Verbatim response from Claude
Annual Blood Tests for a Comprehensive Health Picture
Here are the key panels to consider, along with where to get them:
Core Tests to Request
Metabolic & Organ Function
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) - kidney, liver, electrolytes, blood sugar
- Lipid Panel - cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides
- Fasting glucose + HbA1c - diabetes screening
Blood Health
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) - anemia, infection, immune health
Hormones & Nutrients
- Thyroid (TSH) - often overlooked but very impactful
- Vitamin D - deficiency is extremely common
- B12 - especially important for older adults or vegans
- Iron/Ferritin
Inflammation
- hsCRP - cardiovascular inflammation marker
Where to Get These
- Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp - standard insurance-covered options with wide availability
- Function Health - comprehensive panel (100+ biomarkers), membership-based, excellent for tracking trends
- Marek Health - good for hormone-focused panels
- Your primary care doctor - can order most of these covered by insurance
Practical Tip
Function Health is worth considering if you want everything in one place with clear explanations and trend tracking over time.
Always review results with a doctor for context.