Mayo Clinic Laboratories

Short answer: several routinely measured blood markers strongly predict long-term health and mortality — and many are actionable. Focus first on lipids, glycemic control, inflammation, kidney/liver function, hematology, certain nutrients, and a few specialty/biological-age assays. Below I list the highest-value biomarkers, why they matter, what direction is generally better, plus testing services that can run these and give actionable interpretation. Most important blood biomarkers for longevity (ranked by general utility) Lipids and atherosclerosis risk LDL-C, non‑HDL, ApoB, triglycerides, HDL-C — atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (the leading cause of death) is strongly linked to these. Lower LDL/ApoB and non‑HDL are generally better; treatment thresholds depend on personal risk. Lp(a) — genetically determined risk factor for atherosclerosis; measure once. Test methods/services: standard panels at Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp; advanced lipoprotein testing (NMR LipoProfile) available via LabCorp or Cleveland HeartLab. Glycemic control & insulin resistance Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, HOMA‑IR — chronic hyperglycemia/insulin resistance predicts diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and shorter lifespan. Better = lower (within safe ranges). Test at Quest/LabCorp; InsideTracker and Wellness-type services interpret insulin/HbA1c patterns for lifestyle changes. Systemic inflammation & immune aging hs‑CRP, IL‑6, GlycA (NMR inflammatory marker) — chronic low-grade inflammation correlates with higher mortality and many age-related diseases. Lower is better (hs‑CRP <1 mg/L is considered low risk in many studies). Many labs measure hs‑CRP (Quest, LabCorp); IL‑6/GlycA may require specialty labs (Cleveland HeartLab, Nightingale/advanced NMR labs). Kidney function Serum creatinine/eGFR and cystatin C — kidney health strongly predicts longevity; worse function = higher risk. Standard on metabolic panels (Quest, LabCorp). Liver and protein status ALT, AST, GGT, albumin — liver health and low albumin (a marker of frailty/inflammation) predict outcomes. Standard CMP at clinical labs. Hematology and blood cell indices CBC with RDW, hemoglobin/hematocrit, WBC differential — anemia, high RDW, abnormal WBCs link to mortality and frailty. Standard at Quest/LabCorp. Cardiac injury/strain markers (for detecting subclinical disease) High‑sensitivity troponin, NT‑proBNP — predict future heart disease and mortality even at low levels. Available through major clinical labs and cardiology specialty labs (Cleveland HeartLab). Coagulation/vascular risk Fibrinogen, homocysteine — higher levels associated with vascular events; homocysteine is modifiable with B vitamins. Some specialty labs; homocysteine available at big labs. Micronutrients / metabolic health 25‑hydroxy vitamin D, omega‑3 index, vitamin B12, folate, ferritin/iron studies — deficiencies or imbalances increase disease risk or indicate dysfunction. Vitamin D, B12, ferritin at Quest/LabCorp; omega‑3 index testing: OmegaQuant. Hormones & anabolic/catabolic balance Total/free testosterone (men), estradiol (women as indicated), SHBG, DHEA‑S, IGF‑1 — extremes are associated with frailty, cancer risk, or metabolic problems. IGF‑1 links to aging biology but is complex (both low and very high levels have risks). Endocrinology panels available at major labs; interpret in clinical context. Biological-age/aging-specific tests (specialty) Epigenetic clocks (DNA methylation age) — give an estimate of biological aging; useful as a research/monitoring tool. Telomere length tests exist but are less actionable/reliable. Services: TruDiagnostic (epigenetic age), Zymo/myDNAge (epigenetic), telomere tests from various providers (interpret cautiously). How to get these tests and interpretation (brands/services) Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp — do nearly all standard and many specialty blood tests, accepted by clinicians and insurers. InsideTracker — consumer-facing service that pulls lab data, focuses on longevity-oriented panels, gives personalized lifestyle and supplement recommendations. Cleveland HeartLab / Mayo Clinic Laboratories — for advanced cardiovascular and inflammatory testing and specialist interpretation. OmegaQuant — well-regarded commercial omega‑3 index testing. TruDiagnostic (and Zymo/myDNAge) — commercial epigenetic/biological‑age tests. SpectraCell — specialty micronutrient and micronutrient functional testing. Your primary care clinician or preventive cardiology clinic — for clinical interpretation, risk stratification, and prescription treatments (statins, antihypertensives, diabetes meds). Practical recommendations Get a core annual panel: fasting lipid panel (including ApoB if possible), fasting glucose and HbA1c, CMP (kidney/liver), CBC with differential, hs‑CRP, vitamin D, and TSH. Add Lp(a), ApoB, and NMR lipoprofile once for baseline if you have family history of heart disease. If you have cardiometabolic risk or family history, add fasting insulin/HOMA‑IR, homocysteine, NT‑proBNP/hs‑troponin, advanced inflammatory markers, and micronutrient testing. If you’re tracking “biological age,” consider an epigenetic clock test (TruDiagnostic) as a monitoring tool, but interpret alongside clinical markers. Frequency: yearly for most markers if stable; every 3–6 months while modifying therapy or lifestyle; more often if on medications (statin, diabetes meds) or with abnormal results. Always interpret in context — age, sex, medications, and family history matter. Work with a clinician (primary care, preventive cardiology, or an informed functional medicine practitioner) to decide tests and treatments. Why these matter: large epidemiologic studies and clinical trials link worse results on these markers (higher LDL/ApoB, higher HbA1c/insulin resistance, higher inflammatory markers, worse kidney function, anemia/high RDW, low vitamin D/omega‑3, etc.) to higher incidence of heart disease, cancer, dementia, frailty and overall mortality — and many of them respond to proven lifestyle changes and medications. If you want, I can: Suggest a specific “starter” lab order you could request from your doctor or order yourself (which exact tests to include), Recommend a testing/interpretation package based on your age, sex, family history, and goals, Or explain what target ranges make sense for you (if you tell me age, sex, and health status).

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Great question — getting a consistent, annual set of blood tests is one of the best ways to monitor your overall health and catch problems early. Below I list a practical “core” panel most adults should consider each year, plus additional tests to add depending on age, sex, symptoms, or risk factors. I also name reputable lab providers and give quick practical tips. Important: use this as a general guide — exact tests and frequency should be tailored to your age, medical history, medications, and risk factors. Review results with your primary care provider. Core annual blood tests (good for most adults) Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential — screens for anemia, infection, many blood disorders. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) or Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) — measures electrolytes, kidney function (creatinine, BUN, eGFR), liver enzymes (AST/ALT), glucose, and protein/albumin. Lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides) — cardiovascular risk assessment. Hemoglobin A1c (and/or fasting glucose) — screens for diabetes or prediabetes (A1c does not require fasting). Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) ± free T4 — screens for hypo- or hyperthyroidism. 25-hydroxy Vitamin D — low vitamin D is common and affects bone and general health. Vitamin B12 (and folate if indicated) — detects deficiency that can cause fatigue, neuropathy, cognitive issues. High-sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) — nonspecific marker of inflammation and cardiovascular risk. Additional tests to consider depending on age/risk/symptoms Ferritin and iron studies (iron/TIBC) — if fatigue, heavy menstrual bleeding, or anemia on CBC. Hepatitis B & C screening and HIV Ag/Ab — at least once in adulthood and repeat based on risk/exposure. PSA (prostate-specific antigen) — men: discuss screening with your clinician starting around 50 (or 45 earlier for higher risk). Sex hormones: total/free testosterone (men with symptoms of low T), estradiol/FSH/LH (women with menopausal or menstrual concerns). Ferritin, magnesium, or other micronutrients — if symptoms or dietary risks. Ferritin is already listed — sorry for repeating; main micronutrients are Vit D, B12, iron. Ironically: ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) — alternative inflammation marker if autoimmune disease suspected. Ferritin repeated? I’ll summarize: use ferritin/iron for anemia/risk. Advanced cardiovascular risk tests (selectively) Lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) — help refine heart disease risk if family history or early heart disease. Homocysteine — sometimes used in stroke/vascular risk evaluation. Cancer/infection screens based on risk Colon cancer: fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or colonoscopy — not a blood test, but important screening. Screening for STIs as indicated (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) — not always blood-based but important. How often? Annual for the “core” panel is reasonable for most adults. Some tests (lipid panel, A1c) can be done less often (every 1–3 years) if consistently normal and low risk. Repeat sooner if abnormal or if you have risk factors. Where to get them (brands/services) Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp — largest national lab networks in the U.S.; reliable, accept physician orders and many employer/insurance plans. Your primary care clinic or local hospital lab — best for coordinated care and insurance billing. HealthLabs / Any Lab Test Now / DirectLabs — let you order many tests directly, usually out-of-pocket (convenient if you want independent testing). At‑home options (finger-prick or home kit): Everlywell, LetsGetChecked — convenient for screening tests (A1c, lipids, some hormones), but some tests are less accurate than venous draws and follow-up is required for abnormal results. Specialty testing / interpretation: Mayo Clinic Laboratories for complex panels and major academic centers for difficult cases. Practical tips Bring a list of current medications and supplements (some change lab values). Some tests require fasting (traditional fasting lipid panel, fasting glucose) — confirm with the lab/clinic. If you use direct-to-consumer labs, inform your PCP so results get into your medical record. If any abnormal results appear, follow up promptly; many abnormalities need repeat testing, imaging, or treatment. Sample “annual order” you can discuss with your clinician (core + commonly useful add-ons) CBC with diff CMP (or BMP) + fasting glucose Lipid panel Hemoglobin A1c TSH (+ free T4 if abnormal or symptomatic) 25‑OH Vitamin D Vitamin B12 Ferritin (iron studies if indicated) hs‑CRP Hepatitis C Ab & HIV Ag/Ab (based on risk) If you want, tell me your age, sex, current meds, major health issues, and family history and I’ll give a personalized list and which tests you might reasonably do yearly versus less often.

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