Verbatim response from Claude
Annual Blood Tests for a Complete Health Picture
Here are the key panels to discuss with your doctor:
Core Tests (Most Important)
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) – checks for anemia, infection, immune issues
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) – kidney function, liver health, blood sugar, electrolytes
- Lipid Panel – cholesterol and triglycerides (heart risk)
- Fasting Glucose + HbA1c – diabetes screening
- Thyroid (TSH) – energy, metabolism, mood issues
Helpful Add-Ons
- Vitamin D – deficiency is extremely common
- B12 – especially if plant-based diet
- Iron/Ferritin – fatigue and energy levels
- Inflammation markers (CRP/hsCRP) – heart and chronic disease risk
- Testosterone (men) or hormonal panel (women)
Where to Get These Without a Doctor Visit
- InsideTracker – analyzes results with personalized recommendations
- Function Health – comprehensive 100+ biomarker panel (~$500/year)
- Ulta Lab Tests or Walk-In Lab – order specific tests yourself affordably
- LabCorp/Quest – through your primary care doctor
Best advice: Start with your primary care doctor, then supplement with direct-to-consumer options for anything not covered. Function Health is particularly popular for people wanting deep insight.