# 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. Biomarkers with a written guide link to its Markdown version. Web page: https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers ## Not sure which test you need? ### Tired all the time Low iron, low B12 and an underactive thyroid are common, treatable causes. Usually tested: [Ferritin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/ferritin.md), [Hemoglobin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hemoglobin.md), [TSH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/tsh.md), [Vitamin B12](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/vitamin-b12.md), [Vitamin D](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/vitamin-d.md) and [HbA1c](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hba1c.md). Which tests, and why: [Blood tests for tiredness](https://picardo.health/guides/blood-tests-for/tiredness.md) ### Heart disease in the family A standard cholesterol test misses some inherited risk. ApoB and Lp(a) show more of it. Usually tested: [ApoB](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/apob.md), [Lp(a)](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/lipoprotein-a.md), [LDL cholesterol](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/ldl-cholesterol.md), [hs-CRP](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hs-crp.md) and [HbA1c](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hba1c.md). Which tests, and why: [Blood tests for heart disease in the family](https://picardo.health/guides/blood-tests-for/heart-disease-in-the-family.md) ### Blood sugar creeping up Find out if you’re in the prediabetes range, with a rough read on insulin resistance. Usually tested: [HbA1c](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hba1c.md), [Fasting glucose](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/fasting-glucose.md), [Fasting insulin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/fasting-insulin.md), [HOMA-IR](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/homa-ir.md) and [Triglycerides](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/triglycerides.md). Which tests, and why: [Blood tests for prediabetes](https://picardo.health/guides/blood-tests-for/prediabetes.md) ### Trying to get pregnant No blood test can tell you if you’ll get pregnant. These give a baseline for your egg supply, check your cycle hormones and thyroid, and show whether you ovulate. Usually tested: [AMH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/amh.md), [FSH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/fsh.md), [LH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/lh.md), [Estradiol](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/estradiol.md), [TSH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/tsh.md) and Progesterone. Which tests, and why: [Fertility blood tests](https://picardo.health/guides/blood-tests-for/fertility.md) ### 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](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/ferritin.md), [Hemoglobin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hemoglobin.md), [TSH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/tsh.md), [Vitamin B12](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/vitamin-b12.md) and [Vitamin D](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/vitamin-d.md). Which tests, and why: [Blood tests after having a baby](https://picardo.health/guides/blood-tests-for/postpartum.md) ### 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](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/testosterone.md), [Free testosterone](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/free-testosterone.md), [SHBG](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/shbg.md), [LH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/lh.md) and [TSH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/tsh.md). Which tests, and why: [Blood tests for low testosterone](https://picardo.health/guides/blood-tests-for/low-testosterone.md) ## Browse by body system ### Heart and blood vessels The cholesterol particles and inflammation that build plaque in arteries. - [ApoB](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/apob.md): How many plaque-building particles you have - [Lp(a)](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/lipoprotein-a.md): An inherited particle that raises heart risk - [LDL cholesterol](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/ldl-cholesterol.md): The main cholesterol behind plaque - [HDL cholesterol](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hdl-cholesterol.md): Cholesterol carried away from your arteries - [Triglycerides](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/triglycerides.md): Blood fats that rise with sugar and alcohol - [Total cholesterol](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/total-cholesterol.md): All the cholesterol in your blood - [Non-HDL cholesterol](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/non-hdl-cholesterol.md): The cholesterol in every plaque-building particle - [LDL particle number](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/ldl-particle-number.md): How many LDL particles you have - [hs-CRP](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hs-crp.md): Low-grade inflammation linked to heart risk - [ApoA-1](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/apoa1.md): The main protein on HDL particles - [Homocysteine](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/homocysteine.md): An 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. - [HbA1c](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hba1c.md): Average blood sugar over three months - [Fasting glucose](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/fasting-glucose.md): Blood sugar after an overnight fast - [Fasting insulin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/fasting-insulin.md): An early sign of insulin resistance - [HOMA-IR](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/homa-ir.md): An insulin resistance score from glucose and insulin - [Uric acid](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/uric-acid.md): A waste product that causes gout when high - [LP-IR](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/lp-ir.md): An insulin resistance score from a cholesterol test ### Liver Enzymes and proteins that show liver strain and how well it works. - [ALT](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/alt.md): The enzyme most specific to liver damage - [AST](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/ast.md): An enzyme from liver and muscle - [GGT](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/ggt.md): A liver enzyme that rises with alcohol - [ALP](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/alp.md): An enzyme from liver and bone - [Bilirubin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/bilirubin.md): Waste pigment used to assess liver function and bile flow - [Albumin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/albumin.md): The main protein the liver makes - [Total protein](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/total-protein.md): All the protein in your blood ### Kidneys How well your kidneys filter, and the earliest signs of damage. - [Creatinine](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/creatinine.md): Muscle waste the kidneys filter out - [eGFR](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/egfr.md): How well your kidneys filter - [BUN](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/bun.md): Protein waste the kidneys clear - [Cystatin C](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/cystatin-c.md): Kidney filtration marker less affected by muscle mass than creatinine - [Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/urine-albumin-creatinine-ratio.md): Early kidney damage, from a urine sample ### Thyroid Tests for an underactive or overactive thyroid. - [TSH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/tsh.md): The first test for thyroid function - [Free T4](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/free-t4.md): Main thyroid hormone, converted into the more active T3 - [Free T3](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/free-t3.md): Active thyroid hormone that regulates metabolism and energy use - [TPO antibodies](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/tpo-antibodies.md): A marker of autoimmune thyroid disease - [Thyroglobulin antibodies](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/thyroglobulin-antibodies.md): A second autoimmune thyroid marker ### Hormones Sex hormones, fertility and the stress hormone cortisol. - [Total testosterone](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/testosterone.md): All the testosterone in your blood - [Free testosterone](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/free-testosterone.md): The testosterone your body can use - [SHBG](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/shbg.md): The protein that binds sex hormones - [Estradiol](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/estradiol.md): The main estrogen - Progesterone: Rises after ovulation, so it shows whether you ovulated - [FSH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/fsh.md): A brain hormone that drives egg and sperm production - [LH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/lh.md): A brain hormone that triggers ovulation and testosterone - [DHEA-S](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/dhea-s.md): An adrenal hormone that falls with age - [PSA](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/psa.md): A prostate protein used in cancer screening - [Free PSA](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/free-psa.md): Helps read a borderline PSA - [AMH](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/amh.md): An estimate of egg reserve - [Cortisol](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/cortisol.md): The main stress hormone ### Blood and iron Red cells, white cells, platelets and your iron stores. - [Ferritin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/ferritin.md): How much iron you have in store - [Serum iron](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/serum-iron.md): Iron in your blood right now - [TIBC](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/tibc.md): How much iron your blood can carry - [Transferrin saturation](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/transferrin-saturation.md): How full your iron carriers are - [Hemoglobin](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hemoglobin.md): Carries oxygen; low levels mean anemia - [Hematocrit](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/hematocrit.md): The share of blood made of red cells - [MCV](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/mcv.md): Average red blood cell size - [RDW](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/rdw.md): How much red cell size varies - [Platelet count](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/platelets.md): Cells that help blood clot - [White blood cell count](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/white-blood-cells.md): Cells that fight infection - [Neutrophil count](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/neutrophils.md): White cells that fight bacterial infections - [Lymphocyte count](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/lymphocytes.md): White cells that fight viruses ### Vitamins and minerals Vitamins that often run low, and the salts your nerves and muscles need. - [Vitamin D](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/vitamin-d.md): How much vitamin D you have stored - [Vitamin B12](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/vitamin-b12.md): Needed for nerves and red blood cells - [Folate](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/folate.md): A B vitamin for cell growth - [Magnesium](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/magnesium.md): A mineral for muscles, nerves and heart rhythm - [Sodium](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/sodium.md): The main salt in blood, set by fluid balance - [Potassium](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/potassium.md): A salt your heart and muscles depend on - [Calcium](https://picardo.health/guides/biomarkers/calcium.md): Calcium in your blood, set by the parathyroid glands ## Next steps - **Already have results?** Ask Picardo about them. The app explains what each one means, and a physician can follow up if you want. [Ask about your results](https://app.picardo.health/auth) - **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. [See all lab panels](/labs)