Biomarkers
Vitamin A Test: Retinol Levels for Vision and Immunity
Quick answer: A vitamin A test measures serum retinol, the circulating form of vitamin A, in a standard blood draw.…
Category: Biomarkers
What your blood tells you. Plain-English guides to biomarkers like ApoB, hs-CRP, HbA1c, and the lab numbers that actually predict long-term health.
Biomarkers
Uric Acid Test: Gout, Kidney Stones, and Metabolic Health
Quick answer: A uric acid test is a simple blood draw that measures the concentration of uric acid in your…
Biomarkers
TPO Antibodies Test: Detecting Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Quick answer: A TPO antibodies test measures thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO Ab) in your blood, the primary marker for autoimmune…
Biomarkers
Total Protein Test: Albumin, Globulin, and the A/G Ratio
Quick answer: A total protein test measures the combined concentration of albumin and globulin in your blood, reported in grams…
Biomarkers
Thyroglobulin Antibody Test: Another Clue to Thyroid Autoimmunity
Quick answer: A thyroglobulin antibody test (TgAb) measures immune proteins that attack thyroglobulin, a protein your thyroid uses to make…
Biomarkers
Sodium Blood Test: Hydration, Balance, and Hyponatremia
Quick answer: A sodium blood test measures the concentration of sodium ions in your bloodstream, reported in milliequivalents per liter…
Biomarkers
SHBG Test: The Hormone Binder That Changes Your Real Levels
Quick answer: An SHBG test measures sex hormone binding globulin, a protein made by the liver that binds tightly to…
Biomarkers
Selenium Test: A Trace Mineral Behind Thyroid and Antioxidant Health
Quick answer: A selenium blood test measures the concentration of selenium in your plasma or whole blood to determine whether…
Biomarkers
Reverse T3 Test: The Thyroid Brake Your Standard Panel Misses
Quick answer: A reverse T3 test measures RT3, a biologically inactive mirror-image of the active thyroid hormone T3. Your body…
Biomarkers
Reticulocyte Count: How Fast Your Body Makes Red Blood Cells
Quick answer: A reticulocyte count measures the percentage (or absolute number) of young, immature red blood cells circulating in your…
Biomarkers
PSA Test: Prostate Screening, Free PSA, and What Numbers Mean
Quick answer: A PSA test measures prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced almost exclusively by prostate tissue, in a simple blood…
Biomarkers
Prolactin Test: When a Single Hormone Disrupts Everything
Quick answer: A prolactin test is a blood draw that measures the level of the hormone prolactin, produced by the…