that does not go away can be a sign of something more serious such as ovarian cancer.”
— NHS, Bloating
2. The 10 bloating biomarkers
These are the markers most commonly abnormal in patients presenting with persistent bloating. Each maps to a specific mechanism — autoimmune gut damage, hormonal gut dysmotility, malabsorption, inflammation, or hepatobiliary dysfunction.
| Biomarker | What it reveals about bloating | NHS range | Optimal range | Grey zone meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tTG-IgA | Coeliac disease screen — autoimmune gut damage | <7 U/mL (negative) | <7 U/mL | 7–10 U/mL: weak positive, may need repeat or biopsy referral |
| TSH | Thyroid function — hypothyroidism slows gut transit | 0.27–4.2 mIU/L | 0.5–2.5 mIU/L | 2.5–4.2: subclinical hypothyroidism zone where gut symptoms may already be present |
| Free T4 | Thyroid hormone availability — confirms TSH picture | 12–22 pmol/L | 14–18 pmol/L | 12–14 with TSH >2.5: early thyroid insufficiency |
| Ferritin | Iron stores — low ferritin = possible malabsorption | 15–300 µg/L (F: 15–200) | >50 µg/L | 15–50: functional iron deficiency with symptoms despite “normal” result |
| hs-CRP | Systemic inflammation — elevated in IBD, gut inflammation | <5 mg/L | <1 mg/L | 1–3: low-grade inflammation; >3 warrants investigation |
| ALT | Liver enzyme — bile flow and fat digestion | <40 IU/L | <25 IU/L | 25–40: may indicate fatty liver or impaired bile production |
| FBC (Hb + MCV) | Anaemia patterns — microcytic = iron; macrocytic = B12/folate | Hb: 120–150 g/L (F), 130–170 (M); MCV: 80–100 fL | Hb: mid-range; MCV: 82–95 fL | Low Hb with low MCV suggests iron-deficiency anaemia from malabsorption |
| Vitamin D | Immune regulation — deficiency linked to IBS severity | >25 nmol/L | 75–125 nmol/L | 25–50: insufficient; associated with worse GI symptoms |
| Vitamin B12 | Malabsorption marker — low in coeliac, Crohn's, atrophic gastritis | 200–900 ng/L | >500 ng/L | 200–400: functional deficiency zone with neurological and GI symptoms |
| Folate | Malabsorption completeness — absorbed in proximal small bowel | >3.0 µg/L | >10 µg/L | 3–7: borderline; combined with low B12 strongly suggests malabsorption |
No single marker tells the full story. The diagnostic power lies in the pattern— which is why testing all ten simultaneously gives you answers that serial GP appointments, each testing one or two markers at a time, take months to assemble.
3. What the NHS tests vs what you need
When you see your GP for persistent bloating, you'll typically get two to three tests ordered. Here is how that compares to the full picture.
| Biomarker | NHS bloating workup | Helvy General Energy & Wellness panel |
|---|---|---|
| tTG-IgA (coeliac) | Usually tested | Not in this panel — ask your GP |
| FBC | Usually tested | Not in this panel — ask your GP |
| TSH | Sometimes (if requested) | Included |
| Free T4 | Only if TSH abnormal | Included |
| Ferritin | Sometimes | Not in this panel — ask your GP |
| CRP (inflammation) | Rarely | Included |
| ALT | Rarely for bloating | Not in this panel — ask your GP |
| Vitamin D | Rarely | Included |
| Vitamin B12 | Only if macrocytic anaemia | Included |
| Folate | Only if macrocytic anaemia | Not in this panel — ask your GP |
The NHS coeliac screen and full blood count cover the two highest-priority bloating tests, and you should always start there. Helvy's General Energy & Wellness panel complements that NHS work-up: it adds the thyroid picture (TSH and Free T4 together), inflammation (CRP), and the vitamin D and B12 status that the NHS rarely checks for bloating — markers your GP often will not order in a single appointment. It is not a coeliac, ferritin, ALT or folate test, so those stay with your GP. The aim is a fuller picture, not a replacement for the NHS pathway.
4. Five bloating result patterns
Individual markers tell you something. Patterns tell you everything. These are the five combinations we see most frequently in people presenting with persistent bloating.
Pattern 1: The silent coeliac
Markers:Positive or borderline tTG-IgA + low ferritin (<30 µg/L) + low B12 (<400 ng/L) + low-normal MCV
What it suggests: Autoimmune damage to the small intestinal villi is impairing nutrient absorption. The ferritin and B12 deficiency pattern is the fingerprint of proximal small bowel damage. Many people with this pattern have been bloating for years without a coeliac diagnosis.
Next step: GP referral for duodenal biopsy (the gold standard for coeliac diagnosis per NICE NG20). You must continue eating gluten until biopsy is complete.
Pattern 2: The sluggish thyroid bloater
Markers:TSH >3.0 mIU/L + FT4 in the lower third of range (<15 pmol/L) + constipation-dominant bloating
What it suggests:Subclinical hypothyroidism is slowing gut motility. The thyroid controls the migrating motor complex (MMC) — the “housekeeper” wave that sweeps bacteria and food debris through the small bowel between meals. When thyroid output drops, MMC frequency drops, bacteria accumulate, and bloating follows.
Next step: GP referral for thyroid antibody testing (anti-TPO) per NICE NG145. If antibodies are positive and TSH >4.0, discuss levothyroxine trial.
Pattern 3: The depleted absorber
Markers:Low ferritin + low B12 + low folate + low vitamin D — all with normal tTG-IgA
What it suggests: Widespread malabsorption without coeliac disease. This pattern may point to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), chronic proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, or atrophic gastritis. The combination of multiple nutrient deficiencies with a negative coeliac screen is itself diagnostically significant.
Next step: GP discussion about possible SIBO testing (hydrogen/methane breath test), PPI review, and intrinsic factor antibodies to exclude pernicious anaemia. Supplement identified deficiencies while investigating the cause.
Pattern 4: The inflammatory gut
Markers:hs-CRP >3 mg/L + raised ALT + low-normal ferritin + normal tTG-IgA
What it suggests:Active inflammation that may involve the gut, liver, or both. Elevated hs-CRP in the context of bloating raises the possibility of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's or ulcerative colitis), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affecting bile production, or another inflammatory process. This is not a pattern consistent with simple IBS, which is characterised by normal inflammatory markers.
Next step: GP referral for faecal calprotectin (the first-line test for distinguishing IBD from IBS, per NICE DG11). Liver ultrasound if ALT is persistently elevated.
Pattern 5: The compound picture
Markers:Multiple mild abnormalities — TSH at 3.2, ferritin at 25, vitamin D at 35, hs-CRP at 2.5 — none flagged as abnormal by the lab, all suboptimal
What it suggests:No single dramatic abnormality, but a cumulative burden of mildly impaired thyroid function, borderline iron stores, vitamin D insufficiency, and low-grade inflammation. Each one individually would be dismissed as “within normal range”. Together, they create a measurable drag on gut motility, immune regulation, and digestive capacity.
Next step: This is where optimal ranges matter. Address each suboptimal marker with targeted supplementation and lifestyle changes. Retest at 90 days. Many people with this compound pattern see significant improvement once all markers are moved into optimal ranges.
5. Coeliac disease: the silent cause
Coeliac disease deserves its own section because it is one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in the UK. About 1 in 100 people have coeliac disease, but studies suggest only around 25–30% are diagnosed. The average time from first symptom to diagnosis in the UK is about 13 years.
Why tTG-IgA is the right first test
Tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTG-IgA) is recommended by NICE NG20 as the first-line serological test for coeliac disease. It picks up about 95% of true cases and correctly clears about 95% of people who do not have it. That makes it one of the most accurate blood-based screening tests in medicine.
The gluten caveat
tTG-IgA only works if you are currently eating gluten. NICE NG20 recommends consuming gluten in more than one meal per day for at least six weeks before testing. If you have already gone gluten-free, the test may return a false negative. This is one of the most common reasons for missed coeliac diagnoses — people cut out gluten, feel somewhat better, and then test negative when they finally get a blood test.
The IgA deficiency caveat
About 2–3% of people with coeliac disease have selective IgA deficiency. That means their tTG-IgA will be falsely negative whatever their gluten intake. NICE NG20 recommends checking total IgA alongside tTG-IgA. If total IgA is low, an IgG-based test (such as deamidated gliadin peptide IgG) should be used instead.
The bloating connection
In coeliac disease, the immune system attacks the villi of the small intestine in response to gluten ingestion. This villous atrophy reduces the absorptive surface area of the gut, causing malabsorption of iron, B12, folate, and vitamin D. Undigested food fragments pass into the large bowel, where bacterial fermentation produces gas — causing the bloating. The malabsorption also explains why many people with undiagnosed coeliac disease are fatigued, anaemic, and vitamin D deficient alongside their bloating.
6. Thyroid and gut motility
The link between thyroid function and bloating is well established but often overlooked. Thyroid hormones directly regulate gut motility through their effect on the enteric nervous system, the “second brain” that controls intestinal peristalsis.
How hypothyroidism causes bloating
When thyroid hormone output falls, three things happen in the gut:
- Reduced peristalsis— food moves more slowly through the intestines, increasing fermentation time and gas production
- Impaired migrating motor complex— the MMC is the wave-like contraction that sweeps the small bowel clean between meals, roughly every 90 minutes. In hypothyroidism, MMC frequency drops, allowing bacteria to accumulate in the small intestine (a mechanism linked to SIBO)
- Constipation— slower colonic transit leads to constipation, which further compounds abdominal distension and bloating
The subclinical problem
The challenge is that gut symptoms often appear in the subclinical zone — where TSH is between 2.5 and 4.2 mIU/L and technically “within range”. At this level, most GPs will not investigate further, but the patient may already have measurably slower gut transit. NICE NG145 recommends monitoring patients with TSH above the reference range and considering treatment if symptomatic.
The coeliac-thyroid overlap
Coeliac disease and autoimmune thyroid disease are strongly associated — both are autoimmune conditions that share genetic susceptibility (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8). NICE NG20 specifically recommends coeliac screening for people with autoimmune thyroid disease, and vice versa. If you have abnormalities in both TSH and tTG-IgA, the overlap is not coincidental — it is the expected pattern.
7. The malabsorption picture
When multiple nutrient deficiencies appear together in someone with persistent bloating, the question is not “are you eating enough of these nutrients?” — it is “are you absorbing them?”
The key nutrients and where they are absorbed
- Iron (ferritin)— absorbed primarily in the duodenum and proximal jejunum. Low ferritin with adequate dietary intake points to duodenal damage (coeliac) or chronic blood loss.
- Vitamin B12— absorbed in the terminal ileum via intrinsic factor. Low B12 may indicate ileal disease (Crohn's), atrophic gastritis (reduced intrinsic factor), or chronic PPI use (reduced gastric acid for B12 liberation from food).
- Folate— absorbed in the proximal small bowel. Low folate alongside low B12 suggests a broader malabsorption process affecting the entire small intestine.
- Vitamin D— a fat-soluble vitamin requiring adequate bile production for absorption. Low vitamin D alongside bloating may indicate impaired fat absorption (bile insufficiency or pancreatic insufficiency).
Why this matters for bloating
The malabsorption pattern creates a vicious cycle: damaged or dysfunctional gut mucosa cannot absorb nutrients, and the resulting deficiencies (particularly iron and B12) further impair gut epithelial repair. Meanwhile, unabsorbed nutrients pass to the colon where bacterial fermentation produces hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide — the gases that cause bloating.
A blood test showing low ferritin, low B12, low folate, and low vitamin D with persistent bloating is not simply a reason to supplement. It is a reason to investigate why absorption is failing. The supplements treat the deficiency; the investigation treats the cause.
8. Red flags: when bloating needs urgent investigation
Most bloating is not dangerous. But certain features alongside bloating should prompt urgent medical attention. See your GP within days — not weeks — if you have any of the following:
Seek urgent GP assessment if bloating is accompanied by:
- Persistent bloating in women over 50 — NICE NG12 identifies persistent bloating as a key symptom of ovarian cancer. GPs should consider CA-125 testing and pelvic ultrasound in women with persistent bloating, especially if it occurs more than 12 times per month.
- Unexplained weight loss— defined as more than 5% of body weight in 6–12 months without intentional dieting. Combined with bloating, this raises the possibility of malignancy, coeliac disease, or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Blood in the stool— whether bright red (rectal) or dark/tarry (upper GI). This requires urgent investigation to exclude colorectal cancer, IBD, or peptic ulceration.
- New onset after age 50— bloating that starts for the first time in someone over 50 warrants investigation beyond IBS, as the risk of GI malignancy increases with age.
- Persistent vomiting— may indicate gastric outlet obstruction, bowel obstruction, or other surgical pathology.
- Palpable abdominal or pelvic mass— requires imaging (usually ultrasound followed by CT) to characterise.
- Ascites (fluid in the abdomen)— progressive abdominal distension that does not fluctuate with meals or time of day. May indicate liver disease, malignancy, or heart failure.
- Iron-deficiency anaemia in men or post-menopausal women— unexplained iron deficiency in these groups should be investigated with upper and lower GI endoscopy to exclude GI malignancy, per NICE NG12.
A note on ovarian cancer and CA-125
Bloating is one of the four key symptoms of ovarian cancer identified by NICE NG12, alongside pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms. However, CA-125 is nota screening test for the general population — it can be elevated in many benign conditions including endometriosis, fibroids, and even during menstruation. It is used as part of a targeted clinical pathway when symptoms raise suspicion, not as a routine blood test for bloating.
If you are a woman experiencing persistent bloating — particularly if it is new, frequent (more than 12 times per month), and accompanied by any of the other key symptoms — please discuss this with your GP. Early detection of ovarian cancer significantly improves outcomes.
9. Evidence-based management
Once your results are back, the next step depends on the specific findings. Here is what the evidence supports for each common abnormality.
| Finding | Action | Timeline | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positive tTG-IgA | GP referral for duodenal biopsy while continuing to eat gluten. Do not start a gluten-free diet until diagnosis confirmed | Biopsy within 6 weeks of referral | NICE NG20 |
| TSH >4.0 + low FT4 | GP referral for thyroid antibody testing (anti-TPO). Levothyroxine if confirmed hypothyroidism | 4–8 weeks for levothyroxine to improve gut symptoms | NICE NG145 |
| Ferritin <30 µg/L | Iron supplementation (ferrous fumarate 210mg, taken with vitamin C, away from tea/coffee). Investigate cause of deficiency | 6–8 weeks to restore; 3 months to stabilise | NHS CKS |
| hs-CRP >3 mg/L | GP referral for faecal calprotectin to distinguish IBD from IBS. Anti-inflammatory dietary pattern while investigating | Calprotectin result within 2 weeks; dietary CRP reduction in 6–12 weeks | NICE DG11 |
| ALT >40 IU/L | GP review for liver investigation. Reduce alcohol, review medications. Liver ultrasound if persistently elevated | Recheck at 3 months; ultrasound if still elevated | NICE NG49 |
| Low Hb + low MCV | Iron-deficiency anaemia pattern. Investigate cause: coeliac screen, menstrual history, GI referral if unexplained | GP review within 2 weeks | NICE NG12 |
| Vitamin D <50 nmol/L | Loading dose: 4,000 IU/day for 8–12 weeks, then maintenance 1,000–2,000 IU/day | 8–12 weeks for repletion | SACN 2016 |
| B12 <400 ng/L | Sublingual B12 1,000 µg daily. If very low (<200), GP referral for IM injections and intrinsic factor antibody test | 4–8 weeks for symptom improvement | NICE CKS |
| Low folate | Folic acid 5mg daily for 4 months, or increase dietary intake (leafy greens, legumes). Check B12 first — folate supplementation can mask B12 deficiency | 4–8 weeks | NHS |
Most people with persistent bloating have 2–3 concurrent findings. Start with the most clinically significant abnormality (positive coeliac screen, overt hypothyroidism, raised inflammatory markers) and address nutritional deficiencies in parallel. Retest at 90 days to track progress.
10. GP vs Helvy: what you get
| Feature | NHS GP | Helvy |
|---|---|---|
| Markers in the panel | 2–3 (FBC, coeliac screen, sometimes TSH) | 17 across the General Energy & Wellness panel |
| Coeliac screen | Usually included (per NICE guidelines) | Not in this panel — keep with your GP |
| Thyroid function | TSH only; FT4 only if TSH abnormal | TSH + Free T4 together |
| Vitamin status (B12, vitamin D) | Rarely tested unless anaemia flagged | B12 and vitamin D included (folate stays with your GP) |
| Inflammatory markers | CRP or ESR sometimes | CRP included |
| Turnaround | 1–3 weeks (appointment + lab + results review) | 2–5 working days from sample receipt |
| Results format | Normal/abnormal flag, brief comment | Full report with ranges, context, and cross-marker analysis |
| Optimal ranges | NHS reference ranges only | NHS + optimal ranges for symptom resolution |
| Cost | Free (tax-funded) | £149 (General Energy & Wellness panel) |
| Follow-up pathway | Re-book if abnormal; serial testing over months | Results in one go; take to GP for targeted follow-up |
The NHS is the right first step for bloating — particularly for the coeliac screen and to rule out red flag pathology. Private testing is most valuable when your GP bloods come back “normal” but you're still bloating, or when you want a comprehensive investigation in a single test rather than multiple GP appointments spaced weeks apart.
11. Which Helvy panel to choose
No single Helvy panel covers every bloating marker, and no honest guide should claim otherwise. The coeliac screen and full blood count belong with your GP. What our panel adds is the thyroid, inflammation and vitamin picture the NHS rarely checks for bloating, in one finger-prick test:
General Energy & Wellness panel — £149
Covers the thyroid markers (TSH and Free T4 together), inflammation (CRP), and vitamin D and vitamin B12 — 5 of the 10 bloating markers. That screens for thyroid dysfunction, low-grade inflammation, and the vitamin D and B12 deficiencies linked to gut symptoms. It does not include the coeliac screen (tTG-IgA), full blood count, ferritin, ALT or folate — for those, ask your GP, who can usually order them on the NHS for persistent bloating.
Total cost:£149. The most efficient route for most people is to ask their GP for the coeliac screen and full blood count, then use this panel to fill in the thyroid, inflammation and vitamin markers the NHS rarely checks — rather than waiting months for separate GP appointments to assemble the same picture.
12. Frequently asked questions
What blood test should I ask for if I have bloating?
At minimum, ask for a coeliac screen (tTG-IgA), full blood count, TSH, and ferritin. These four tests cover the most common treatable causes. If you want a more comprehensive investigation, add hs-CRP (inflammation), ALT (liver), vitamin D, B12, and folate. Most GPs will readily order the coeliac screen and FBC for persistent bloating — you may need to specifically request the others.
Can a blood test diagnose IBS?
No — IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it is diagnosed when other conditions have been ruled out. Blood tests help by ruling out coeliac disease, thyroid dysfunction, inflammatory bowel disease, and other conditions that mimic IBS. NICE guidelines recommend that GPs should test for coeliac disease and check inflammatory markers before making an IBS diagnosis.
Should I stop eating gluten before a coeliac blood test?
No — you must continue eating gluten for the test to be accurate. NICE NG20 recommends consuming gluten in more than one meal per day for at least six weeks before testing. If you have already removed gluten from your diet, you will need to reintroduce it (a 'gluten challenge') before the blood test can reliably detect coeliac antibodies.
Can hypothyroidism cause bloating?
Yes. Hypothyroidism slows gut motility through its direct effect on the enteric nervous system, leading to constipation, increased fermentation time, and bloating. Even subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH in the upper normal range with low-normal FT4) can cause measurable gut symptoms. If your bloating is worse with constipation and you also have fatigue, cold intolerance, or weight gain, thyroid testing is particularly relevant.
What does it mean if my bloating blood tests are all normal?
Normal blood tests are genuinely reassuring — they rule out coeliac disease, significant thyroid dysfunction, anaemia, active inflammation, and liver problems. If all ten markers are within optimal ranges, the bloating is more likely to be functional (related to gut motility, visceral sensitivity, or the gut microbiome) and may respond to dietary approaches such as the low-FODMAP diet, guided by a registered dietitian.
Is bloating a sign of ovarian cancer?
Persistent bloating is one of the four key symptoms identified by NICE NG12 that should prompt investigation for ovarian cancer in women, particularly those over 50. However, bloating is extremely common and ovarian cancer is relatively rare — the vast majority of bloating is caused by benign conditions. The concern is when bloating is new, persistent (occurring more than 12 times per month), and accompanied by other symptoms such as pelvic pain, difficulty eating, or urinary changes.
How much does a private blood test for bloating cost in the UK?
The Helvy General Energy & Wellness panel costs £149 and covers the thyroid markers (TSH and Free T4), inflammation (CRP), and vitamin D and B12 — 5 of the 10 bloating markers — in one home finger-prick test. It does not include the coeliac screen, full blood count, ferritin, ALT or folate; ask your GP for those, which the NHS can usually arrange for persistent bloating.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Blood test results should be interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional. If you are experiencing bloating with red flag symptoms (unexplained weight loss, blood in stool, new onset over 50, pelvic mass), see your GP urgently. Researched by Helvy. Citations from NICE, NHS, and peer-reviewed sources.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Stop guessing. Start testing.
A home blood test that covers the thyroid, inflammation and vitamin markers behind persistent bloating — with results in 5 working days, alongside the coeliac screen and blood count your GP can arrange.
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