UNDERSTANDING YOUR BLOODWORK:

A Patient’s Guide to Comprehensive Biomarker Testing

What Is a Biomarker Panel, and Why Does It Matter?

Your blood carries a constant stream of information about how your body is actually functioning — how it’s managing energy, handling stress, fighting inflammation, and processing nutrients. A biomarker panel simply measures a set of these signals — things like glucose, cholesterol particles, thyroid hormones, and inflammatory markers — and turns them into numbers you and your care team can act on.
For most of medical history, we’ve waited for symptoms to show up before testing for anything. Comprehensive biomarker testing flips that: instead of reacting to a problem once it’s loud enough to notice, you get a baseline read on your metabolic, hormonal, and cardiovascular health before anything goes wrong — and a way to track whether the changes you’re making are actually working.
“Normal” Isn’t Always “Optimal”
Every lab report compares your result to a reference range built from a broad, general population. That range tells you what’s common — not necessarily what’s ideal for you. A fasting glucose of 95 mg/dL might fall inside the “normal” range, but if your number was 82 a year ago, that upward trend matters more than either single value on its own. This is really the whole point of testing more than once: a single panel is a snapshot, but a pattern across two or three panels over time is a trend you can actually act on.

What Your Annual Physical Often Misses

A standard yearly physical typically includes a complete blood count (CBC), a basic metabolic panel, and a standard lipid panel. That’s a reasonable starting point — but it leaves real gaps for anyone who wants a genuinely complete picture:
● ApoB and Lp(a) — increasingly recognized as better predictors of cardiovascular risk than standard LDL cholesterol, and rarely ordered in a routine physical
● High-sensitivity CRP — picks up low-grade inflammation years before it becomes a diagnosable problem
● A full thyroid panel — most physicals check TSH alone, which can miss real dysfunction in Free T3 or Free T4
● Sex hormones — testosterone, estradiol, and SHBG are rarely included unless you’re already reporting symptoms
● Micronutrient status — vitamin D, B12, folate, magnesium, and ferritin often go unchecked until a deficiency is severe
● Insulin and HOMA-IR — fasting glucose alone can look normal for years while insulin resistance is quietly building underneath

Function Health Metabolic Panel

$365 basic Function Health annual panel

Neal’s Link

 Heart Health & Advanced Lipids

This goes beyond a standard cholesterol check to look at advanced markers for cardiovascular risk.

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB): A direct measure of the plaque-causing particles in the blood.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]: A genetic marker for cardiovascular disease risk.

Standard Lipids: Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL (Good) Cholesterol, LDL (Bad) Cholesterol.

Ratios & Breakdowns: Non-HDL Cholesterol, Cholesterol/HDL Ratio, LDL particle number, and LDL peak size.

 

Metabolic Health & Diabetes Risk

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): Measures average blood sugar over the last 3 months.

Glucose: Fasting blood sugar level.

Fasting Insulin: Helps detect insulin resistance early.

Leptin: A hormone tied to appetite regulation and fat storage.

Uric Acid: High levels can indicate risk for gout or metabolic issues.

 

Nutrients, Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy): Crucial for bone, immune, and mental health.

Vitamin B12 & Methylmalonic Acid (MMA): MMA is a highly sensitive marker for B12 status.

Full Iron Panel: Total Iron, Ferritin (iron storage), Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), and Iron Saturation.

Minerals: Magnesium (RBC) and Zinc.

Homocysteine: An amino acid tied to B-vitamin deficiency and cardiovascular risk.

Advanced Omega Fatty Acid Panel: Total Omega-3, Total Omega-6, EPA, DHA, DPA, Arachidonic Acid, Linoleic Acid, and Omega-6/Omega-3 ratios.

 

Thyroid Function

TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone): The baseline indicator for thyroid function.

Free T3 & Free T4: The active and inactive forms of thyroid hormone.

Thyroid Antibodies: Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO) to check for autoimmune thyroid issues like Hashimoto’s.

 

Hormones (Male & Female)

Stress: Cortisol and DHEA-Sulfate.

Sex Hormones: Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone, Estradiol (Estrogen), and Progesterone.

Reproductive/Binding: Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Prolactin.

Specifics: Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) for female ovarian reserve, and PSA (Total and Free) for male prostate health.

 

Inflammation & Autoimmunity

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP): A key marker of systemic, whole-body inflammation.

Autoimmune Screening: Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (ANA Screen, Titer, and Pattern) and Rheumatoid Factor (IgM).

 

Liver Health

Enzymes: ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT.

Proteins: Albumin, Globulin, and the Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio.

Bilirubin: Total Bilirubin.

 

Kidney Function & Electrolytes

Filtration: eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate).

Waste Clearance: Creatinine, BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen), and BUN/Creatinine Ratio.

 

Electrolytes:

 Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, and Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Complete Blood Count (CBC) & Blood Types

Blood Type: ABO Blood Group and Rh Type.

Immune Cells (White Blood Cells): Total WBC Count, plus a differential breakdown (Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils).

Red Blood Cells: Total RBC Count, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), and Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW).

Platelets: Platelet Count and Mean Platelet Volume (MPV).

 

Heavy Metals & Pancreas Function

Pancreas: Amylase and Lipase (digestive enzymes).

Toxins: Blood testing for Lead and Mercury exposure.

(Disclaimer: Function Health periodically updates this test roster, and that the $365 yearly membership typically covers this 100+ biomarker panel upfront, followed by a mid-year re-test of ~60 targeted markers).

Superpower Metabolic Panel

$199/year

Neal’s Link

 

Heart & Cardiovascular Risk

Advanced lipid particles and key ratios that go far beyond standard cholesterol testing to evaluate vascular health and plaque risk.

  • Apolipoprotein B (ApoB): Measures the total number of atherogenic (plaque-causing) particles.

  • Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]: Genetic risk marker for heart disease and stroke.

  • Standard Lipids: Total Cholesterol, HDL (Good) Cholesterol, LDL (Bad) Cholesterol, and Triglycerides.

  • Advanced Lipids & Ratios: Non-HDL Cholesterol, LDL/HDL Ratio, Cholesterol/HDL Ratio, ApoB/LDL-C metrics, and Atherogenic Coefficient.

Metabolic Health & Blood Sugar

Markers that assess energy balance, cell sensitivity, and early risk for metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.

  • Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): 3-month average blood glucose marker.

  • Fasting Glucose & Estimated Average Glucose (eAG): Direct measurement of current blood sugar regulation.

  • Fasting Insulin: Early indicator of insulin resistance before blood sugar levels rise.

  • Triglyceride Glucose Index (TyG): Advanced biomarker ratio for metabolic health and insulin sensitivity.

  • Uric Acid: Marker linked to metabolic stress, kidney filtering, and gout risk.

Thyroid Function

A complete thyroid evaluation to check metabolic rate, energy management, and autoimmune activity.

  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): Central signal sent to the thyroid gland.

  • Free & Total T3 / Free & Total T4: Active and circulating forms of primary thyroid hormones.

  • Free T4 Index (T7) & T3 Uptake: Binding capacity and hormone availability markers.

  • Thyroid Antibodies: Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and Thyroglobulin (TgAb) antibodies to screen for Hashimoto’s or autoimmune thyroid conditions.

Sex Hormones & Adrenal Stress

Key drivers for drive, reproductive health, muscle maintenance, mood, and stress response.

  • Sex Hormones: Estradiol (Estrogen), Progesterone, Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone, and Bioavailable Testosterone.

  • Hormone Regulators & Ratios: Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), Free Androgen Index (FAI), and Testosterone/Estradiol Ratio (T:E2).

  • Stress & Adrenal: DHEA-Sulate (DHEA-S) and Cortisol.

  • Reproductive Signals: Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH).

Inflammation & Autoimmunity

Vascular and systemic inflammation markers linked to longevity and chronic disease risk.

  • hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein): Key indicator of systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk.

  • Autoimmune Screening: Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (ANA Screen) and Rheumatoid Factor (RF).

  • Homocysteine: An amino acid linked to vascular inflammation, methylation, and B-vitamin status.

Liver Function & Enzymes

Enzymes and proteins that reflect liver health, bile flow, and metabolic processing.

  • Liver Enzymes: ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase), ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase), and GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase).

  • Proteins: Total Protein, Albumin, Globulin, and Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio.

  • Bilirubin Panel: Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin, Indirect Bilirubin, and Bilirubin/Albumin Ratio.

Kidney Health & Electrolytes

Markers evaluating fluid balance, waste filtration, and renal efficiency.

  • Filtration & Waste: Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), BUN/Creatinine Ratio, and eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate).

  • Electrolytes & Minerals: Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium (including Corrected/Albumin-Adjusted Calcium), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Nutrients, Vitamins & Essential Fatty Acids

  • Vitamins: Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) and Vitamin B12 (along with Methylmalonic Acid / MMA for tissue-level evaluation).

  • Complete Iron Panel: Ferritin (iron storage), Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), and Transferrin Saturation.

  • Essential Minerals: RBC Magnesium and Zinc.

  • Omega Fatty Acid Profile: Total Omega-3, Total Omega-6, EPA, DHA, Arachidonic Acid, and Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio.

Complete Blood Count (CBC) & Hematology

  • Red Blood Cells: Total RBC Count, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW).

  • White Blood Cells & Immune Differential: Total WBC, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, and Basophils.

  • Platelets: Total Platelet Count and Mean Platelet Volume (MPV).

(Optional Website Disclaimer: You may want to add a note that biomarker panels can vary slightly based on individual lab requirements or geographical availability, and that membership models typically combine lab orders with continuous tracking tools, health dashboards, or personalized action plans).