As well as tests on your liver, you might have blood tests to check for other conditions.
This could be to rule them out. But it is also possible to have more than one condition at the same time. So it is important to get the full picture.
If these tests show you might have one of these conditions you may then need more tests to be sure of the diagnosis.
On this page:
HIV tests
You might be offered a test for HIV at the same time as other blood tests.
If you could have HIV, it is important to get tested so that you can be treated. HIV can also affect some liver conditions. For example, people with HIV are more at risk of becoming seriously ill from the hepatitis C virus.
HIV can be diagnosed using a blood test. The blood is usually taken from your arm, but sometimes it is a finger prick test. You can eat and drink as normal before the test.
Hba1c test for type 2 diabetes
The Hba1c test is used to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes. It measures sugar in your red blood cells. Because of the way sugar is stored in these cells, an Hba1c test will show your average sugar level for the last 2 -3 months. It can also pick up signs that you could be developing type 2 diabetes.
If you have fatty liver disease (MASLD or NAFLD) you have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes so you might have a Hba1c test.
The blood sample is usually taken from your arm. You can eat and drink as normal before the test. In some cases this is not the best test to check for diabetes. You might be asked to have a different test where you are not allowed to eat before the test. If you are not sure which test you are having, ask your medical team.
Lipid Profile test for cardiovascular disease
A lipid profile test looks at the levels of different types of fats in your blood.
If you have fatty liver disease you might be offered a lipid profile test to see if fat is also affecting your cardiovascular system and putting you at risk of things like heart disease.
The test is usually done using a blood sample taken from your arm. In most cases you can eat and drink as normal before the test, but check with your medical if you are unsure.
Find out more about cardiovascular disease on the NHS website
Coeliac disease test
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition. It affects your digestive system and can have similar symptoms to some types of liver disease. You might have a coeliac test to rule out this as the cause.
The coeliac test is a blood test. Blood is usually taken from your arm. You can eat and drink as normal before the test.
The test will not be able to diagnose coeliac disease if you are on a gluten free diet. If you do not eat gluten, tell your medical team before you have the test. You may need to eat food containing gluten for a few weeks before having the test.
If the blood test shows you might have coeliac disease you will have other tests to confirm the diagnosis.
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This content was last reviewed: July 2025
Our expert reviewers:
We would like to thank everyone who helped with creating and reviewing this page. Including Professor Stephen Ryder, consultant hepatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust And all our patient reviewers.
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Everyone’s experience of liver disease will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.
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