The Modern Bio Baseline
CBC · CMP · A1c · core lipids · ApoB · Lp(a) · blood pressure
Partner build in progressA TEST SHOULD CHANGE A DECISION
The Testing
Lab.
Know what to test, why it matters and what happens next.
From a $20 blood count to advanced imaging and genetics, this is a practical map of the tests people are offered—who they fit, how to prepare, what the result can and cannot tell you, and where the evidence says “not yet.”
Explore 32 test passports ↓✓ Decision before measurement✓ Sex + life-stage context✓ Direct primary & official sources✓ No mystery “optimal” ranges
HOW TO USE THIS PAGE
Find the smallest test that can change the next decision.
- 01Choose the decision
Baseline, symptom, prevention, performance, treatment monitoring or an emerging test.
- 02Open a test passport
Check who it fits, preparation, limits, total cost and what happens after the result.
- 03Bring context forward
Use your history, medications and prior results when you discuss the test with a practitioner.
0132DETAILED TEST PASSPORTS
028DECISION CATEGORIES
0319STANDARD-OF-CARE PATHS
0462SCIENTIFIC + OFFICIAL SOURCES
01 / CHOOSE BY DECISION
Start with the question.
Not the panel.
A result earns its cost when it changes prevention, diagnosis, treatment or a repeatable behavior. Pick the lane that matches the decision you are actually facing.01Build a baseline
You are generally well and want the minimum useful health snapshot.
CBC · CMP · cardiometabolic risk · blood pressureEnter this lane ↗02Explain a symptomFatigue, palpitations, GI symptoms, poor sleep or another persistent concern.
History first · targeted tests · red-flag routingEnter this lane ↗03Refine preventionYour heart, bone, cancer or inherited-risk decision is uncertain.
Risk calculator · selective biomarkers · imaging only if decisiveEnter this lane ↗04Measure performanceYou will use the result to change training, nutrition or recovery.
VO₂/CPET · DXA · RMR · strength and functionEnter this lane ↗05Monitor treatmentA medicine, condition or therapy has a defined safety or response marker.
Correct method · useful interval · stop and escalation rulesEnter this lane ↗06Evaluate an emerging testYou are considering microbiome, genome or multi-cancer testing.
Clinical utility · false positives · privacy · follow-up burdenEnter this lane ↗02 / SEARCH THE COMPLETE LAB
Every common test.
The useful reality.
Each passport includes who should consider it, what it measures, limitations, sample and preparation, men’s and women’s context, repeat cadence, next steps, urgent red flags, scientific sources and the future product or facility pathway.32 test passports
Medical and source review updated July 202601CBCBlood & biomarkers
Standard of care
Complete blood count
The first look at red cells, white cells and platelets.A CBC can surface patterns consistent with anemia, infection, inflammation or platelet problems. It is a context test: an out-of-range cell count is a clue, not a diagnosis.
0214Blood & biomarkers
Standard of care
Comprehensive metabolic panel
A compact view of glucose, electrolytes, proteins, liver signals and kidney filtration.The CMP groups 14 common measurements. It can reveal patterns that deserve follow-up, but its liver and kidney values are not complete organ ‘health scores.’
03A+BBlood & biomarkers
Standard of care
Advanced lipids: ApoB + Lp(a)
Count atherogenic particles, identify inherited Lp(a) risk and put cholesterol in context.A standard lipid panel remains useful. ApoB estimates the number of atherogenic particles; Lp(a) is largely inherited and is generally measured at least once in adulthood under current U.S. guidance.
04GLUBlood & biomarkers
Standard of care
Glucose, A1c + fasting insulin
Separate a current glucose snapshot from the longer A1c trend—and use insulin only in context.Fasting glucose and A1c are established diabetes tests. Fasting insulin can add metabolic context, but no single universal insulin cutoff diagnoses insulin resistance.
05CRPBlood & biomarkers
Useful in context
High-sensitivity CRP
A nonspecific inflammation signal that can refine cardiovascular context—when measured under stable conditions.hs-CRP can be a cardiovascular risk enhancer, but it rises with infection, injury, dental disease, obesity and hard exercise. The number never identifies the source on its own.
06TSHBlood & biomarkers
Standard of care
Thyroid testing
Start with the thyroid feedback loop; expand only when symptoms and results justify it.TSH is commonly the first test, often paired or reflexed to free T4. Antibodies and other measures answer narrower questions; a giant panel is not automatically better.
07FeBlood & biomarkers
Standard of care
Iron status + ferritin
Understand iron stores and transport before supplementing iron.Ferritin is central but also rises with inflammation. Hemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin/TIBC and transferrin saturation help distinguish common patterns.
08B12Blood & biomarkers
Useful in context
B12, folate + vitamin D
Test nutrients when risk, symptoms or a treatment decision makes the result useful.Vitamin B12 and folate relate to blood and neurologic function; methylmalonic acid can clarify B12 status. Vitamin D testing is valuable for selected risk and treatment contexts, not a universal monthly score.
09HBlood & biomarkers
Useful in context
Sex hormone evaluation
Match the test, timing and reference context to the actual symptom and life stage.Testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, LH, FSH and prolactin answer different questions. Random mega-panels create noise; a staged evaluation is more defensible.
10KBlood & biomarkers
Standard of care
Kidney function + urine ACR
Use filtration and urine albumin together for a more complete kidney-risk view.Creatinine-based eGFR estimates filtration; urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio detects albumin leakage. Trends and persistence matter more than one isolated result.
11BPHeart & circulation
Standard of care
Home + ambulatory blood pressure
Measure pressure correctly, repeatedly and outside the exam room.Validated upper-arm home monitors and 24-hour ambulatory monitoring can identify sustained, white-coat or masked hypertension patterns.
12ECGHeart & circulation
Standard of care
ECG + ambulatory rhythm monitor
Capture the rhythm that matters—especially when symptoms come and go.A 12-lead ECG is a moment-in-time clinical test. Holter, patch and event monitors extend the window; consumer wearables can capture clues but do not replace diagnosis.
13CACHeart & circulation
Useful in context
Coronary artery calcium CT
See calcified coronary plaque when the prevention decision is genuinely uncertain.A CAC score can reclassify risk in selected adults. It uses radiation, sees calcified rather than all plaque and is not a universal annual biohacking scan.
14ECHOHeart & circulation
Standard of care
Echocardiogram
Look at cardiac structure and function when symptoms, examination or history support it.An echocardiogram evaluates chambers, valves, pumping and selected pressure estimates. It is powerful when indicated, but not a blanket screening scan for everyone.
15DXABody & performance
Standard of care
DXA: bone density + body composition
Use clinical bone density correctly—and treat body composition as a trend, not a grade.Central DXA is the clinical standard for bone mineral density. Some facilities add body-composition estimates, which are useful when repeated on the same machine under similar conditions.
16VO₂Body & performance
Useful in context
VO₂ max + cardiopulmonary exercise testing
Measure integrated aerobic capacity and turn the result into training zones—or a clinical explanation.A performance VO₂ test estimates aerobic capacity. Full clinical CPET adds ECG, gas exchange and symptoms to help evaluate unexplained exercise limitation.
17RMRBody & performance
Useful in context
Resting metabolic rate
Measure resting energy expenditure when an estimate is not good enough for the decision.Indirect calorimetry estimates resting energy expenditure from oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. It can guide nutrition planning, but daily needs still change with movement, training and adaptation.
18GRIPBody & performance
Useful in context
Grip strength + functional capacity
Measure capability: strength, power, balance and mobility—not just appearance.Grip dynamometry, sit-to-stand, gait speed and balance tests can track function. Technique and reference population matter, and a single score is never a diagnosis.
19HSATSleep
Standard of care
Home sleep apnea test
A convenient diagnostic pathway for the right adult—not a general sleep-quality test.HSAT can diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in uncomplicated adults with signs and symptoms suggesting moderate-to-severe risk. Negative or inconclusive results may require in-lab polysomnography.
20PSGSleep
Standard of care
In-lab polysomnography
The full overnight diagnostic standard for complex sleep questions.Polysomnography records brain activity, eyes, muscles, airflow, effort, oxygen, heart rhythm and more. It can evaluate sleep apnea and selected movement, behavior or hypersomnolence disorders.
21DNAGenetics
Standard of care
Hereditary cancer + cardiac gene panels
Use medical-grade genetics when personal or family history makes the result actionable.Targeted panels can identify inherited variants that alter surveillance or family testing. Pre- and post-test counseling matter because uncertain and incidental findings are common.
22PGxGenetics
Useful in context
Pharmacogenomics
Use gene–drug evidence to inform selected prescriptions—not to generate a universal medication ranking.PGx can be actionable for specific gene–drug pairs. FDA-cleared consumer reports cover limited claims; results should be confirmed and interpreted with the prescriber and medication history.
23WGSGenetics
Emerging
Whole genome + polygenic risk
A large data file with selective clinical value—not a complete biological forecast.Whole-genome sequencing can detect many variant types; polygenic scores combine many common variants. Clinical utility, portability across ancestry groups and actionability remain uneven.
24GIGut, allergy & exposure
Standard of care
Symptom-directed GI testing
Choose the test from the symptom pattern: celiac, H. pylori, inflammation, infection or malabsorption.GI testing works when it answers a defined question. A clinician may use celiac serology, H. pylori testing, fecal calprotectin, pathogen testing or other targeted studies—never one universal gut panel.
25µBIGut, allergy & exposure
Emerging
Consumer microbiome testing
Interesting ecology, limited clinical decision power.Sequencing can describe organisms in a stool sample, but there is no validated universal ‘optimal microbiome.’ Cross-company scores and supplement recommendations are not interchangeable.
26IgEGut, allergy & exposure
Standard of care
Allergy skin testing + specific IgE
Test a credible history—not hundreds of foods without symptoms.Skin-prick and serum specific-IgE tests identify sensitization. Clinical allergy requires the history to match; supervised oral food challenge may be needed for diagnosis.
27NOGut, allergy & exposure
Not recommended
Food sensitivity IgG panels
A popular test we will not sell.Food-specific IgG often reflects exposure or tolerance, not disease. Major allergy organizations recommend against using these panels to diagnose food allergy or intolerance.
28PbGut, allergy & exposure
Standard of care
Lead + targeted heavy-metal testing
Start with a credible exposure and use the specimen that answers it.Blood lead testing is the standard exposure assessment for lead. Other metals require a specific source, timing and test; ‘provoked urine’ detox testing can mislead.
29SCRCancer screening
Standard of care
Guideline-based cancer screening
Build the schedule from age, anatomy, history and risk—then keep it current.Established screening includes different tests for colorectal, breast, cervical and lung cancer and other risk-based pathways. No single age or bundle fits everyone.
30MCDCancer screening
Emerging
Multi-cancer detection blood tests
Promising technology with unanswered mortality, false-positive and follow-up questions.MCD tests look for signals such as cancer-derived DNA across multiple cancers. They are being studied; none should replace established screening, and a positive result is not a diagnosis.
31AMHReproductive health
Useful in context
Ovarian reserve: AMH + ultrasound context
Estimate ovarian response and egg quantity context—not natural fertility or egg quality.AMH and antral follicle count can help predict response to ovarian stimulation. They are poor stand-alone ‘fertility tests’ and do not measure egg quality.
32SAReproductive health
Standard of care
Semen analysis
Evaluate sperm concentration, movement and form—with repeat testing when needed.Semen parameters vary between samples. A proper fertility evaluation uses standardized collection, laboratory methods, history and often a repeat—not one app-based score.
03 / BUILT FOR RESPONSIBLE COMMERCE
The future shop starts
with a care pathway.
We are preparing a small number of bundles and facility paths. There is no fake checkout today. Early access opens only after laboratory quality, ordering, state availability, privacy, interpretation and abnormal-result follow-up are verified.Cardiometabolic Deep Dive
Advanced lipids · glucose context · kidney risk · blood pressure · optional CAC routing
Partner build in progressHormone + Nutrient Pathway
Staged thyroid, iron, B12/folate/D and sex-hormone testing—not a random mega-panel
Clinician pathwayPerformance Lab
DXA · VO₂/CPET · resting metabolism · strength and function
Facility network plannedSleep Apnea Pathway
Eligibility screen · home study · physician interpretation · treatment routing
Clinical partner plannedFuture test purchases may generate revenue. Commission will never determine whether a test is included, its evidence label or its position. “Do not sell” means exactly that.
04 / THE TEST QUALITY GATE
Eight questions before
we list a test.
CLIA certification supports laboratory quality in the U.S.; it does not prove that every test is clinically useful. We evaluate the full path from specimen to decision.What exact action can a positive, negative or borderline result change?
Who benefits—and who is likely to be harmed or misled?
What specimen, assay, accreditation and quality controls are used?
Can users collect or prepare correctly without corrupting the result?
Are reference intervals, clinical thresholds and sex/life-stage context kept distinct?
Who owns confirmation, urgent findings and treatment referral?
Can the customer understand storage, sharing, research use and deletion?
Is the full price—including repeat and downstream work—visible before purchase?
READ THE RESULT LIKE A CLINICIAN
A flag is not a diagnosis.
- 01Check the conditions.
Fasting, hydration, illness, exercise, collection and medication timing can change a result.
- 02Separate reference from target.
A laboratory interval describes a population. A clinical threshold guides a decision. An internet “optimal” range may do neither.
- 03Confirm before escalating.
Unexpected, high-impact results often deserve repeat or confirmatory testing with the right method.
- 04Treat the person.
Symptoms, history, anatomy, hormones, pregnancy, medicines and trend remain part of every interpretation.
THE MODERN BIO BRIEF