A biomarker panel is one blood draw read across heart, metabolism, hormones, inflammation and more. More markers isn't automatically better. What matters is which markers are on the list, whether your own doctor already checks them, and who explains the results.
The panels, in plain English
A long panel is like a car dashboard with a hundred lights. It's only useful if someone tells you which lights matter and what to do when one turns yellow.
Comprehensive blood panel
One draw covering cholesterol, blood sugar, kidneys, liver, thyroid, vitamins and inflammation. Expect a few results just outside the normal range. Most of them mean nothing.
Cash price: $190 to $1,000
For: People who want a broad snapshot they will repeatHormone panel
Checks hormones like thyroid, testosterone, estrogen and cortisol. Some hormones change through the day, so the time of your blood draw matters.
For: People with symptoms like low energy, or going through midlife changesGut microbiome test
A stool sample that lists the bacteria in your gut. Different labs can give different results on the same sample, and there is no agreed picture yet of a healthy mix.
For: The curious, as long as nothing big rides on the resultFood sensitivity test
Usually measures IgG antibodies to foods. Allergy experts say these tests are not proven, and IgG is likely a normal response to eating a food.
For: Not recommended by allergy expertsPrices that clinics publish on their own websites, across all the cities we cover. Prices change, so confirm with the clinic.
