A longevity-minded blood panel goes beyond the standard physical to include the markers that actually predict long-term risk: ApoB and Lp(a) for your heart, fasting insulin and HbA1c for metabolism, hs-CRP for inflammation, plus thyroid, key nutrients, and organ function. Here's the full list to request — and a printable checklist to take with you.
A good blood panel is the single most useful thing you can do to turn vague worry about your health into something you can actually act on. The problem is that the default — whatever your physical happens to include — often stops short of the markers that matter most for the long run.
This guide lays out the complete longevity panel: what to ask for, grouped by what each marker reveals, with a one-page printable checklist to take to your appointment. It’s educational, not medical advice — and deliberately contains no reference ranges, because which targets are right for you is a clinical decision, not a number off the internet.
The panel, by what each marker reveals
Tap any group to see what’s in it and why it earns a place. Then download the checklist below to bring the whole list with you.
The longevity panel, grouped by what it tells you
HeartCardiovascular risk
ApoB counts the actual number of artery-clogging particles, a sharper read on heart risk than standard cholesterol. Lp(a) is a largely genetic risk factor most people are never tested for — usually a one-time test. A full lipid panel (LDL, HDL, triglycerides) rounds it out.
"ApoB, Lp(a), and a standard lipid panel."
MetabolismBlood sugar & insulin
Fasting glucose and HbA1c show your blood sugar now and on average over recent months. Fasting insulin is the early-warning marker — it can reveal your body working harder to control sugar years before glucose itself climbs.
"Fasting glucose, HbA1c, and fasting insulin."
Inflammationhs-CRP
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a general marker of low-grade inflammation, which is linked to cardiovascular and metabolic risk. It's non-specific, so it's read alongside the rest rather than in isolation.
"High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP)."
HormonesThyroid & sex hormones
A thyroid panel (TSH, and free T4 if indicated) checks the gland that sets your metabolic pace. Depending on your age, symptoms, and sex, a clinician may add sex hormones — for example a proper testosterone panel with free testosterone and SHBG, or markers relevant around perimenopause.
"A thyroid panel — and whether hormone testing is right for me."
OrgansKidney & liver function
A comprehensive metabolic panel covers kidney function (eGFR, creatinine), liver enzymes (ALT, AST), and electrolytes — the quiet checks that confirm your filtering and processing organs are doing their job.
"A comprehensive metabolic panel, including eGFR and liver enzymes."
NutrientsIron, vitamin D & B12
Ferritin reflects your iron stores (and runs low surprisingly often, especially in women). Vitamin D is commonly low in lower-sun climates, and vitamin B12 matters for energy and nerves, particularly for plant-based eaters and older adults.
"Ferritin, vitamin D, and vitamin B12."
BaselineComplete blood count
A complete blood count (CBC) looks at red and white cells and platelets — the broad baseline that can flag anaemia, infection, and more. It's usually included as standard, but it's worth confirming it's on the order.
"A complete blood count (CBC)."
Educational only and not exhaustive. The right panel — and the right targets — depend on your age, history, and symptoms, and are a decision to make with a clinician.
Take the whole list to your appointment
The Longevity Blood Panel Checklist
A one-page, print-ready version of this panel — grouped, with checkboxes — to hand to your doctor or fill in as results come back. No email required.
A prompt sheet, not a prescription. Bring it to a clinician who knows your history — they decide which tests fit you and what the results mean.
How to use it well
Testing is only the first half; reading the results is the rest. A panel like this is most useful when it’s interpreted as a pattern rather than a row of isolated numbers — which is exactly the approach in how to make sense of your bloodwork.
A few markers reward a closer look once you have them. If your ApoB comes back high, that’s the heart-risk signal worth understanding first. And the markers most often missed differ by sex — see the ones women weren’t told to track and the equivalents for men, including a proper testosterone panel. Pair the bloodwork with a fitness marker like VO2 max and you have a genuinely rounded baseline.
A note on safety
This checklist is educational and not medical advice. It can’t tell you which tests you specifically need, what your results mean, or what to do about them — those are clinical judgements that depend on your full history. Use it to have a better conversation, not to diagnose or treat yourself.
Knowing which tests to request, then turning the results into one clear next step, is exactly what AMORTAL is built for — it reads your labs and wearables together and tells you what to do next, including when to do nothing. See how it works.
Educational only — this is not medical advice or a diagnosis. Talk to a licensed clinician about your own numbers, targets, and any treatment decisions.
Frequently asked
What blood tests should I ask my doctor for?
Beyond a standard panel, the higher-signal tests worth requesting are ApoB and Lp(a) for cardiovascular risk, fasting insulin and HbA1c alongside fasting glucose for metabolic health, hs-CRP for inflammation, a thyroid panel, and key nutrients like ferritin, vitamin D, and B12 — plus the usual lipid panel, complete blood count, and metabolic panel. Read together, they give a far fuller picture than a basic check-up. Bring the printable checklist below to make the conversation easy.
How is this different from a standard annual physical?
A standard physical often covers cholesterol, glucose, a blood count, and a basic metabolic panel — useful, but it can miss the markers that refine risk most. ApoB and Lp(a) sharpen the picture of heart risk beyond standard cholesterol, fasting insulin can flag metabolic trouble years before glucose rises, and hs-CRP adds an inflammation signal. This list fills those gaps.
How often should I get these tests done?
For most healthy adults, an annual panel is a reasonable rhythm, with more frequent checks when you're actively changing something or following up an abnormal result. One-off markers like Lp(a) are largely genetic and usually only need testing once. Your clinician can set the right cadence for your situation — there's little value in testing so often that you're chasing noise.
Will insurance cover these tests?
It varies by country, plan, and whether there's a medical reason on record. Core tests tied to a clinical indication are often covered; some of the more refined markers may not be, or may need to be requested specifically. It's worth asking your clinician or insurer in advance, and the more specialised markers can also be ordered through direct-to-consumer labs if needed.
Do I need a doctor to order these, or can I use a direct-to-consumer service?
Both routes exist. A clinician can order the panel, interpret it in the context of your history, and act on it — which is the ideal. Direct-to-consumer lab services let you order many of these markers yourself, which can be convenient, but the results still need a professional's interpretation before you make decisions. Testing is only the first half; reading it correctly is the rest.