What we test / A guide to your bloodworkA closer look
A closer look
at your bloodwork.
Explore selected test examples and what they measure. Bring your questions to your Nurse Practitioner review.
Explore the guideHeart & metabolic
Cholesterol, blood sugar and the way your body uses energy.
Total cholesterolAn overview of cholesterol in your blood.
- What it measures
- Measures the total cholesterol in your blood, including HDL and LDL.
- How it fits together
- Read alongside the individual cholesterol results and your health history.
HDL cholesterolOne part of your cholesterol profile.
- What it measures
- HDL helps carry excess cholesterol away for removal.
- How it fits together
- Your clinician considers HDL together with the rest of your cholesterol profile.
LDL cholesterol · calculatedCholesterol estimated from your lipid results.
- What it measures
- Calculated LDL is estimated using other results in your cholesterol profile.
- How it fits together
- It contributes to the assessment of cardiovascular risk.
TriglyceridesA type of fat circulating in your blood.
- What it measures
- Measures triglycerides, a type of blood fat.
- How it fits together
- Interpreted with your cholesterol results and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Apolipoprotein BA closer look at cholesterol-carrying particles.
- What it measures
- Measures ApoB, a protein on cholesterol-carrying particles, including LDL.
- How it fits together
- Helps estimate the number of these particles and adds context to your cardiovascular risk assessment.
Lipoprotein(a)A cholesterol-carrying particle.
- What it measures
- Measures lipoprotein(a), a particle that carries cholesterol through your blood.
- How it fits together
- It can add information to a cardiovascular risk assessment beyond a routine cholesterol profile.
Fasting glucoseYour blood sugar at the time of testing.
- What it measures
- Measures glucose in your blood after a period without food. Glucose supplies energy to your cells.
- How it fits together
- Follow the preparation instructions given for your appointment. Your clinician reviews this result alongside your other bloodwork.
Hemoglobin A1cA longer view of your blood sugar.
- What it measures
- Reflects your average blood glucose over approximately the past two to three months.
- How it fits together
- It gives a different perspective from a glucose measurement taken at a single moment.
Fasting insulinA hormone that helps your cells use glucose.
- What it measures
- Measures insulin in your blood. Insulin helps move glucose into your cells for energy.
- How it fits together
- Your clinician considers insulin together with your glucose levels and the reason for testing.
Blood & nutrients
Blood cells, iron and nutrients that help your body function.
Complete blood countA group of measurements of your blood cells.
- What it measures
- Looks at red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and related measurements. A differential also measures types of white blood cells.
- How it fits together
- This is a group of results, not a single biomarker. Your clinician interprets the pattern alongside your health history.
IronIron circulating in your blood.
- What it measures
- Measures iron in your blood. Your body uses iron to make the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
- How it fits together
- Iron levels can vary during the day. Other iron-related results help put the measurement in context.
FerritinA marker used to assess stored iron.
- What it measures
- Helps your clinician assess your body’s iron stores.
- How it fits together
- Reviewed alongside other iron tests, blood counts and your health history.
Total iron-binding capacityAnother part of understanding your iron status.
- What it measures
- Measures how well iron can attach to proteins in your blood.
- How it fits together
- It adds context to other iron measurements rather than being interpreted on its own.
Magnesium · serumA mineral involved in muscle and nerve function.
- What it measures
- Measures magnesium in your blood. This mineral supports your muscles, nerves and heart.
- How it fits together
- Only a small proportion of your body’s magnesium is in the blood; this result is one part of the assessment.
CalciumA mineral involved in nerves, muscles and bones.
- What it measures
- Measures calcium in your blood, where it helps nerves, muscles and the heart work properly.
- How it fits together
- Your clinician reviews the result alongside other blood chemistry measurements.
Vitamin DA nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium.
- What it measures
- Measures vitamin D status, usually through its 25-hydroxy form. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium.
- How it fits together
- Testing is not necessary for everyone. Your clinician considers whether it is appropriate for your circumstances.
Thyroid
Hormones involved in how your body uses energy.
Thyroid-stimulating hormoneThe signal that helps regulate your thyroid.
- What it measures
- TSH comes from the pituitary gland and signals the thyroid to make hormones.
- How it fits together
- Often used as the starting point for assessing thyroid function.
Free T4A measurement of available thyroid hormone.
- What it measures
- Measures thyroxine that is not attached to carrier proteins in the blood.
- How it fits together
- Reviewed with TSH and any other clinically relevant thyroid results.
Free T3The free form of an active thyroid hormone.
- What it measures
- Measures the free, active form of the thyroid hormone T3.
- How it fits together
- The need for this test depends on the clinical assessment; not everyone needs every thyroid test.
Thyroid peroxidase antibodiesAntibodies that may affect the thyroid.
- What it measures
- Checks for antibodies directed against thyroid peroxidase, a protein involved in making thyroid hormones.
- How it fits together
- May be considered when investigating a thyroid condition, alongside hormone results and symptoms.
Inflammation
Signals that help your clinician understand your body’s response to inflammation.
C-reactive proteinA blood marker associated with inflammation.
- What it measures
- Measures a protein the liver makes in response to inflammation.
- How it fits together
- CRP does not identify the cause or location of inflammation. Your clinician reviews it with your symptoms and other results.
High-sensitivity CRPA more sensitive measurement of CRP.
- What it measures
- Detects smaller increases in C-reactive protein than a standard CRP test.
- How it fits together
- May contribute to a cardiovascular risk assessment. Standard CRP and hs-CRP have different clinical uses.
Liver & kidneys
Markers that help your clinician assess liver and kidney health.
Alanine aminotransferaseAn enzyme assessed as part of liver bloodwork.
- What it measures
- Measures ALT, an enzyme found mainly in the liver.
- How it fits together
- Reviewed with other liver-related results to help assess liver health.
Aspartate aminotransferaseAn enzyme included in liver-related testing.
- What it measures
- Measures AST, one of the enzymes assessed in liver bloodwork.
- How it fits together
- The pattern across several results helps your clinician interpret its meaning.
Alkaline phosphataseAn enzyme assessed with other liver markers.
- What it measures
- Measures ALP, an enzyme commonly included in liver-related testing.
- How it fits together
- Its meaning depends on the other results and your clinical circumstances.
Gamma-glutamyl transferaseAn enzyme measured in liver bloodwork.
- What it measures
- Measures GGT, an enzyme mainly made in the liver.
- How it fits together
- It is considered alongside other liver enzymes and your health history.
Total bilirubinA waste product processed by your liver.
- What it measures
- Bilirubin forms when old red blood cells break down. Your liver helps remove it.
- How it fits together
- The blood level contributes to the assessment of liver health.
AlbuminA major blood protein made by your liver.
- What it measures
- Measures albumin, the main protein in your blood, which is made in the liver.
- How it fits together
- One part of a wider assessment using blood chemistry results.
CreatinineA waste product filtered by your kidneys.
- What it measures
- Measures creatinine, a waste product your kidneys remove from the blood.
- How it fits together
- Used with other information to help assess how your kidneys are working.
Blood urea nitrogenAnother waste product cleared by your kidneys.
- What it measures
- Measures urea nitrogen in your blood, a waste product removed through the kidneys.
- How it fits together
- Reviewed alongside creatinine and other clinically relevant results.
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