Men’s Performance Optimisation (Advanced)
A men's performance blood test in Kingston for male athletes when a Foundation panel isn't enough. The Advanced tier adds the male hormone, thyroid and metabolic markers serious training programmes need: total and free testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol, full thyroid function (TSH, Free T4, Free T3), HbA1c, morning cortisol, DHEA-S and Creatine Kinase, on top of the Foundation core. Reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor at our CQC-registered Kingston clinic.
By Dr Maryam Attarzadeh, GMC-registered doctor and Medical Director, KONCEPT® Medical Clinic. Last reviewed May 2026. Next review November 2026.
All in £575
Shared entry tier for all adults: FBC, ESR, Biochemistry Profile, HDL/LDL Cholesterol, Ferritin, CRP, Omega 3/6, Mineral Screen, Folate (Red Cell), Active B12.
View Foundation panel ›All in £738
Foundation plus the male hormone axis (total & free testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol), full thyroid (TSH, Free T4, Free T3), HbA1c, Vitamin D, morning cortisol, DHEA-S and Creatine Kinase. The right tier for male physiology and serious training.
You are viewing the Advanced panelThe Foundation panel is identical for all adults and is a fair entry tier for a baseline. For optimal results in male athletes the Advanced tier is recommended, because male physiology requires sex-specific hormone, thyroid and metabolic markers that Foundation does not cover.
The Advanced panel is for men who train seriously: endurance running and cycling, hybrid and strength athletes, racket sports, masters athletes returning from a layoff, and any man whose training volume, recovery profile or competitive goal makes a basic baseline inadequate. It is also useful for the masters-male profile (35+) where the male hormone axis becomes a more important determinant of recovery, body composition and trainability than it is in younger men.
Anaemia, sub-clinical iron depletion and inflammation directly limit endurance performance. Ferritin is the best single marker of iron stores in athletes.
C-reactive protein detects systemic inflammation that can blunt recovery and adaptation to training load.
Kidney and liver function context for any training programme, particularly with high protein intake, NSAID use or supplement use.
Lipid metabolism in athletes can differ from population norms; baseline matters when interpreting trends.
The three-month average of blood sugar, useful for assessing metabolic flexibility in male athletes and ruling out impaired glucose regulation.
Vitamin D is involved in muscle function, recovery and bone health. Deficiency is common in UK athletes, particularly outside the summer months.
Functional micronutrient status for athletes on demanding training loads and modified diets.
The full thyroid panel, including Free T3 (the active hormone), is more sensitive to over-training, energy availability problems and sub-clinical thyroid issues than a TSH-only screen.
The male hormone axis is the largest sex-specific driver of recovery, strength gain and body composition in trained men. Oestradiol is included because the testosterone-oestradiol ratio matters for body composition and recovery, particularly in men over 40 and in heavier lifters.
Morning cortisol with DHEA-S helps assess training stress and recovery balance. Persistently high cortisol or low DHEA-S in a hard-training man can flag relative under-recovery.
CK reflects acute muscle damage; useful for assessing recovery time-points after high-load sessions, and important context for interpreting other liver-related enzymes.
Each result is interpreted by the doctor against the appropriate reference range for you. Pre-test conditions matter for performance panels: avoid hard training for 48 hours before, fast for 10 to 12 hours, take the sample in the morning (testosterone, cortisol), and stop biotin supplements 48 to 72 hours before.
The Advanced panel is detailed enough to want a doctor in the loop. Three routes match how much support you want around the result.
A GMC-registered doctor at KONCEPT® reviews the request for clinical suitability before the appointment is confirmed.
The male hormone axis, oestradiol, full thyroid and adrenal markers are included because male physiology needs them; a unisex performance panel can miss the lever you most need to pull.
Testosterone and cortisol both have marked diurnal patterns. Morning slots give the most reliable result.
Bloods are drawn in our CQC-registered Kingston clinic by an experienced practitioner. Samples processed by an accredited UK pathology laboratory.
A short outcome note is sent to your email, password-protected. Either normal, no follow-up needed, or GP review recommended (NHS GP or KONCEPT® GP at £149).
Book a 30-minute KONCEPT® GP consultation (£149) to discuss what the results mean for your training programme.
| Home-kit performance package | KONCEPT® Men's Performance Advanced | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Often a single shared "athlete" panel without sex-specific male hormone markers, or testosterone as a paid add-on. | Foundation core plus male hormone axis (with oestradiol), full thyroid, HbA1c, morning cortisol, DHEA-S and CK in one panel. |
| Sample collection & timing | Finger-prick whenever the kit arrives. Testosterone and cortisol both need morning timing to be reliable. | Venous draw in-clinic, morning slots prioritised. |
| Who reviews the result | Algorithm-generated PDF. | Reviewed together by a GMC-registered doctor. Review included in the £738 price. |
| Action when something needs follow-up | "See your GP." | Discussed with the reviewing doctor, with referral to endocrinology or sports medicine where appropriate, or NHS GP continuity. |
| Regulation | Online retailer. | CQC-registered private clinic. GMC-registered doctors. ICO-registered for data protection. |
The NHS provides comprehensive care and remains the right route for many men. KONCEPT® is designed to complement, not replace, that care, for male athletes who want a deep performance baseline on their own timing.
| Standard NHS approach | What KONCEPT® adds | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking and access | Via your registered NHS GP, subject to local appointment availability and clinical prioritisation. | Book directly without a referral. Morning-prioritised, Saturday and out-of-hours appointments. |
| Scope of first-line testing | Performance-oriented panels are not part of standard NHS care. NHS first-line investigation typically focuses on a presenting symptom, not on optimising trained physiology. | A wide-spectrum panel for trained men, covering the male hormone, thyroid, metabolic and adrenal axes in one visit. |
| Time with the reviewing doctor | Length of GP consultation varies by region and provider. | A 30-minute consultation with a GMC-registered doctor is offered alongside the panel for men who would like one. |
| Onward specialist input | Endocrinology or sports-medicine referral routes and waits vary by region. | The reviewing doctor can refer to a private endocrinologist or sports physician. |
| Cost | Free at the point of use. | All-in £738 (£699 test fee plus the one-off £39 administration fee). |
NHS provision varies by region and clinical context, and the NHS pathway remains appropriate for many patients. KONCEPT® encourages continued NHS GP involvement and shares clinical summaries with your NHS GP on request.
Morning slots prioritised. Online, in person, or added during a GP consultation.
An experienced practitioner takes your sample in-clinic. Fast for 10 to 12 hours (water only). Avoid hard training for 48 hours before so muscle damage markers (CK, AST/ALT) reflect baseline, not last night's session. Stop biotin supplements 48 to 72 hours before. Morning sample for testosterone and cortisol.
Samples are processed by an accredited UK pathology laboratory.
Most results within 2 to 5 working days. A short outcome note is sent securely to your email, password-protected.
KONCEPT® Medical Clinic offers the Men's Performance Advanced panel for athletes across the KT and SW postcodes. Male athletes book from Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, New Malden, Wimbledon, Richmond upon Thames, Putney, Teddington, Hampton, Esher, Cobham, Walton-on-Thames, Thames Ditton and Twickenham. The clinic is at 46 to 48 Wood Street, opposite Kingston Station. Call 020 8129 1011 or book online.
Trained men who want a deep performance baseline, men over 35 where the hormone axis matters more for recovery and body composition, masters athletes returning from a layoff, and any man who finds the Foundation panel too narrow for his goals.
Foundation is a shared entry tier for all adults: FBC, ESR, biochem, lipids, ferritin, CRP, omega 3/6, mineral screen, B12 and folate. Advanced adds vitamin D, full thyroid (including Free T3), HbA1c, the male hormone axis (testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol), adrenal markers (morning cortisol, DHEA-S) and CK. Advanced is the right tier for male physiology.
Foundation is appropriate as an entry tier or annual baseline. If you train seriously or are looking for the hormone and thyroid levers, the Advanced tier is the more useful starting point and avoids paying twice.
Morning, ideally 7am to 10am, for testosterone and cortisol. Fast for 10 to 12 hours (water only) for accurate metabolic markers. Avoid hard training for 48 hours before so muscle-damage markers reflect baseline.
Performance-oriented blood panels are typically not covered by health insurance, which is designed for diagnosis and treatment rather than optimisation. Check with your insurer.
Most results within 2 to 5 working days, sent securely to your email, password-protected.
No. You can book online, in person, or add the panel during a GP consultation at KONCEPT®.
Many home-kit "athlete" packages use a unisex panel that does not include the male hormone axis with oestradiol or the full thyroid panel. At KONCEPT® the panel is venous, morning-timed, sex-specific and reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor. Review and outcome note included in the £738 panel price.
Performance-oriented panels are not part of NHS standard care. KONCEPT® offers them for athletes who want a deep baseline on their own timing.
46 to 48 Wood Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1UW, opposite Kingston station.
All in £738. Morning slots prioritised. No GP referral needed. Doctor-reviewed result, sent securely to your email.
Serving Kingston upon Thames and the surrounding KT, SW and TW catchment.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Performance-oriented panels investigate physiological context; clinical concerns and any abnormalities require interpretation by a qualified clinician.