Blood Tests in Phuket: Walk-In Laboratory with Same-Day Results
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician, Takecare Clinic Phuket. Last reviewed: September 2026.
“People ask for blood tests in Phuket for two quite different reasons. Tourists usually need an answer today: is this fever dengue, is this infection bacterial, am I dehydrated. Long-stay expats and retirees usually want the routine monitoring they would get at home, such as cholesterol, diabetes and kidney checks. Both deserve the same thing: the right tests, not the most tests, and a doctor who explains what the numbers mean.” Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan
Who our blood testing service is for
Our laboratory service suits three groups. The first is anyone who is unwell right now, with a fever, a suspected infection, fatigue or dehydration, where a blood result changes today’s treatment. The second is people who want preventive health screening, such as cholesterol, blood sugar and organ function, either on their own or as part of a health check-up in Phuket. The third is people on long-term medicines, for example for diabetes, blood pressure or cholesterol, who need regular monitoring while they live in or travel through Phuket.
You do not need a referral. You can ask for specific tests by name, or describe what is worrying you and let the doctor choose the most useful panel.
Common blood tests we run, and what they show
The table below covers the tests people ask for most often. Rapid tests are usually back within the hour, most routine panels the same day, and a few specialised tests take 1 to 3 days.
| Test | What it checks | Fasting? | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete blood count (CBC) | Red cells, white cells and platelets: anaemia, infection, dengue monitoring | No | Same day |
| Dengue NS1 antigen and antibody tests | Early and later evidence of dengue virus infection | No | Rapid test within the hour |
| Glucose and HbA1c | Blood sugar now, and average blood sugar over about 3 months (diabetes) | Glucose: 8 hours; HbA1c: no | Same day |
| Lipid profile | Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides | Usually 8 to 12 hours | Same day |
| Liver function tests | ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin, albumin: liver inflammation or alcohol effects | No | Same day |
| Kidney function and electrolytes | Creatinine, eGFR, urea, sodium, potassium: dehydration, medicine safety | No | Same day |
| Thyroid function | TSH and free T4: tiredness, weight change, palpitations | No | Same day or 1 to 3 days; we confirm |
| STD blood tests | HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C | No | Rapid or same day, depending on test |
A few terms explained
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) measures how much sugar has stuck to your red blood cells, so it reflects your average blood sugar over the previous two to three months; a result of 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or above on repeat testing is consistent with diabetes. eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) is a calculation from creatinine that shows how well the kidneys filter. ALT and AST are liver enzymes that leak into the blood when liver cells are irritated, for example by alcohol, fatty liver or a viral infection. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammation marker that helps us judge how significant an infection is. Hormone levels can also be measured, most often thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which screens for an underactive or overactive thyroid when someone has tiredness, weight change or palpitations.
What happens at your blood test visit, step by step
You walk in, or message us on WhatsApp first with the tests you want so we can confirm the price and tell you whether to fast. A doctor takes a short history, because the reason for the test changes which tests make sense. A trained staff member then draws a small sample from a vein in your arm, which takes a couple of minutes. Rapid tests such as dengue NS1, blood glucose and pregnancy are usually back within the hour, and most routine panels the same day.
Every result is reviewed with a doctor, not just handed to you as a printout. If something is abnormal, you leave knowing what it means and what to do next, and treatment can start at the same visit when appropriate. You receive a written copy of your results in English to keep or share with your own doctor.
Fasting rules made simple
Most blood tests do not need fasting. Fasting matters for a fasting glucose test, which needs at least 8 hours without food, and usually for a lipid profile, where we generally ask for 8 to 12 hours, especially if your triglycerides were high before. During the fast you can drink plain water and take your usual medicines unless the doctor tells you otherwise. Coffee, tea with milk, juice and chewing gum all count as breaking the fast. If you have diabetes and take insulin or tablets that lower blood sugar, ask us before fasting so you do not have a low sugar episode. Early morning visits work well for fasting tests, and because we are open 24/7 you can come in before breakfast.
Blood tests for tourists and expats in Phuket
For visitors, the most common reason for a same-day blood test is a fever. In Phuket, dengue is always on the list, and our dengue test in Phuket combines NS1 with a platelet count so you have an answer quickly. A full blood count also helps separate bacterial from viral infections, and kidney tests show whether vomiting or diarrhoea has dehydrated you enough to need IV fluids. If you have a high temperature, our page on fever treatment explains the other causes we test for.
For sexual health, blood tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis are often combined with urine or swab tests; STD testing in Phuket explains window periods, which decide when a test is reliable after exposure. Long-stay expats and retirees often come for routine monitoring on medicines such as metformin, statins or blood pressure tablets, which need periodic kidney, liver or potassium checks. Regular testing is how chronic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and kidney disease stay under control between visits to your own doctor.
When to see a doctor
Do not wait for a routine blood test if you are unwell. See a doctor the same day if you have a fever over 38°C for more than a day in Phuket, unexplained bruising or small red spots on the skin, extreme tiredness with breathlessness, yellowing of the eyes or skin, or very dark urine. Those symptoms may reflect low platelets, anaemia or liver problems that need both testing and treatment.
Go to a hospital emergency department, or call 1669, if you are bleeding and it will not stop, are vomiting blood, have severe abdominal pain, chest pain, sudden breathlessness, confusion or collapse. Blood tests can wait; those symptoms cannot.
Prevention and early detection
The value of routine blood tests is catching silent problems early. High cholesterol, prediabetes, early kidney disease and fatty liver usually cause no symptoms for years. As a general guide, adults aged 35 to 70 who are overweight should have a diabetes screening test about every 3 years, adults from their 40s benefit from a cholesterol check as part of a heart risk assessment, and all adults should be tested at least once for hepatitis C and HIV. People with diabetes typically need HbA1c every 3 to 6 months and a yearly kidney check.
Blood tests are only one part of prevention. Blood pressure measurement, cancer screening and vaccinations matter just as much, which is why many people combine their bloods with a full check-up.
Visiting Takecare Clinic in Phuket
Our laboratory service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can walk in without an appointment at Takecare Clinic Bangtao (Cherngtalay), Takecare Clinic Kata-Karon or Takecare Clinic Patong. Most visits take under 30 minutes, not counting the wait for results.
If you are too unwell to travel, a doctor hotel visit in Phuket can include an examination and, when needed, a blood sample taken in your room for processing at our laboratory. You can call 081-718-9080 at any hour.
We confirm the price on WhatsApp before your visit. When a test is part of treating an illness during your trip, we offer direct billing with most travel insurers, and we provide a medical report and itemised invoice for any claim.
Related services and treatments
If you are not sure which tests you need, start with a walk-in doctor in Phuket. The doctor can examine you, order only the tests that will change what happens next, and start treatment the same day.
Summary
Takecare Clinic Phuket runs common blood tests on site with same-day results, and rapid tests such as dengue NS1 and glucose within the hour, at three branches that never close. Most tests need no fasting; glucose and usually lipids need 8 to 12 hours. Whether you are a tourist with a fever or an expat keeping on top of cholesterol and diabetes, a doctor reviews every result with you and explains the next step.
“Tell us why you want the test, not just which test. A fever on day two, a fever on day six and a routine yearly check each need a different set of bloods, and choosing the right ones saves you time and money.” Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan
Frequently asked questions
How fast are blood test results in Phuket?
Rapid tests such as dengue NS1, blood glucose and pregnancy are usually ready within the hour. Most routine panels, including a complete blood count, cholesterol, liver and kidney function, are ready the same day from our on-site laboratory. A few specialised tests take 1 to 3 days. We tell you the expected time before the sample is taken.
Do I need to fast before my blood test?
Only for some tests. A fasting glucose test needs at least 8 hours without food, and for a lipid profile we usually ask for 8 to 12 hours. Plain water and your usual medicines are fine unless the doctor says otherwise. HbA1c, blood count, liver, kidney, thyroid and dengue tests do not need fasting.
Do I need an appointment or a referral?
No. You can walk in to any of our three branches in Bangtao, Kata or Patong, 24 hours a day, without a referral. If you message us on WhatsApp with the tests you want, we can confirm the price and whether you need to fast before you come in.
How much does a blood test cost, and will insurance pay?
The cost depends on which tests you need, so we confirm the price on WhatsApp before your visit. Travel insurance usually covers tests that are part of diagnosing an illness during your trip, such as a fever, and we offer direct billing with most travel insurers. Routine screening tests are usually not covered by travel policies.
Can a doctor take my blood test at my hotel?
Yes, in many cases. If you are too unwell to travel, a doctor can visit your hotel or villa anywhere in Phuket, examine you and take a blood sample in your room, which is then processed at our laboratory. The doctor will tell you when a clinic or hospital visit is the safer option.
Will I get my results in English?
Yes. You receive a written copy of your results in English, and a doctor goes through them with you so you understand what is normal, what is not and what to do next. You can keep the report to share with your own doctor at home or send to your insurer.
Sources
NHS: Blood tests. MedlinePlus: Complete blood count (CBC). MedlinePlus: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.
Blood test, laboratory tests, complete blood count, CBC, platelets, haemoglobin, dengue NS1 antigen, dengue IgM and IgG, glucose, HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin, diabetes, lipid profile, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, liver function tests, ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin, kidney function, creatinine, eGFR, electrolytes, thyroid function, TSH, C-reactive protein, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, fasting, NHS, MedlinePlus, Bangtao, Cherngtalay, Kata, Karon, Patong, Phuket, Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Takecare Clinic Phuket.
This page is general health information and not a substitute for a medical consultation.