Blood Tests in Bang Tao
A fever on day three of a holiday is a different problem from a fever at home. It could be a virus that will pass, or it could be dengue, and the two are managed very differently. Blood tests in Bang Tao are processed in our own laboratory, so most results come back during the same visit instead of tomorrow.
Tests we run on site
The panels that answer most holiday questions:
- Dengue rapid test — NS1 antigen and antibodies
- Full blood count, which shows infection and the falling platelets of dengue
- Malaria film, where the travel history calls for it
- Influenza and COVID swabs
- Liver and kidney function
- Blood glucose, cholesterol and thyroid
- Rapid HIV and syphilis
Why a fever here gets a blood test
At home a short fever is usually watched for a few days. In Phuket that approach misses things. Dengue is common, and the moment it is on the table the treatment changes — paracetamol only, no ibuprofen and no aspirin, because those raise bleeding risk when platelets fall.
A full blood count also shows whether an infection looks bacterial or viral, which decides whether antibiotics will help. Getting that answer in half an hour rather than after two days of guessing is the practical reason to test. See dengue fever and fever.
How long results take
Rapid tests — dengue, HIV, syphilis, influenza, COVID — take about twenty minutes. Full blood counts and basic chemistry usually come back within an hour. More specialised tests are sent out and take one to three days.
You do not have to wait at the clinic for send-out results. We message them to you and, where something needs acting on, the doctor calls rather than leaving you to interpret numbers.
Do you need to fast?
For most tests, no. Come in as you are, especially if you are unwell.
Fasting for eight to twelve hours matters for cholesterol and fasting glucose, so a health check up is best booked for the morning before breakfast. Water is fine and encouraged during a fast — being dehydrated makes the blood draw harder and can skew some results.
Results that need acting on immediately
Some findings mean we keep you rather than send you back to the hotel:
- Platelets falling in confirmed dengue, which needs monitoring and sometimes admission
- Signs of severe bacterial infection
- Very high blood sugar in an unwell traveller
- Kidney function that has dropped with dehydration
- Haemoglobin low enough to suggest bleeding
If a result needs hospital care, we arrange the referral and send the results with you so nobody repeats the tests from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
How much do blood tests cost?
Each test is priced separately and a rapid dengue test or a full blood count is inexpensive. Larger panels cost more. You are given the price for the specific tests the doctor recommends before any blood is taken.
Can I just ask for a test without seeing a doctor?
You can request specific tests, and we will run them. A short consultation first is usually better value, because the doctor may order the test that actually answers your question rather than the one you guessed at.
Can blood be taken at my hotel?
Yes. On a doctor hotel visit the sample is drawn in your room and processed back at the clinic, with results sent to you.
How soon after a mosquito bite can dengue be detected?
The NS1 antigen becomes detectable from about day one of fever, which is why we test on fever rather than on the bite. Testing before any symptoms appear tells you nothing.
Will you explain the results?
Yes, in plain language, and you get a printed copy to keep. That copy is also what your travel insurer will want if you claim.
Come in, or we come to you
Take Care Medical Clinic Bang Tao is open open 24 hours, 7 days a week on Bandon Road in Cherng Talay, a few minutes from Bang Tao Beach and Laguna Phuket. Walk in without an appointment, call +66 81 718 9080, or message us on WhatsApp. If you would rather not move, ask for a doctor hotel visit and we will come to your room.