Q: I am 42 years old man with no medical condition but would like to undergo a complete medical check-up. What are the tests I should undertake? What would be the cost involved?

A:You need to consult your family physician /medicine specialist who can interpret your test reports.

A basic set of investigations should include haemogram, fasting blood sugar, liver function test, kidney function test, lipid profile, uric acid, chest x-ray and ECG, stool routine and occult blood. More extensive testing can include a tread mill test (TMT), Hepatitis B test, TSH for thyroid, ultrasound abdomen. You can also get your blood group checked. Your eye check up would be worthwhile, as most people need reading glasses after the age of 40 years. Also discuss with the doctor regarding adult vaccinations.

The cost of the tests would vary at different places from Rs. 2,000-4,000 approximately depending on the extent of tests that you undergo. Larger hospitals have packages, which can prove cheaper than doing the individual tests separately.