MetabolicMarkers

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Annual Blood Work: Baseline Lab Panels to Track Every Year

A once-a-year lab routine: pick a tier, set your baseline, and watch the trend lines.

Affiliate disclosure: we earn a commission when you purchase lab tests through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

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Annual baseline tiers from $67.64 (General Health - Basic, regularly $100.95); focused recheck bundles from $26.37. Promotional pricing at time of writing.

At a glance

Annual blood work establishes a personal baseline for markers that shift slowly, cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, thyroid hormones, liver enzymes, kidney function, and iron stores. These tiered general health panels bundle 5 to 23 tests into one yearly draw, with focused add-ons for blood sugar, inflammation, and men's health. They suit adults who want year-over-year numbers to compare and to bring to their annual physical.

Best suited for

  • Adults building a yearly lab routine alongside their annual physical
  • People whose checkup blood work feels minimal and who want a deeper baseline
  • Trend-trackers comparing this year's A1c, lipids, and ferritin against last year's
  • Anyone who wants concrete numbers and questions ready before a doctor visit

What's included

General Health - Basic Lab Panel

5 tests, 30 biomarkers

General Health - Basic Plus Lab Panel

8 tests, 66 biomarkers

General Health - Advanced Lab Panel

13 tests, 86 biomarkers (blood + urine)

General Health - Advanced Plus Lab Panel

23 tests, 113 biomarkers

Iron Total and Ferritin Panel

2 tests, iron availability and storage

Kidney, Liver & Electrolyte Panel

2 tests, 21 biomarkers

PSA Total and Testosterone, Total, Males

2 tests, prostate and testosterone markers

Lipid Panel and C-Reactive Protein Cardiac (hsCRP)

2 tests, 8 biomarkers

Hemoglobin A1C, Insulin and Glucose Panel

3 tests, blood sugar control

T3 Free and T3 Total Panel

2 tests, 2 biomarkers

Lipid Panel and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

2 tests, 28 biomarkers

Urinalysis Complete and Uric Acid Panel

2 tests, 29 biomarkers (blood + urine)

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD), GGT and Bilirubin, Fractionated

3 tests, 5 biomarkers, liver markers

hs-CRP and Homocysteine Panel

2 tests, inflammation markers

New Year's Resolution Panel

14 tests, 74 biomarkers

Deep-dive the key markers: Fasting Glucose, HbA1c, Fasting Insulin, LDL-C, HDL-C, Triglycerides, hs-CRP, TSH, Free T3, Vitamin D, Ferritin, Total Testosterone, eGFR, ALT

Key biomarker ranges

Commonly used adult reference ranges for markers this panel measures, labs vary, so always interpret results against your lab's stated ranges and with your doctor.

Fasting Glucose (mg/dL)

Commonly used reference ranges place fasting glucose at 70–99 mg/dL; results vary with sleep, stress, and recent illness, and labs differ slightly.

Fasting Glucose reference ranges (mg/dL)
ZoneRange
Low50–70 mg/dL
Optimal70–100 mg/dL
Prediabetic range100–126 mg/dL
Diabetic range126–160 mg/dL
Hemoglobin A1c (%)

Commonly used reference ranges place HbA1c below 5.7%; conditions affecting red blood cells can skew results, so labs and clinicians interpret in context.

Hemoglobin A1c reference ranges (%)
ZoneRange
Optimal4–5.7 %
Prediabetic range5.7–6.5 %
Diabetic range6.5–10 %
Fasting Insulin (µIU/mL)

Commonly used reference ranges accept up to ~25 µIU/mL, but many clinicians view single-digit fasting insulin as the more informative target; assays vary by lab.

Fasting Insulin reference ranges (µIU/mL)
ZoneRange
Low0–2 µIU/mL
Optimal2–10 µIU/mL
Above optimal10–25 µIU/mL
High25–30 µIU/mL

The importance of testing

A single lab result tells you where you are; an annual series tells you where you are heading. Markers like LDL cholesterol, A1c, ferritin, and TSH drift gradually, so a yearly draw taken under similar conditions makes real change visible, and makes it easier to connect shifts to what happened that year, from a new training block to a new medication.

The tiered structure maps to how deep an annual baseline you want. The Basic panel (5 tests, 30 biomarkers) covers metabolic function, blood health, lipids, and thyroid; Advanced (13 tests, 86 biomarkers) adds blood sugar, inflammation, vitamin D, and kidney markers; Advanced Plus (23 tests, 113 biomarkers) layers on cardiovascular risk, hormone balance, and vitamin levels. Focused bundles, A1c with insulin and glucose, lipids with hs-CRP, iron with ferritin, work as mid-year rechecks for the markers you are actively managing.

Annual self-ordered labs complement, rather than replace, your physical. Arriving with a year-over-year table of your own results turns a routine visit into a more specific conversation: which trends look fine, which markers deserve a closer look, and whether anything warrants follow-up testing your doctor orders directly.

Part of our complete guide to Metabolic Health Lab Tests — browse every panel and biomarker guide in this hub.

Promo code

ULTAE733

Save 33-50% with code ULTAE733, current promotion; confirm final pricing on the partner page.

Ready to get your numbers? Order online, visit a nearby draw site, and receive private results to review with your doctor.

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Frequently asked questions

Which blood tests should I include in annual blood work?

A practical annual baseline covers lipids, blood sugar (A1c, glucose), thyroid function, liver enzymes, kidney markers, and blood health, which is what the General Health tiers bundle in one draw. Start with the Basic tier (30 biomarkers) or step up to Advanced (86 biomarkers) if you also want inflammation, vitamin D, and urine-based kidney markers, then let your doctor tailor anything further.

Can I order my annual labs without a doctor's visit?

Yes, these panels are ordered online without a referral, and you schedule the draw at a local lab yourself. Results come to you securely, so you can review the numbers before your physical and share the report with your doctor.

Do self-ordered annual labs replace my yearly physical?

No, they complement it. These panels measure biomarkers and surface trends, but interpreting results, ordering follow-up testing, and making care decisions belong in a conversation with your doctor.

How often should I repeat these panels?

Many people repeat a broad baseline once a year and use smaller bundles, such as A1c with insulin and glucose, or lipids with hs-CRP, for interim rechecks of markers they are actively working on. Your doctor can advise the right cadence for your situation.

Is this kind of testing available in every US state?

No, direct-to-consumer lab testing is restricted or prohibited in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, so residents of those states may be blocked at the partner's checkout. In most other states you can order and schedule entirely online.

References

  1. [1] Hidden Risks behind Normal Fasting Glucose: Is It Significant? — Diabetes & Metabolism Journal (Korean Diabetes Association, via PMC)
  2. [2] Good to Know: Factors Affecting Blood Glucose — Clinical Diabetes, American Diabetes Association (via PMC)
  3. [3] Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  4. [4] Interpreting A1C: Principles of the A1C Assay — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  5. [5] Interpreting A1C: Diabetes and Hemoglobin Variants — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  6. [6] The A1C Test & Diabetes — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  7. [7] What Is Diabetes? — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  8. [8] Surrogate markers of insulin resistance: A review — World Journal of Diabetes (via PMC)
  9. [9] Insulin Assay Standardization: Leading to Measures of Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion for Practical Clinical Care — Diabetes Care, American Diabetes Association (via PMC)
  10. [10] LDL: The 'Bad' Cholesterol — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  11. [11] Low-density lipoproteins cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel — European Heart Journal
  12. [12] Familial Hypercholesterolemia — GeneReviews, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  13. [13] Hypercholesterolemia — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  14. [14] Low HDL Cholesterol — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  15. [15] HPS2-THRIVE, AIM-HIGH and dal-OUTCOMES: HDL-cholesterol under attack — Global Cardiology Science & Practice
  16. [16] Metabolic syndrome — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  17. [17] Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  18. [18] Triglycerides — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  19. [19] Hypertriglyceridemia — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM)
  20. [20] High Blood Triglycerides — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH)
  21. [21] C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  22. [22] Assessing Cardiovascular Risk with C-Reactive Protein — Johns Hopkins Medicine
  23. [23] C-Reactive Protein: Clinical Relevance and Interpretation — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM)
  24. [24] TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) Test — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  25. [25] Thyroid Function Tests — American Thyroid Association
  26. [26] Subclinical Hypothyroidism — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM)
  27. [27] Thyroid Function Tests — American Thyroid Association
  28. [28] Effects of fasting on thyroid hormone profiles: a systematic review and meta-analysis of TSH, FT3, FT4, and total T3 responses — Frontiers in Endocrinology
  29. [29] Hyperthyroidism — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM)
  30. [30] Vitamin D - Health Professional Fact Sheet — NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
  31. [31] Evaluation, Treatment, and Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline — Endocrine Society (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism)
  32. [32] Vitamin D - Health Professional Fact Sheet — NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
  33. [33] Iron-Deficiency Anemia — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  34. [34] Limitations of Serum Ferritin in Diagnosing Iron Deficiency in Inflammatory Conditions — International Journal of Chronic Diseases
  35. [35] Diagnosis of Hemochromatosis — NIDDK (NIH)
  36. [36] Dose–response relationship of serum ferritin and dietary iron intake with metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis — Frontiers in Nutrition
  37. [37] Testosterone and Health Outcomes — Institute of Medicine / National Academies Press (NCBI Bookshelf, NIH)
  38. [38] Effect of 1 Week of Sleep Restriction on Testosterone Levels in Young Healthy Men — JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)
  39. [39] Testosterone Levels Test — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  40. [40] Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency (2024) — American Urological Association
  41. [41] Physiology, Glomerular Filtration Rate — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  42. [42] Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) — National Kidney Foundation
  43. [43] What Is Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults? — NIDDK (NIH)
  44. [44] Is It Time for a Requiem for Creatine Supplementation-Induced Kidney Failure? A Narrative Review — Nutrients
  45. [45] Estimated GFR (eGFR) Test: Kidney Function Levels, Stages, and What to Do Next — National Kidney Foundation
  46. [46] Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Test — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  47. [47] Definition & Facts of NAFLD & NASH — NIDDK (NIH)
  48. [49] Liver Function Tests — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)

Reviewed by

Jason August

Jason August

Founder & Editorial Lead

Jason August is the founder of Metabolic Markers and its parent company, Advancing Development. He has spent his career building and scaling real-world ventures, including as a founding team member at Build-A-Bear Workshop during its growth from startup to global public company, and since then across capital, real estate, adaptive reuse, and hospitality. He founded Metabolic Markers to make blood-biomarker testing easier to understand and access, and oversees the site’s content and editorial accuracy. Jason is not a medical professional; all content on this site is educational, reviewed for accuracy, and never a substitute for advice from a licensed physician.

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