Better health starts inside

All testosterone in your blood, bound and free. Measured by LC-MS/MS, the reference method, not a routine immunoassay.

The unbound fraction your tissues can actually use. Measured by equilibrium dialysis with LC-MS/MS. With symptoms, this number drives the treatment decision.

The main estrogen in men, made from testosterone. Too high or too low affects libido, mood and body fat.

The pituitary signal that tells the testes to make testosterone. Separates a testicular problem from a brain-signal problem.

The pituitary signal for sperm production. Read with LH to locate the cause of low testosterone.

A pituitary hormone that suppresses testosterone when elevated. Rules out a pituitary cause before treatment.

A mineral needed for testosterone production and immune function. Deficiency is common with low intake and heavy sweating.

An adrenal precursor to sex hormones. Declines with age and tracks drive, energy and stress load.

Fasting insulin rises years before glucose does. The earliest marker of insulin resistance, a major suppressor of testosterone.

Blood sugar at the time of the draw. A fasting value above 100 mg/dL is prediabetes territory.

Average blood sugar over the past 3 months. Catches prediabetes a single glucose misses.

Fat in the blood. High values point to insulin resistance and belly fat before glucose changes.

The most liver-specific enzyme. The earliest sign of fatty liver, common with belly fat and insulin resistance.

An enzyme from liver and muscle. Read with ALT to separate liver injury from workout damage.

The most sensitive marker of alcohol effect and fatty liver. Also predicts metabolic and cardiovascular risk.

Needed for nerves, red cells and energy. Deficiency causes fatigue, numbness and brain fog.

A B vitamin for cell division and homocysteine control. Low folate raises homocysteine.

Rises when cells lack B12. Catches functional B12 deficiency that a normal B12 level hides.

An omega-3 that lowers inflammation and triglycerides. Comes from fish or supplements.

The omega-3 the brain and retina are built from. Supports memory and mood.

A less-known omega-3 between EPA and DHA. Part of the total omega-3 picture.

Your total long-chain omega-3 level, the closest thing to an omega-3 index on this panel.

All omega-3 fatty acids in your blood.

Accumulates from old paint, water pipes and some imported goods. Damages nerves, blood pressure and fertility.

Mostly from large fish. Affects the nervous system and memory.

From well water, rice and some seafood. Long-term exposure raises cancer and heart risk.

The pituitary signal to the thyroid. The first screen for an underactive or overactive thyroid.

The main hormone the thyroid produces, in its active unbound form.

The active thyroid hormone that sets metabolic rate. Low with a normal TSH is a common reason for fatigue and stubborn weight.

Iron circulating in blood at the time of the draw. Read with TIBC and saturation.

How much iron your blood can carry. Rises when iron stores are low.

The share of iron-carrying capacity in use. Low means deficiency; high can mean iron overload.

Your iron stores. The earliest marker of iron deficiency, a cause of fatigue that a normal hemoglobin hides. Also flags iron overload.

The oxygen-carrying protein in red cells. Low hemoglobin is a common hidden cause of fatigue.

The share of blood volume made of red cells. Watched closely during testosterone therapy, which can raise it.

Number of red cells carrying oxygen. Low means anemia; high can mean dehydration or thick blood.

Average red cell size. Small points to iron deficiency; large points to B12 or folate deficiency or alcohol.

Average hemoglobin per red cell. Helps classify the type of anemia.

Hemoglobin concentration inside red cells. Low suggests iron deficiency.

Your vitamin D store. Low levels are linked to low testosterone, fatigue, low mood and weak immunity.

How much red cell size varies. Rises early in nutrient deficiency and predicts overall health risk.

Magnesium inside red cells, a truer measure than serum. Low magnesium affects sleep, muscle and heart rhythm.

One molecule per plaque-forming particle. A more accurate measure of heart-attack risk than LDL.

The cholesterol that builds plaque. The standard target for heart-attack risk.

Everything except HDL. Captures all plaque-forming particles in one number.

All cholesterol combined. A rough screen; the particle markers tell the real story.

Triglyceride-rich particles from the liver. Rises with excess carbohydrate and alcohol.

Cholesterol carried away from arteries. Low HDL often goes with insulin resistance.

The main protein of HDL. Higher levels reflect better cholesterol clearance.

Plaque-forming versus protective cholesterol in one number.

A quick estimate of cardiovascular risk from the basic lipid panel.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Low-grade inflammation that drives plaque and suppresses testosterone.

All omega-6 fatty acids. Needed, but excess relative to omega-3 drives inflammation.

The main dietary omega-6, mostly from seed oils.

The omega-6 that feeds inflammatory signaling.

An amino acid that damages artery walls when elevated. Rises with B12, folate and B6 shortfalls.

The balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory fats. Most American diets run far too high.

A sharper inflammation-balance marker than the crude omega ratio.

An enzyme from liver ducts and bone. Rises with bile-flow problems or bone turnover.

A red-cell breakdown product cleared by the liver. Rises with liver or bile problems; mildly high can be harmless Gilbert's syndrome.

The main blood protein made by the liver. Reflects liver function, nutrition and long-term health.

Albumin plus globulins. A general marker of nutrition, liver and immune status.

Immune and transport proteins. High values can signal chronic inflammation or infection.

The balance between the two protein groups. Low can point to inflammation or liver disease.

A muscle waste product cleared by the kidneys. Rises when filtration falls; also reflects muscle mass.

Estimated kidney filtration rate. The standard measure of kidney function.

Urea from protein breakdown. Rises with kidney strain, dehydration or a high-protein diet.

Separates dehydration from true kidney disease.

The main electrolyte for fluid balance and nerve signaling.

Controls heart rhythm and muscle function. Both high and low are dangerous.

Tracks with sodium; helps read acid-base balance.

Bicarbonate level; shows whether acid-base balance is intact.

Bone, nerve and muscle mineral. Abnormal values point to parathyroid or vitamin D problems.

Baseline prostate screen before and during testosterone therapy.

A first screen for autoimmune disease behind unexplained fatigue or joint pain.

Antibodies against the thyroid. The marker of Hashimoto's, the leading cause of hypothyroidism.

A second autoimmune thyroid antibody. Adds to TPO for detecting Hashimoto's.

Total white cells. High suggests infection or inflammation; low suggests marrow suppression or a viral illness.

Immature red cells that should not be in circulation. Their presence signals marrow stress.

The same immature red cells as a share of white cells.

The first-responder white cells against bacteria.

Neutrophils as a share of all white cells.

Young neutrophils released early. A rise signals an active bacterial infection.

Band neutrophils as a share of all white cells.

The cells behind antiviral and long-term immunity.

Lymphocytes as a share of all white cells.

Activated lymphocytes seen during viral infections such as mononucleosis.

Cells that clear debris and become tissue macrophages. Rise in chronic inflammation.

Monocytes as a share of all white cells.

White cells that rise with allergy, asthma and parasites.

Eosinophils as a share of all white cells.

Rare white cells involved in allergic reactions.

Basophils as a share of all white cells.

Immature neutrophils. Absent in healthy blood; presence means the marrow is under pressure.

Metamyelocytes as a share of all white cells.

An earlier neutrophil precursor. Absent in healthy blood.

Myelocytes as a share of all white cells.

A very early white cell precursor. Absent in healthy blood; presence needs a hematology review.

Promyelocytes as a share of all white cells.

The most immature blood cells. Any in circulation is an urgent finding.

Blasts as a share of all white cells.

Cells that clot blood. Low raises bleeding risk; high can signal inflammation or iron deficiency.

Average platelet size. Larger platelets are younger and more active; helps read platelet turnover.