As a dietitian who specialises in evidence-based care, I focus heavily on lab testing, particularly blood tests and genetic testing. To guide nutrition and supplement strategies. While advanced tests like dried urine test can offer extra insight, you’d be surprised how much valuable information can be uncovered through standard blood work alone.
Many of these tests are accessible, affordable, and can even be covered by medical aid. Whether you’re due for your annual check-up or simply want to take a more proactive approach to your health, these are the labs I encourage my patients to request yearly.
1. Full Thyroid Panel
It’s not uncommon for someone to be told their thyroid is “normal” based on TSH alone, but TSH is only one piece of a much bigger picture. For a more complete assessment of thyroid function and metabolism, I recommend including:
- TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
- Free T4 (inactive thyroid hormone)
- Free T3 (active thyroid hormone)
- Reverse T3 (can block Free T3 function)
- Thyroid Antibodies: TPOAb and TgAb (to assess for autoimmune thyroid disease)
2. Iron Studies
Iron is essential for oxygen transport, energy, and immune function, but a single ferritin or iron reading isn’t enough to understand your iron status. A full iron panel gives us a better look at how well your body is using and recycling iron.
- Serum Iron
- Ferritin (storage form of iron)
- Transferrin
- TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)
- % Saturation (how much transferrin is bound with iron)
- Optional but helpful: Ceruloplasmin (copper-binding protein that plays a role in iron metabolism)
3. Blood Sugar & Insulin Markers
Whether you have symptoms of insulin resistance or not, blood sugar balance is foundational to hormone health, metabolism, energy, and inflammation. I recommend:
- Fasting Glucose
- Fasting Insulin
- HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) – 3-month average of blood sugar levels
4. Nutrient Status
Nutrient deficiencies can be subtle but impactful. I routinely test the following, and when possible, I request the most clinically accurate form of the test for better insight.
- Plasma Zinc
- Vitamin B12
- RBC Magnesium
- Vitamin D (25-OH)
- Folate
5. Basic Panels
These are often run as part of a general physical but can be incredibly useful when viewed through a functional nutrition lens:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Lipid Panel
- High-Sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) – a marker of systemic inflammation
How I Use Lab Results in My Practice
I don’t just look for what’s “normal” I look for what’s optimal. Many of my patients come to me with symptoms like fatigue, weight fluctuations, hair loss, or irregular cycles yet their labs are within normal ranges. That’s where clinical interpretation matters.
In my practice, I:
- Always ask patients to request a copy of their results
- Look at the relationship between different markers
- Interpret labs in the context of symptoms, genetic data, and lifestyle factors
- Use results to guide personalized nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle strategies
If you’re not feeling your best and want a deeper understanding of what your body is trying to tell you, I’d love to help you connect the dots.
Free Download: Annual Lab Checklist
Want to keep this list handy for your next check-up? I’ve created a free printable PDF checklist with all the essential labs mentioned above.
Interested in working together?
