Blood test results, explained.
Find a test from your lab report to see what a healthy number is and what to do if yours is high or low.
No match for “”. Try the name exactly as it’s printed on your report.
Not sure which test you need?
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Tired all the time
Low iron, low B12 and an underactive thyroid are common, treatable causes.
Usually tested: Ferritin, Hemoglobin, TSH, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and HbA1c
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Heart disease in the family
A standard cholesterol test misses some inherited risk. ApoB and Lp(a) show more of it.
Usually tested: ApoB, Lp(a), LDL cholesterol, hs-CRP and HbA1c
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Blood sugar creeping up
Find out if you’re in the prediabetes range, with a rough read on insulin resistance.
Usually tested: HbA1c, Fasting glucose, Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and Triglycerides
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Trying to get pregnant
No blood test can tell you if you’ll get pregnant. These give a baseline for your egg supply, and check the cycle hormones and thyroid, which matter most if your periods are irregular.
Usually tested: AMH, FSH, LH, Estradiol and TSH
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Just had a baby
Pregnancy and birth can leave you low on iron, and the thyroid can go off balance in the year after. One blood draw checks both.
Usually tested: Ferritin, Hemoglobin, TSH, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D
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Low testosterone, for men
Testosterone alone isn’t the whole story. LH and SHBG show why it’s low and how much your body can use.
Usually tested: Total testosterone, Free testosterone, SHBG, LH and TSH
Browse by body system
Heart and blood vessels
The cholesterol particles and inflammation that build plaque in arteries.
Heart and blood vessels
The cholesterol particles and inflammation that build plaque in arteries.
- ApoBHow many plaque-building particles you have
- Lp(a)An inherited particle that raises heart risk
- LDL cholesterolThe main cholesterol behind plaque
- HDL cholesterolCholesterol carried away from your arteries
- TriglyceridesBlood fats that rise with sugar and alcohol
- Total cholesterolAll the cholesterol in your blood
- Non-HDL cholesterolThe cholesterol in every plaque-building particle
- LDL particle numberHow many LDL particles you have
- hs-CRPLow-grade inflammation linked to heart risk
- ApoA-1The main protein on HDL particles
- HomocysteineAn amino acid that rises when B12 or folate is low
Blood sugar and metabolism
How well your body handles sugar, years before diabetes shows up.
Blood sugar and metabolism
How well your body handles sugar, years before diabetes shows up.
- HbA1cAverage blood sugar over three months
- Fasting glucoseBlood sugar after an overnight fast
- Fasting insulinAn early sign of insulin resistance
- HOMA-IRAn insulin resistance score from glucose and insulin
- Uric acidA waste product that causes gout when high
- LP-IRAn insulin resistance score from a cholesterol test
Liver
Enzymes and proteins that show liver strain and how well it works.
Liver
Enzymes and proteins that show liver strain and how well it works.
- ALTThe enzyme most specific to liver damage
- ASTAn enzyme from liver and muscle
- GGTA liver enzyme that rises with alcohol
- ALPAn enzyme from liver and bone
- BilirubinWaste pigment used to assess liver function and bile flow
- AlbuminThe main protein the liver makes
- Total proteinAll the protein in your blood
Kidneys
How well your kidneys filter, and the earliest signs of damage.
Kidneys
How well your kidneys filter, and the earliest signs of damage.
Thyroid
Tests for an underactive or overactive thyroid.
Thyroid
Tests for an underactive or overactive thyroid.
Hormones
Sex hormones, fertility and the stress hormone cortisol.
Hormones
Sex hormones, fertility and the stress hormone cortisol.
- Total testosteroneAll the testosterone in your blood
- Free testosteroneThe testosterone your body can use
- SHBGThe protein that binds sex hormones
- EstradiolThe main estrogen
- FSHA brain hormone that drives egg and sperm production
- LHA brain hormone that triggers ovulation and testosterone
- DHEA-SAn adrenal hormone that falls with age
- PSAA prostate protein used in cancer screening
- Free PSAHelps read a borderline PSA
- AMHAn estimate of egg reserve
- CortisolThe main stress hormone
Blood and iron
Red cells, white cells, platelets and your iron stores.
Blood and iron
Red cells, white cells, platelets and your iron stores.
- FerritinHow much iron you have in store
- Serum ironIron in your blood right now
- TIBCHow much iron your blood can carry
- Transferrin saturationHow full your iron carriers are
- HemoglobinCarries oxygen; low levels mean anemia
- HematocritThe share of blood made of red cells
- MCVAverage red blood cell size
- RDWHow much red cell size varies
- Platelet countCells that help blood clot
- White blood cell countCells that fight infection
- Neutrophil countWhite cells that fight bacterial infections
- Lymphocyte countWhite cells that fight viruses
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins that often run low, and the salts your nerves and muscles need.
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins that often run low, and the salts your nerves and muscles need.
- Vitamin DHow much vitamin D you have stored
- Vitamin B12Needed for nerves and red blood cells
- FolateA B vitamin for cell growth
- MagnesiumA mineral for muscles, nerves and heart rhythm
- SodiumThe main salt in blood, set by fluid balance
- PotassiumA salt your heart and muscles depend on
- CalciumCalcium in your blood, set by the parathyroid glands
Already have results? Ask Picardo about them.
The app explains what each one means, and a physician can follow up if you want.
Not tested yet? Base Core Annual, $213.25
It covers most of the markers in this guide from one blood draw, with results in 2 to 3 days.