Annual Biomarker Checklist: What to Test Each Year

Why an annual biomarker check matters

Most health issues don't appear overnight — they trend quietly for months or years. An annual biomarker check gives you a baseline, tracks changes over time, and catches shifts before they become problems. Think of it as checking your dashboard before the warning light comes on.

Energy & metabolic markers

These markers tell you how your body converts food into fuel, manages blood sugar, and maintains steady energy through the day.

Fasting glucose

Your blood sugar after overnight fasting. High levels can signal insulin resistance or prediabetes, even before symptoms appear.

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c)

Your average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months. A more stable picture than a single glucose reading.

Insulin (fasting)

The hormone that moves sugar from blood into cells. Elevated fasting insulin can predate rising glucose by years.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

How hard your thyroid is working. An under- or overactive thyroid affects energy, weight, mood, and temperature regulation.

Free T4

A circulating thyroid hormone that can add context alongside TSH. ReachWell includes free T4 only in the female Advanced panel.

Heart & long-game markers

Cardiovascular markers trend slowly. Checking them annually lets you see direction — improving, stable, or drifting — before it becomes a clinical issue.

Total cholesterol

The sum of all cholesterol in your blood. Useful as a starting point, but the breakdown matters more.

LDL cholesterol

Often called 'bad' cholesterol. High LDL is associated with plaque buildup in arteries over time.

HDL cholesterol

Often called 'good' cholesterol. HDL helps remove cholesterol from the bloodstream.

Triglycerides

A type of fat in the blood. High triglycerides, especially with low HDL, can signal metabolic strain.

hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein)

A marker of systemic inflammation. Chronic low-grade inflammation is linked to cardiovascular risk over time.

Iron & oxygen markers

Iron status affects energy, focus, and exercise tolerance. Deficiency is common and often missed, especially in menstruating women and endurance athletes.

Serum iron

The amount of iron circulating in your blood at the time of the test.

Ferritin

Your body's iron storage. Low ferritin can cause fatigue and brain fog before anemia shows up on a standard CBC.

Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)

How much iron your blood could carry if enough were available. High TIBC with low ferritin suggests deficiency.

Transferrin saturation

The percentage of iron-binding sites actually carrying iron. A combined view of iron status.

Kidney & liver markers

These markers show how your filtration and detoxification systems are doing. They're also checked because many medications and supplements are processed through these organs.

Creatinine

A waste product filtered by the kidneys. Used to calculate kidney function.

eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)

A calculated measure of how well your kidneys are filtering. Below 60 may warrant follow-up.

ALT and AST

Liver enzymes. Mild elevations can reflect fatty liver, alcohol, or medication effects.

Albumin

A protein made by the liver. Low levels can indicate liver or kidney issues, or inadequate nutrition.

Blood count basics

A complete blood count (CBC) is a common clinical test, but it is not included as a full CBC in ReachWell's Essential or Advanced panels. The Advanced panels include hematocrit only.

White blood cell count (WBC)

Your immune system's cell count. High WBC can signal infection or inflammation.

Red blood cell count (RBC)

The number of oxygen-carrying cells. Low RBC with low hemoglobin indicates anemia.

Hemoglobin and hematocrit

How much oxygen your blood can carry and what percentage of your blood is red cells.

Platelets

The cells that help blood clot. Both high and low counts can be meaningful.

How to use this checklist

Take the free Health Clarity Assessment to get a personalized read on which markers fit your situation. You'll get a recommended panel that matches your answers — before you spend anything. Then, check your results against last year's to see the trend. That trend — not any single number — is the real value of annual testing.

Common questions

Do I need a doctor's order to get these tests?

At-home lab panels from ReachWell don't require a doctor's visit or referral. You order the panel, collect a small sample at home, and mail it back in prepaid packaging.

How often should I check these biomarkers?

For most adults, an annual check provides a meaningful trend without over-testing. If something is borderline or changing, your results may suggest retesting sooner. The assessment recommends a retest cadence based on your answers.

What if a marker is outside the normal range?

ReachWell results are educational, not diagnostic. A flagged marker means it's worth looking into further — typically with your healthcare provider, who can interpret it alongside your history and symptoms.

Are these the same tests I'd get at a doctor's office?

Many of these markers overlap with standard lab panels. The difference is convenience (at-home collection), access (no appointment or referral), and plain-language results you can actually read.

Get your personalized biomarker checklist

Ten questions. Four minutes. A clear recommendation before you spend anything.

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The Annual Biomarker Checklist