Verbatim response from Claude
Annual Blood Tests for a Comprehensive Health Picture
Here are the key panels to discuss with your doctor:
Core Tests
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) - checks for anemia, infection, immune issues
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) - kidney, liver, blood sugar, electrolytes
- Lipid Panel - cholesterol and triglycerides (heart disease risk)
- Fasting Glucose + HbA1c - diabetes screening
- Thyroid (TSH) - often overlooked but affects nearly everything
Worth Adding
- Vitamin D - deficiency is extremely common
- B12 - especially if you're older or plant-based
- Iron/Ferritin - energy levels, especially for women
- hsCRP - inflammation marker linked to heart disease
- Testosterone - men especially after 35
Where to Get Them
Services that let you order your own tests:
- Function Health - very comprehensive, ~$500/year, tracks 100+ biomarkers
- Inside Tracker - analyzes results with lifestyle recommendations
- Quest Diagnostics / LabCorp - order through your doctor or via Ulta Lab Tests (self-pay, affordable)
- EveryWell - convenient at-home options
Practical Tip
Bring a list to your primary care doctor first - many tests are covered by insurance during annual physicals.
Would you like more detail on any specific area?