Verbatim response from Claude
Annual Blood Tests for a Comprehensive Health Picture
Here are the key tests to consider, along with where to get them:
Core Panel (Usually Covered by Insurance)
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) - checks for anemia, infection, immune issues
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) - kidney, liver, blood sugar, electrolytes
- Lipid Panel - cholesterol and heart disease risk
- HbA1c - average blood sugar over 3 months (diabetes screening)
- TSH - thyroid function
Additional Tests Worth Requesting
- Vitamin D (25-OH) - deficiency is extremely common
- Ferritin - iron storage, often missed on standard panels
- Fasting insulin - catches insulin resistance earlier than glucose alone
- hsCRP - inflammation marker linked to heart disease
Direct-to-Consumer Lab Services (No Doctor Required)
- Labcorp OnDemand or Quest Diagnostics - widely available, insurance-friendly
- Function Health - comprehensive 100+ marker panel, ~$500/year, very popular
- Everlywell - convenient at-home testing
- InsideTracker - adds personalized recommendations
Best Approach
Talk to your primary care doctor first, since many tests are covered annually. Use services like Function Health to fill gaps your doctor won't order.
Would you like more detail on any specific area?