Pre-Marriage Checks - Plus

The Pre-Marriage Checks - Plus panel is a comprehensive premarital health assessment designed for couples preparing for marriage who wish to establish a clear picture of their shared and individual health before embarking on this next chapter. It combines essential screening for blood compatibility, inherited blood disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic health, fertility potential, and lifestyle factors in one coordinated profile. All analyses are performed in our UK laboratory using validated techniques, including haemoglobin electrophoresis for haemoglobinopathy phenotyping, immunoassay and chemiluminescence methods for hormonal and infectious disease markers, and chromatographic screening for drugs of abuse.

This panel is suitable for anyone planning marriage who wants to identify potential health risks early, confirm immunity or infection status, understand reproductive potential, and make informed decisions together. It is particularly valuable in populations where inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassaemia are more prevalent, and where premarital screening is encouraged or required.

Blood Group and Type
- ABO blood group
- Rhesus (Rh) factor

Haemoglobin Electrophoresis (Phenotype)
- Sickle cell trait or disease
- Beta thalassaemia trait or disease

Blood Sugar
- Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)
- Fasting glucose (GLU)

HIV Screening
- HIV antibody (HIV Ab)
- HIV p24 antigen (HIV Ag)

Hepatitis B and C Screening
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
- Hepatitis B core antibody (HBc Ab)
- Hepatitis C antibody (HCV Ab)

Syphilis Screening
- Anti-treponemal antibody (Syphilis Ab), with reflex confirmation where indicated

Rubella Screening
- Rubella antibodies (IgM and IgG)

Fertility Hormones
- Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), female only
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinising hormone (LH)
- Oestradiol (E2)
- Testosterone

Complete Blood Count
- White blood cells (WBCs)
- Red blood cells (RBCs)
- Platelets (PLTs)

Drugs of Abuse Screen
- Amphetamines (AMP)
- Barbiturates (BAR)
- Benzodiazepines (BZO)
- Buprenorphine (BUP)
- Cannabis (THC)
- Cocaine (COC)
- Cotinine (COT)
- Ecstasy (MDMA)
- Fentanyl (FEN)
- Ketamine (KET)
- Methadone (MTD)
- Methamphetamine (MET)
- Opiates (OPI)
- Oxycodone (OXY)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Propoxyphene (PPX)
- Tramadol (TRA)

Vital Signs and Body Composition
- Height
- Weight
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Blood pressure
- Pulse
- Body temperature
- Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
- Body composition

Why it matters
Marriage brings together two individuals, two family histories, and two sets of health risks. Knowing your blood group and Rh status is vital for future pregnancy planning, while haemoglobin electrophoresis identifies carrier status for sickle cell and thalassaemia, conditions that can be passed to children if both partners are carriers. Screening for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis protects both partners and any future children, and early detection allows for timely treatment and prevention of transmission. Rubella immunity is especially important for women planning pregnancy, as infection during early pregnancy can cause serious harm to the baby. Fertility hormones provide a baseline picture of reproductive potential, and metabolic markers such as HbA1c and fasting glucose flag diabetes risk before symptoms appear. The drugs of abuse screen offers an objective, confidential snapshot of recent substance exposure. Together, these results empower couples to make informed, proactive decisions about their health and their future together.