Verbatim response from Perplexity
For most adults, the most useful yearly blood tests are a CBC, CMP, lipid panel, HbA1c, and TSH—these give a broad picture of blood counts, kidney/liver function, cholesterol, blood sugar, and thyroid health.[2][3][4]
A practical way to think about annual blood work is:
- CBC (complete blood count) — checks for anemia, infection, and some blood disorders; commonly included in annual physicals.[2][4][8]
- CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) — checks kidney function, liver enzymes, electrolytes, glucose, and other markers of metabolic health.[1][3][4][8]
- Lipid panel — measures cholesterol and triglycerides to assess cardiovascular risk; some sources note repeat timing may be every 4–6 years if normal, but more often if you have risk factors.[1][2][4]
- HbA1c — gives a roughly 3-month average of blood sugar and helps screen for diabetes or prediabetes.[1][3][4]
- TSH — screens for thyroid dysfunction, especially if you have symptoms such as fatigue, weight change, hair loss, or temperature sensitivity.[1][2][4]
Depending on your age and risk factors, other tests may be worth adding:
- Ferritin/iron studies — if you have fatigue, heavy periods, hair loss, or suspected iron deficiency.[4]
- Vitamin D — if you have low sun exposure, bone issues, or symptoms suggestive of deficiency; this is not universally recommended for everyone every year.[4]
- PSA — for some men starting around age 40 or later, depending on shared decision-making and prostate cancer risk.[4]
- Additional tests based on conditions or medications — for example, people with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, liver concerns, alcohol use, or prescription medications may need more frequent CMP, A1c, or other monitoring.[1]
If you want a simple “full picture” starter panel, a reasonable annual discussion with your clinician is:
- CBC
- CMP
- Lipid panel
- HbA1c
- TSH[2][3][4]
If you want, I can also turn this into a personalized annual blood-test checklist based on your age, sex, symptoms, and family history.