Understand Your
Lab Results
Plain-English explanations of common blood tests, biomarkers, and lab panels. Know what your numbers mean.
Common Biomarkers
Explore what your blood test markers mean
Vitamin D
Bone health, immune function, calcium absorption
Total Cholesterol
Combined cholesterol level and heart disease risk
LDL Cholesterol
"Bad" cholesterol and artery plaque buildup
HDL Cholesterol
"Good" cholesterol and cardiovascular protection
Triglycerides
Blood fat levels and metabolic health
TSH
Thyroid function and metabolic regulation
Free T4
Active thyroid hormone level
Free T3
Most active thyroid hormone
Glucose
Blood sugar levels and diabetes screening
A1C (HbA1c)
Average blood sugar over 2–3 months
Hemoglobin
Oxygen-carrying capacity and anemia screening
Hematocrit
Red blood cell percentage in blood
White Blood Cells
Immune system function and infection
Platelets
Blood clotting and bleeding risk
RDW
Red blood cell size variation
Ferritin
Iron storage and iron deficiency detection
Iron
Circulating iron and oxygen transport
Creatinine
Kidney function and filtration rate
BUN
Blood urea nitrogen and kidney health
Sodium
Fluid balance and nerve function
Potassium
Heart rhythm and muscle function
Calcium
Bone health and parathyroid function
ALT
Liver enzyme and liver damage marker
AST
Liver, heart, and muscle enzyme
CRP
Inflammation marker and infection indicator
Lab Panels
Common multi-test panels explained
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. One of the most commonly ordered blood tests.
View panel detailsComprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Glucose, electrolytes, kidney function, and liver enzymes. Provides a broad overview of organ function.
View panel detailsLipid Panel
Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. Used to assess cardiovascular disease risk.
View panel detailsThyroid Panel
TSH, free T4, and free T3. Evaluates thyroid gland function and helps diagnose thyroid disorders.
View panel detailsBrowse by Condition
Which blood tests are used for common health conditions
Diabetes
A1C, fasting glucose, insulin, and more
Thyroid Disorders
TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and thyroid antibodies
Anemia
Hemoglobin, ferritin, iron, and CBC markers
Kidney Disease
Creatinine, BUN, eGFR, and electrolytes
Liver Disease
ALT, AST, bilirubin, and liver function tests
Inflammation
CRP, ESR, and inflammatory markers
Compare Tests
Understand the differences between similar lab tests
LDL vs HDL
"Bad" vs "good" cholesterol explained
TSH vs T4
Thyroid control vs thyroid output
Ferritin vs Iron
Iron storage vs circulating iron
BUN vs Creatinine
Two kidney function markers compared
A1C vs Fasting Glucose
Long-term vs point-in-time blood sugar
CRP vs ESR
Acute vs chronic inflammation markers
ALT vs AST
Liver-specific vs multi-organ enzyme