Lab Tests & Blood Work

Our bodies didn't come equipped with gauges and warning lights so we will need to periodically check and monitor various levels and systems "under the hood."

“Labwork!” is what an athlete will answer to the question, “what is one thing every enhanced athlete needs to get?” And it’s true. But what labs? Which blood tests, specifically, need to be run? Ah! That’s where the deer-in-the-headlights look begins. Furthermore, what is the appropriate range for the labs that are run? Some geek in a lab coat at that specific lab sat down and set a range based on gen-pop (typically older) patients based on their own biases.

Keep in mind that these “normal ranges” aren’t exactly agreed upon throughout the medical community. The truth is, human bodies vary so much no one can really say for sure, and testing methods have changed over the years, leading to some discrepancy. Numbers don’t tell the whole story. A level is only “low” if you’re experiencing symptoms. If you’re experiencing symptoms, you’ll want to get a blood test to see precisely what’s going on. It’s possible your levels won’t fall outside the normal range, which may indicate something else is causing your symptoms.

You can spend a small fortune getting labwork measuring every small thing, however for Bodybuilding purposes, these are the tests an enhanced athlete should get. At a minimum get the Hormone Wellness Panel (Bundle) and Testosterone (Free) Direct Test (Add-on) every three months and other tests as requested by Coach Biff:

HealthLabs Test	Blood Tests (Individual)	Purpose/Description
Hormone Wellness Panel (Test Bundle)	Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential/Platelet	Gives an overall view of general health by measuring the health of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
	Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)	Used to evaluate your body's kidney overall health, metabolism, blood glucose levels, electrolyte balance, and acid/base balance. Includes the following (among other tests):
		-Glucose: Blood sugar. The body receives a large amount of its energy from glucose, which is transported using the hormone insulin
		-BUN/Creatinine Ratio: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a byproduct of the breakdown of food proteins which the kidneys filter out. Determines overall kidney and liver health
	ALT Liver Test	The alanine aminotransferase test (ALT) is used to measure an enzyme in the blood, which can be useful in determining liver disease
	Lipid Profile/Cholesterol Panel	The total cholesterol, LDL “Bad Cholesterol”, HDL “Good cholesterol”, and triglycerides. Determining your lipid-cholesterol levels can determine if you are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
	Testosterone, Total	This testosterone blood test measures all three types of testosterone in the blood as a whole (free testosterone, SHBG-bound testosterone, and albumin-bound testosterone) in one reading. This test does not give individual levels of each form of testosterone, and only gives a measurement in the form of total, overall testosterone.
	Estrogen, Total	The estrogen test measures the total amounts of the estrogen in the blood. Estrogens play critical roles in male reproductive organs and need to be balanced out with testosterone for optimal health.
	Estadiol (E2) Test	The test measures the amount of the hormone estradiol in the blood. Estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) are the three major forms of estrogen. Of these, estradiol (E2) is the most potent endogenous estrogen. In males, 75% of E2 is produced from testosterone (and other androgens) by an aromatase-catalyzed reaction in the peripheral tissues and 25% of E2 is produced in the testes. It helps prevent sperm from dying prematurely and is tied to gynecomastia.
	Prolactin (PRL)	Prolactin (PRL) is one of the hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary. High prolactin hormone in males can negatively affect the reproductive system through erectile dysfunction, low libido, low testosterone production, and infertility.
	Luteinizing Hormone (LH)	Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. LH helps regulate the production of testosterone in men and causes testicles to make sperm
Testosterone (Free) Direct Test (Add-on)	Testosterone (Free) Direct Test	This add-on test measures the amount of free testosterone in the blood. Approximately two-thirds of testosterone circulates in the blood bound to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and less than one-third is bound to albumin. A small percent (less than 4 percent) circulates in the blood as free testosterone.
Thyroid Panel with TSH (Add-on)	Thyroid Panel with TSH	This group of tests measures the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood. Thyroid hormones are chemical substances that are important to regulating metabolism, or how the body uses energy. Includes T4, T3 uptake, T7, and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).
HbA1C Test (Add-on)	Hemoglobin A1C	This test shows what your average blood sugar (glucose) level was over the past two to three months. Glucose in your blood sticks to hemoglobin, a protein in your red blood cells. As your blood glucose levels increase, more of your hemoglobin will be coated with glucose. An A1C test measures the percentage of your red blood cells that have glucose-coated hemoglobin. Too much blood glucose indicates diabetes.
FSH Test (Add-on)	Follicle-Stimulating Hormone	FSH helps control the amount of sperm that the testicles (testes) make. It also affects how healthy the sperm are.
Procedure:	Purchase the test(s) by clicking on the test name in the left column, adding it to your cart, and checking out on the HealthLabs.com website. Take the lab requisition form (automatically generated) to a certified laboratory (your choice- picked from a list) No appointment necessary and you can walk into the lab you selected to have your blood sample collected at any time during their business hours. The requisition does not expire - but the sooner you do your test, the sooner you get your results! A small blood sample will be drawn from a vein in your arm These tests all usually take 10 minutes or less The results of your tests will arrive in your HealthLabs.com account within 1-3 business days
Preparation:	No workouts/weight training 48-72 hours prior to test No biotin (vitamin B7) supplements for at least 48 hours before testing (interacts with hormone tests) Fasting required: No food or drink for 9-12 hours prior to test (water okay) Drink 40-60 ounces of clear water prior to test
Frequency:	The Hormone Wellness Panel should be conducted QUARTERLY (every 3 months), but especially: Before Prep and After Prep - to ensure health markers are good and it's safe to proceed as well as to see how bad it is at your worst afterwards Before and After Offseason Push/Growth Phases - to ensure health markers are good and it's safe to proceed as well as to see how bad it is at your worst afterwards When trying to conceive children
NY Residents:	NY State Law prohibits residents from ordering and accessing their own hormone tests You may order your labs from any out-of-state lab, for example, in PA (select location during checkout) For other blood tests, NY State charges a 35% "compliance fee" surcharge to pay for the bureaucracy (avoided by going out-of-state) Bare Minimum: Get Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) - they're better than nothing and available to you all across NYS.