"A body MOT." You hear it everywhere, and it sounds reassuring: just get everything checked, done. But when I recently had such a check myself, something stood out. My result was fine, and yet a niggling complaint lingered that no blood value explained. That is exactly where the comparison rubs.
Honestly: I find the MOT comparison both handy and misleading. Handy as a starting point, misleading if you think everything gets checked. You inspect a car fully, you measure your body through a selection.
Why is a blood test called an MOT?
Like with a car, you have things checked before something breaks. A preventive blood test gives insight into a number of values so you can adjust in time. That preventive idea is exactly where the comparison holds: catching things early is almost always better than repairing afterwards. The RIVM and the Health Council of the Netherlands (Gezondheidsraad) endorse the idea, but add an important caveat that I will cover below.
What does a preventive blood test measure and not?
A blood test measures specific values at one moment. That is valuable, but it is not a complete picture of your health. The table makes it concrete.
| Does | Does not |
|---|---|
| Give insight into measured values, such as blood sugar and cholesterol | Capture everything going on in your body |
| Give a snapshot and sometimes a trend over time | Guarantee the future |
| Provide a lead for your GP | Provide a diagnosis on its own |
| Prompt a lifestyle change | Provide a treatment plan |
If you want to choose what you measure, the complete metabolic panel covers a broad set of values, or you choose a more focused lipid panel if you mainly want to see your heart risk.
Which values are usually in such a check?
A broad preventive check centres on the values that say the most about common, modifiable risks. These are the core groups.
| Group | Example values | What it reflects |
|---|---|---|
| Heart and vessels | LDL, HDL | Cardiovascular risk |
| Sugar metabolism | Fasting glucose, HbA1c | Signals of prediabetes |
| Blood count and iron | Haemoglobin, ferritin | Anaemia and fatigue |
| Thyroid and vitamins | TSH, vitamin D, B12 | Energy and general status |
What does a blood test precisely not see?
It is just as useful to know what blood is blind to. A blood test is strong on metabolism, organs and deficiencies, but many health problems do not fit in a tube.
- Blood pressure: a major cardiovascular risk factor that you cannot derive from blood.
- Structural abnormalities: things you see with imaging, such as a lump, stay out of view.
- Many cancers: there is no single blood test that rules out cancer, despite what is sometimes suggested.
- Mental health: stress and low mood are felt, but have no clear-cut blood value.
That is why a blood test is one part of the picture, not a replacement for your own vigilance or a conversation with your GP when you have symptoms.
Where does the MOT comparison break down?
You inspect a car fully, a blood test looks at a selection. A normal result does not mean nothing is going on, and an abnormal value is not a broken engine. This is exactly the Health Council's caveat: in people without symptoms, unnecessary testing can also lead to false alarms and follow-up that yields nothing. That is why a professional assessment always belongs with it, and your GP when in doubt. Keep reporting symptoms, even if your blood looks fine.
Narrow or broad: how do you choose?
You do not have to measure everything to gain something. The question is what you want to know. A few guidelines help you choose between a focused and a broad test.
- Do you have a concrete question, for example about your cholesterol? Then a focused lipid panel often suffices.
- Do you want a general picture without a specific complaint? Then a broader complete metabolic panel fits better.
- Are you over forty or do you have family risk factors? Then heart and sugar values are worth adding.
The Health Council of the Netherlands (Gezondheidsraad) advises against measuring as much as possible by default, and instead looking specifically at what fits your situation. More is not always better: every extra value also increases the chance of a chance deviation that means nothing. A considered selection often brings more peace of mind and insight than a long list of numbers. Need help with that choice? Our guide explains which blood test to choose.
Frequently asked questions
Does a normal result mean I am healthy?
Not necessarily. A normal result is reassuring for the measured values, but it does not measure everything. Symptoms remain important to discuss.
How often should I do a body MOT?
There is no fixed rule. For most healthy adults once every one to two years is enough, possibly more often with risk factors. Discuss it with your GP.
Which check suits me?
That depends on your age and risk factors. Our guide to the annual blood test helps you choose.
Every blood test result at Vitalcheck includes a professional assessment by a BIG-registered doctor. A blood value is not a diagnosis: always discuss treatment decisions with your GP.
Sources
- Gezondheidsraad (Health Council of the Netherlands). Preventive health screening. Accessed 2026.
- RIVM. Prevention and health: figures and context. Accessed 2026.
- Thuisarts.nl / NHG. Blood testing. Accessed 2026.
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