Novel therapies for multiple myeloma have substantially improved the prognosis, but before patients are able to benefit from treatment, a diagnosis must have been made. The Myeloma UK laboratory working group has developed a three‐part tool box to help primary care physicians to suspect myeloma despite mostly vague symptoms, to do the right tests and to derive the proper conclusions from the results.Commentary on: Drayson et al. Laboratory practice is central to earlier myeloma diagnosis; utilising a primary care diagnostic tool and laboratory guidelines integrated into haematology services. Br J Haematol 2024 (Online ahead of print). doi: 10.1111/bjh.19224.