When blood is taken, it's rarely a single test. More often a panel is requested, a group of related tests run together because they shed light on the same broad area. Knowing what the common panels are, in general terms, makes a results page much less bewildering. This is descriptive only, not a guide to interpreting any value.
Why Tests Are Grouped
Grouping related tests is efficient and informative. A single result rarely tells the whole story, but a set of related results together gives a broader view of how a particular system is doing. So labs and clinicians use established panels rather than ordering tests one at a time.
Some Common UK Panels
Full Blood Count (FBC)
One of the most commonly requested panels. It looks at the cells in your blood, broadly the red cells, white cells, and platelets, and reports a range of measurements about them. It gives a general overview used in a great many clinical situations.
Urea and Electrolytes (U&Es)
A group that broadly relates to kidney function and the balance of certain salts and minerals in the blood. It includes measurements that, taken together, give a general picture of that area.
Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
A panel of measurements broadly associated with the liver. As a group they give an overview of how that area is doing, which is why they're requested together rather than singly.
Thyroid Function Tests
A group relating to the thyroid, typically including a hormone measurement or two that are read together for a general picture of thyroid activity.
Lipid Profile
A group of measurements broadly relating to fats in the blood, such as different forms of cholesterol, reported together.
Different Names, Same Idea
You may see slightly different names or abbreviations on your report, and panels can be tailored to why the test was requested. The general principle holds: related tests are grouped so they can be read together. If you want to look up the typical range for an individual test from a panel, you can do that on the main tool, remembering throughout that a range is for orientation only.
The Bottom Line
Blood tests are commonly grouped into panels like the full blood count or liver function tests, each giving a broad overview of one area. The results within a panel are read together, which is one more reason that making sense of them is a job for a clinician with your full picture, not for a single number on a screen.