Verbatim response from Claude
Annual Blood Tests for a Comprehensive Health Picture
Here are the key panels to discuss with your doctor, along with lab services that can help:
Core Tests to Request
Metabolic Health
- Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP) - kidney, liver, blood sugar, electrolytes
- Fasting glucose + HbA1c - diabetes risk
- Lipid panel - cholesterol and heart disease risk
Blood & Immunity
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) - anemia, infection, immune function
Hormones
- Thyroid (TSH + T3/T4) - energy, weight, mood
- Testosterone (especially men 30+)
- Cortisol - stress hormone levels
Nutrients
- Vitamin D, B12, Iron/Ferritin, Magnesium
Inflammation
- hsCRP - cardiovascular and chronic inflammation marker
- Homocysteine - heart and brain health
Recommended Services
- Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp - widely accepted by insurance, physician-ordered
- Function Health - comprehensive 100+ biomarker panel, great for tracking trends
- Marek Health - good for hormones and optimization-focused testing
- Everlywell - convenient at-home option for basic panels
Important: Always review results with a doctor who can interpret them in context of your symptoms and history.