I want a full picture of my health. What blood tests should I get every year?

Good plan — getting an annual set of blood tests gives you a solid “baseline” and helps pick up things early. Below I list a practical “core” annual panel, additional tests to consider (based on age, sex, family history, symptoms, or medication), and a few lab services/brands you can use. I’m not diagnosing — discuss the final selection and any abnormal results with your primary care clinician.

Core annual blood tests (good for most adults)

• Complete blood count (CBC) — checks for anemia, infection, and basic blood disorders. No fasting needed.
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) — measures electrolytes, kidney function (creatinine, eGFR), liver enzymes (AST/ALT), and glucose/albumin → gives a broad view of metabolic and organ health. Usually fasting is preferred if your clinician also wants a fasting glucose/lipid panel.
• Lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides) — cardiovascular risk assessment. Traditionally fasting 9–12 hours, though many guidelines accept nonfasting lipids for routine screening.
• Hemoglobin A1c — average blood sugar over ~3 months; screens for prediabetes/diabetes. No fasting required.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) — screens for hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism. No fasting required.
• Vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D) — common deficiency with implications for bone and immune health. No fasting required.
• High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) — a general marker of inflammation and cardiovascular risk when combined with other tests. No fasting required.

Additional tests to consider (one-time or periodic depending on risk)

• Ferritin and iron studies (iron, TIBC) — if you have fatigue, heavy menstrual bleeding, or signs of iron deficiency or overload. Ferritin once annually if at risk.
• Vitamin B12 — for older adults, vegetarians/vegans, or if you have neuropathy or anemia.
• Sex-specific / age-based:
  • Men: prostate-specific antigen (PSA) — discuss with your clinician (shared decision-making; usually considered starting ~50, earlier if higher risk).
  • Women: consider tests driven by symptoms or menopause status (FSH, estradiol) when relevant.
• Testosterone (total/free) — if symptoms of low testosterone (low libido, fatigue, muscle loss).
• Hepatitis B and C — at least once for people with risk factors or unknown status; treated if positive.
• HIV and syphilis screening — at least once; repeat based on risk behaviors.
• Lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein B — one-time measure increasingly recommended to assess inherited cardiovascular risk.
• hs-CRP and homocysteine (selectively) — for additional cardiovascular risk info if your doctor thinks it’s useful.
• Autoimmune panels / ESR / specific antibodies — only if you have symptoms suggestive of autoimmune disease.
• More advanced metabolic/cardiac tests (e.g., insulin, detailed lipid subfractions) — only if clinically indicated.

How often

• Most people: CBC, CMP, lipid panel, A1c, TSH each year (or as recommended by your clinician).
• Vitamin D, B12, ferritin: annually if previously abnormal or if you have risk factors; otherwise every 1–3 years.
• Lipoprotein(a): measure once (genetic); repeat only if indicated.

Choosing where to get tested (brands/services)

• LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics — large national clinical labs; accepted by most clinicians and insurers, wide test menus, reliable results and interpreters.
• Your health system / hospital lab — good if you want direct follow-up with your PCP or specialists and insurance billing.
• Direct-to-consumer / at-home options (convenient, but check limits):
  • Everlywell — easy ordering and at-home collection for many basic tests; good for convenience and quick results.
  • LetsGetChecked — home kits plus nurse/telehealth follow-up for many tests; useful if you prefer remote support.
  • HealthLabs or Any Lab Test Now — online orders/walk-in labs that let you self-order common panels without a doctor’s appointment.
• Specialty services:
  • Vault Health or InsideTracker — focus on men’s health, hormones, or deep biomarker interpretation if you want lifestyle-focused guidance (higher cost).

Practical tips

• Start with your primary care clinician: they can tailor tests for your age, family history, medications, and symptoms and help interpret abnormalities.
• Ask which tests require fasting (lipid panel and sometimes CMP/glucose) and whether to stop any meds before the draw.
• Check insurance coverage and use an in-network lab (LabCorp or Quest often are) to reduce out-of-pocket cost.
• Keep a record of baseline values so you can track trends year-to-year (especially lipids, A1c, creatinine, liver enzymes, vitamin D).
• If something abnormal shows up, follow up promptly; many small abnormalities are easily addressed with lifestyle changes or treatment.

If you’d like, tell me your age, sex, major medical history (family heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, medications), and whether you prefer in-person or at-home testing — I can give a more personalized testing checklist and suggest which specific tests to prioritize.