Verbatim response from Claude
Essential Annual Blood Tests
Here's a comprehensive panel to discuss with your doctor:
Core Tests
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) – checks for anemia, infection, immune issues
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) – kidney function, liver health, electrolytes, blood sugar
- Lipid Panel – cholesterol (HDL, LDL, triglycerides)
- Fasting Glucose + HbA1c – diabetes risk and blood sugar trends
- Thyroid (TSH) – often overlooked but affects energy, weight, mood
Worth Adding
- Vitamin D – deficiency is extremely common
- B12 – especially if vegetarian/vegan or over 50
- Iron/Ferritin – energy and red blood cell health
- hsCRP – inflammation marker, linked to heart disease risk
- Testosterone (men) or hormone panel (women, especially 40+)
Where to Get Tested
- Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp – most insurance-accepted, doctor-ordered
- Everlywell – convenient at-home kits, no doctor needed
- Function Health – very comprehensive, 100+ biomarkers annually (~$500)
- Inside Tracker – good for performance-focused individuals
Bring this list to your primary care doctor – they can order most of these covered by insurance during an annual physical.