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Advanced cellular bloodwork
The most advanced bloodwork you've ever had.
Up to 115 markers, read against the ranges where your body actually works, not the ranges built to rule out disease. You get your biological age, how old each organ system is running, and a written plan you start that week.
What is advanced cellular bloodwork?
Advanced cellular bloodwork at The Longevity Club + Clinic in Franklin, Tennessee measures up to 115 markers, including fasting insulin, ApoB and Lp(a), the full thyroid cascade, advanced hormones, RBC magnesium and zinc, the omega-3 index, CoQ10 and F2-isoprostanes, and reads each one against optimal rather than standard ranges. Results include biological and organ-system age, a 45-minute lab review with a licensed practitioner and a written nutrition, supplement and therapy plan.
Quick check
Have you ever had these tested?
Tap every marker you've had measured in the last few years. Most people are surprised by the answer.
Why normal isn't the whole story
About 15 markers, or up to 115.
A standard physical screens a population. Our panels are built to explain one person, and every result is read against the range where the body works best.
A blood count, a metabolic panel, cholesterol and a TSH, read against ranges built to catch disease.
Your report
What your results actually look like.
Not a portal full of numbers. A report built around you: your biological age, how each system is aging, the markers that matter most, and what to do first.
Cellular Health ReportThe Longevity Club + Clinic · sample reportBiological age
Calculated from her full panel, not her birthday. Retested at 90 days.
Organ-system age
Birthday age (47) Older than you areYounger than you are
Her top markers outside the optimal range
Every one of these was reported as normal or never run. Read against optimal ranges, they tell one story.
| Marker | Result | What the lab said | What we look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | 24 ng/mL | Normal15–150 | LowOptimal 70–100 |
| Free T3 | 2.4 pg/mL | Normal2.0–4.4 | LowOptimal 3.2–4.2 |
| Fasting insulin | 11.4 µIU/mL | Normal2.6–24.9 | HighOptimal 2–5 |
| ApoB | 112 mg/dL | Normal< 130 | HighOptimal < 80 |
| Lipoprotein(a) | 64 nmol/L | Normal< 75 | HighOptimal < 30 |
| Vitamin D | 32 ng/mL | Normal30–100 | LowOptimal 50–80 |
| RBC magnesium | 4.3 mg/dL | Normal4.0–6.4 | LowOptimal 6.0–6.5 |
| Omega-3 Index | 4.1 % | Not runnot reported | LowOptimal > 8 % |
| CoQ10 | 0.7 µg/mL | Normal0.5–1.5 | LowOptimal 1.5–3.0 |
| hs-CRP | 2.6 mg/L | Normal< 3.0 | HighOptimal < 1.0 |
The pattern
Low iron is throttling T4-to-T3 conversion, so her free T3 sits at the floor while her TSH climbs. Insulin has been compensating for years, and low magnesium, omega-3 and CoQ10 are why her cells can't make energy from what she eats. One pattern, not ten problems.
Her first three moves
- Rebuild iron firstRed meat such as grass-fed beef or lamb 3 times a week with vitamin C foods, plus a gentle iron. Ferritin is what's throttling her thyroid conversion.
- Bring insulin down35–40 grams of protein at breakfast, fiber first at every meal, and a 10-minute walk after dinner.
- Refill the cellWild salmon 3 times a week and magnesium glycinate at night for omega-3 and RBC magnesium; CoQ10 with breakfast.
Sample report for illustration. Your report is built from your own panel and reviewed with you line by line.
More advanced markers
How our markers are different.
It isn't only how many markers we run. It's which ones, and where in the body they're measured.
Inside the cell, not just the bloodstream
RBC magnesium · RBC zinc · MMA
Less than 1% of your magnesium circulates in serum, and your body holds that level steady at the expense of your cells. We measure inside the red cell, where depletion actually shows.
Particles, not just cholesterol
ApoB · LDL-P · Lp(a)
Two people with the same LDL cholesterol can carry very different numbers of the particles that enter an artery wall. ApoB counts them. Lp(a) tells us how aggressive to be.
Function, not just levels
Free T3 · reverse T3 · CoQ10 · omega-3 index
A thyroid can make plenty of hormone and still fail to convert it. Mitochondria can have fuel and no spark. These markers show whether the system is actually working.
Damage, not just risk
F2-isoprostanes · 8-OHdG · hs-CRP · homocysteine
How hard oxidative stress and inflammation are hitting your cells right now. These move early, and they move again when the plan is working.
What we measure
Thirteen systems, read together.
Markers matter in groups, not in isolation. A ferritin only means something next to a free T3, and an ApoB only next to a fasting insulin.
Fasting glucose · Fasting insulin · HbA1c · HOMA-IR · C-peptide · Uric acid · Leptin
ApoB · Lipoprotein(a) · LDL particle number · Triglycerides · HDL cholesterol · Triglyceride : HDL ratio · Homocysteine · Lp-PLA2 · Myeloperoxidase
TSH · Free T4 · Free T3 · Reverse T3 · Free T3 : Reverse T3 ratio · TPO antibodies · Thyroglobulin antibodies
Total testosterone (M) · Free testosterone (M) · Total testosterone (F) · Estradiol (F) · Progesterone (F) · DHEA-S · SHBG · FSH / LH · Estradiol (M)
Morning cortisol · Cortisol rhythm (4-point) · Pregnenolone · Aldosterone
hs-CRP · Fibrinogen · ESR · ANA · Omega-6 : Omega-3 ratio
Ferritin · Serum iron · TIBC · Transferrin saturation · Hemoglobin · MCV
Vitamin D (25-OH) · RBC magnesium · RBC zinc · Copper : zinc ratio · Vitamin B12 · Methylmalonic acid · RBC folate · Selenium · Omega-3 Index · CoQ10 · Vitamin A (retinol) · Iodine (urinary)
ALT · AST · GGT · Alkaline phosphatase · Albumin · Total bilirubin
Creatinine · eGFR · Cystatin C · BUN
White blood cell count · Neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio · Platelets · Lymphocyte subsets
Telomere length · F2-Isoprostanes · 8-OHdG · IGF-1
GI-MAP stool PCR · Zonulin · Calprotectin · Secretory IgA · H. pylori · Food sensitivity IgG
GI-MAP stool analysis, genetics, mycotoxins and a full hormone map. Search any marker for its standard and optimal range.
Panels & pricing
Three ways to get tested. No membership required.
Every panel includes a 45-minute lab review and a written protocol. The difference is depth.
Foundations
A real baseline, far beyond a standard annual physical. Around 40 core markers.
- Metabolic panel with fasting insulin
- Lipids with ApoB
- Full thyroid cascade with free T3
- Vitamin D, ferritin, B12, hs-CRP
Core
The full advanced cellular panel, designed by Dr. Axe. 85 markers.
- Lp(a), LDL-P, homocysteine, Lp-PLA2
- Reverse T3 and both thyroid antibodies
- Full sex hormone and adrenal panel
- RBC magnesium and zinc, omega-3 index, CoQ10, MMA
- Cellular aging markers, biological age
Precision
Everything in Core, plus specialty testing and your supplement and tincture protocol. 115 markers.
- Genetic markers including MTHFR
- Food sensitivity panel
- GI-MAP and environmental testing available
- Supplement protocol and custom tinctures
Consultation $250, with $100 credited toward your panel · HSA & FSA eligible · Results in about 2 weeks · Full pricing
Specialty testing
Added only when your case calls for it.
Blood answers most questions. These answer the ones it can't, and none of them is an upsell.
Our method
We don't read markers. We read patterns.
- 1MarkerWhat your blood shows
Every value plotted against its optimal range, color-coded so you can see the whole page at a glance.
- 2PatternHow they cluster
Low ferritin plus a high-normal TSH plus low free T3 isn't three findings. It's one.
- 3Root causeWhat sits upstream
Nutrient depletion, insulin, an exposure. We name it plainly.
- 4ProtocolWhat to do, in order
Food first, then targeted supplements and tinctures, then the therapies that fit.
- 590 daysProve it moved
We rerun what was off beside your originals, including biological age. If nothing moved, we say so and change course.
Marker library
Look up any marker we run.
All 83 markers in our reference, with the standard lab range next to the optimal range. If a number on your own labs sits inside the first but outside the second, that's worth a conversation.
| Marker | Standard lab range | Optimal range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucoseMetabolic & blood sugar | 65–99 mg/dL | 75–86 mg/dL | The last marker to move. By the time glucose is abnormal, insulin has usually been compensating for years. |
| Fasting insulinMetabolic & blood sugar | 2.6–24.9 µIU/mL | 2–5 µIU/mL | The earliest signal of lost metabolic flexibility. Almost never ordered on a standard physical — and the single test I would add first. |
| HbA1cMetabolic & blood sugar | < 5.7 % | 4.8–5.3 % | Your 90-day fuel-handling average. A 5.6 is called normal and sits squarely in the range where risk is already climbing. |
| HOMA-IRMetabolic & blood sugar | not reported | < 1.0 | Calculated from glucose and insulin together. It quantifies insulin resistance in a single number. |
| C-peptideMetabolic & blood sugar | 0.8–3.9 ng/mL | 1.0–2.0 ng/mL | How hard your pancreas is working. Confirms whether high insulin is production or clearance. |
| Uric acidMetabolic & blood sugar | 3.4–7.0 mg/dL | 3.5–5.5 mg/dL | Rises with fructose load and insulin resistance long before gout. An underrated metabolic marker. |
| LeptinMetabolic & blood sugar | 0.5–15.2 ng/mL | 4–10 ng/mL (F) · 2–6 (M) | The satiety signal. High leptin with weight gain means the signal is being sent and not heard. |
| ApoBHeart & vessels | < 130 mg/dL | < 80 mg/dL | The actual count of plaque-carrying particles. If I could order one cardiovascular marker, this is it. |
| Lipoprotein(a)Heart & vessels | < 75 nmol/L | < 30 nmol/L | Largely genetic, tested once in a lifetime, and almost never ordered. It changes how aggressive everything else needs to be. |
| LDL particle numberHeart & vessels | < 1300 nmol/L | < 1000 nmol/L | Particle count beats particle weight. Two people with identical LDL cholesterol can have very different risk. |
| TriglyceridesHeart & vessels | < 150 mg/dL | < 80 mg/dL | More a carbohydrate marker than a fat marker. Responds fast to a change in food. |
| HDL cholesterolHeart & vessels | > 40 (M) · > 50 (F) | 55–80 mg/dL | Function matters more than the number, but very low HDL alongside high triglycerides is a metabolic red flag. |
| Triglyceride : HDL ratioHeart & vessels | not reported | < 1.5 | One of the best free proxies for insulin resistance available on a standard lipid panel. |
| HomocysteineHeart & vessels | < 15 µmol/L | < 7 µmol/L | Damages vessel walls and the brain. Reflects B12, folate, B6 and methylation status. |
| Lp-PLA2Heart & vessels | < 200 ng/mL | < 150 ng/mL | Enzyme activity inside an inflamed plaque — vascular-specific inflammation rather than whole-body. |
| MyeloperoxidaseHeart & vessels | < 470 pmol/L | < 350 pmol/L | Signals an unstable, actively inflamed plaque. Rarely run outside cardiology. |
| TSHThyroid | 0.45–4.50 mIU/L | 0.5–2.0 mIU/L | This is the number that sends people home. A TSH of 3.4 means your pituitary is shouting to get a normal result. |
| Free T4Thyroid | 0.82–1.77 ng/dL | 1.0–1.5 ng/dL | Storage hormone. Plenty of T4 with low T3 means the problem is conversion, not production. |
| Free T3Thyroid | 2.0–4.4 pg/mL | 3.2–4.2 pg/mL | The active hormone that actually enters your cells. If only one thyroid number were added to TSH, make it this one. |
| Reverse T3Thyroid | 9.2–24.1 ng/dL | < 15 ng/dL | The brake. Under stress, illness or dieting your body converts T4 into an inactive form that blocks the receptor. |
| Free T3 : Reverse T3 ratioThyroid | not reported | > 0.20 | Whether active hormone is winning against the brake. This ratio explains a lot of 'normal' thyroid fatigue. |
| TPO antibodiesThyroid | < 34 IU/mL | < 9 IU/mL | Autoimmune thyroid activity. These can be elevated for a decade before TSH ever moves. |
| Thyroglobulin antibodiesThyroid | < 1 IU/mL | < 1 IU/mL | The second antibody. Running one without the other misses roughly a fifth of Hashimoto's cases. |
| Total testosterone (M)Sex hormones | 264–916 ng/dL | 600–900 ng/dL | A 45-year-old at 300 is told he is normal. He is in the bottom of a range built largely from unwell men. |
| Free testosterone (M)Sex hormones | 8.7–25.1 pg/mL | 20–25 pg/mL | The fraction actually available to tissue. Normal total with low free is a binding-protein problem. |
| Total testosterone (F)Sex hormones | 15–70 ng/dL | 40–70 ng/dL | Drives libido, muscle, mood and bone in women too — and is almost never measured in them. |
| Estradiol (F)Sex hormones | 30–400 pg/mL | 50–150 pg/mL follicular | Has to be read against cycle day, or against menopausal status. A single number out of context means little. |
| Progesterone (F)Sex hormones | 1.8–23.9 ng/mL luteal | 10–20 ng/mL luteal | The first hormone to fall in perimenopause, often years before a period changes. |
| DHEA-SSex hormones | 35–430 µg/dL | Upper third for age | The adrenal reserve hormone and the raw material for much of what comes downstream. |
| SHBGSex hormones | 16.5–55.9 nmol/L | 20–40 nmol/L | Binding protein. Driven by insulin, thyroid and liver — which is why hormones cannot be read alone. |
| FSH / LHSex hormones | varies by stage | stage-appropriate | Confirms where someone actually is in the menopause transition rather than guessing from symptoms. |
| Estradiol (M)Sex hormones | < 39 pg/mL | 20–30 pg/mL | Too low is as much a problem as too high. Aromatization rises with body fat and insulin. |
| Morning cortisolAdrenal & stress | 6.2–19.4 µg/dL | 12–18 µg/dL AM | A flat morning cortisol is the difference between tired and unable to start the day. |
| Cortisol rhythm (4-point)Adrenal & stress | not standard | high AM, low PM | One draw cannot see a rhythm. Four points across a day can — and rhythm is usually the actual problem. |
| PregnenoloneAdrenal & stress | 10–230 ng/dL | 100–200 ng/dL | Upstream of cortisol, DHEA and the sex hormones. Low pregnenolone constrains everything below it. |
| AldosteroneAdrenal & stress | < 28 ng/dL | stage-appropriate | Fluid and electrolyte handling. Relevant when someone is dizzy on standing or craving salt. |
| hs-CRPInflammation | < 3.0 mg/L | < 1.0 mg/L | Silent whole-body inflammation. The risk curve starts climbing well before the standard cutoff. |
| FibrinogenInflammation | 193–507 mg/dL | 200–300 mg/dL | Clotting and inflammation together. Elevated fibrinogen thickens blood and raises cardiovascular risk. |
| ESRInflammation | 0–20 mm/hr | < 10 mm/hr | A slower, broader inflammation signal. Useful alongside hs-CRP rather than instead of it. |
| ANAInflammation | negative | negative | Screens for autoimmune activity. A positive result is a starting point for investigation, not a diagnosis. |
| Omega-6 : Omega-3 ratioInflammation | not reported | < 4 : 1 | The dietary ratio that sets your inflammatory baseline. Most Americans sit somewhere between 15:1 and 20:1. |
| FerritinIron & oxygen | 15–150 ng/mL (F) | 70–100 ng/mL | Hair shedding, breathlessness and stalled thyroid conversion all show up long before ferritin drops below 15. |
| Serum ironIron & oxygen | 27–159 µg/dL | 85–130 µg/dL | Circulating iron right now. Only meaningful next to ferritin and saturation. |
| TIBCIron & oxygen | 250–450 µg/dL | 250–350 µg/dL | How hungry your body is for iron. Rises when stores are running down. |
| Transferrin saturationIron & oxygen | 15–55 % | 25–35 % | The ratio that separates true deficiency from inflammatory sequestration. |
| HemoglobinIron & oxygen | 11.7–15.5 g/dL (F) | 13.5–14.5 g/dL | Oxygen-carrying capacity. Low-normal hemoglobin with low ferritin is a real problem being called fine. |
| MCVIron & oxygen | 80–100 fL | 85–92 fL | Red cell size. High-normal points to B12 or folate; low-normal points to iron. |
| Vitamin D (25-OH)Vitamins & minerals | 30–100 ng/mL | 50–80 ng/mL | A hormone in everything but name. Immune signalling, mood, bone and thyroid all depend on it. |
| RBC magnesiumVitamins & minerals | 4.0–6.4 mg/dL | 6.0–6.5 mg/dL | Serum magnesium is nearly useless — the body defends it fiercely. Inside the red cell is where depletion shows. |
| RBC zincVitamins & minerals | 9.0–14.7 mg/L | 12–14 mg/L | Immunity, hormone production, skin, taste and wound healing. Serum zinc misses most deficiency. |
| Copper : zinc ratioVitamins & minerals | not reported | 0.8–1.2 | An imbalance drives oxidative stress and shows up in mood and vascular health. |
| Vitamin B12Vitamins & minerals | 200–1100 pg/mL | 600–1000 pg/mL | The bottom of this standard range is associated with measurable neurological change. That is not a normal range. |
| Methylmalonic acidVitamins & minerals | < 0.40 µmol/L | < 0.27 µmol/L | True B12 status at the cell. Catches deficiency that a normal serum B12 hides. |
| RBC folateVitamins & minerals | > 280 ng/mL | 400–700 ng/mL | Methylation, DNA repair and homocysteine clearance depend on it. |
| SeleniumVitamins & minerals | 63–160 µg/L | 125–150 µg/L | The mineral behind glutathione peroxidase and thyroid conversion. Two jobs, both critical. |
| Omega-3 IndexVitamins & minerals | not reported | > 8 % | EPA and DHA built into your cell membranes. Below 4 percent carries the risk profile of a smoker. |
| CoQ10Vitamins & minerals | 0.5–1.5 µg/mL | 1.5–3.0 µg/mL | The spark mitochondria use to make energy. Statins and age both drain it quietly. |
| Vitamin A (retinol)Vitamins & minerals | 20–80 µg/dL | 50–70 µg/dL | Immune barrier, vision and thyroid receptor function. |
| Iodine (urinary)Vitamins & minerals | 100–199 µg/L | 100–199 µg/L | Thyroid raw material. Both deficiency and excess cause problems, so this one has a genuine ceiling. |
| ALTLiver & detox | 0–44 U/L | 10–26 U/L | The most sensitive liver enzyme. A 38 is called normal and is a legitimate early signal of fatty liver. |
| ASTLiver & detox | 0–40 U/L | 10–26 U/L | Read alongside ALT. The ratio between them tells you where the stress is coming from. |
| GGTLiver & detox | 0–65 U/L | < 20 (M) · < 15 (F) | The best single read on oxidative stress and glutathione demand. Also the most sensitive to alcohol. |
| Alkaline phosphataseLiver & detox | 39–117 U/L | 70–100 U/L | Low-normal often means zinc deficiency. High points at bile flow or bone turnover. |
| AlbuminLiver & detox | 3.8–4.9 g/dL | 4.3–4.9 g/dL | Protein status and liver synthesis. Low albumin quietly limits how well anything else works. |
| Total bilirubinLiver & detox | 0.2–1.2 mg/dL | 0.4–0.9 mg/dL | Mildly elevated is usually benign and even protective. Very low can reflect oxidative load. |
| CreatinineKidney | 0.57–1.00 mg/dL | 0.7–0.9 mg/dL | Kidney filtration, but also muscle mass. Read it in context or it misleads. |
| eGFRKidney | > 59 mL/min | > 90 mL/min | A 62 is 'normal' and represents meaningful lost filtration capacity worth acting on early. |
| Cystatin CKidney | 0.6–1.0 mg/L | < 0.85 mg/L | A cleaner filtration marker than creatinine because muscle mass does not distort it. |
| BUNKidney | 6–24 mg/dL | 12–18 mg/dL | Protein handling and hydration. Very low can indicate inadequate protein intake. |
| White blood cell countBlood count & immune | 3.4–10.8 ×10³/µL | 5.0–8.0 ×10³/µL | Both ends matter. Persistently low-normal can reflect chronic viral load or nutrient depletion. |
| Neutrophil : lymphocyte ratioBlood count & immune | not reported | < 2.0 | A free, powerful inflammation and stress index hiding inside every standard CBC. |
| PlateletsBlood count & immune | 150–450 ×10³/µL | 200–300 ×10³/µL | High-normal tracks with inflammation; low-normal can point to gut or autoimmune involvement. |
| Lymphocyte subsetsBlood count & immune | varies | stage-appropriate | When chronic infection is on the table, the subsets tell you more than the total. |
| Telomere lengthCellular aging | not reported | above age-matched | A read on cellular replicative reserve. We track direction of travel more than the absolute value. |
| F2-IsoprostanesCellular aging | not standard | lowest quartile | The gold-standard oxidative damage marker — how hard free radicals are hitting your cells. |
| 8-OHdGCellular aging | not standard | lowest quartile | Oxidative damage to DNA itself. Relevant when exposure or toxic load is the question. |
| IGF-1Cellular aging | varies by age | mid-range for age | The longevity trade-off marker. Too low costs you muscle; too high is not a goal either. |
| GI-MAP stool PCRGut & reactivity | not standard | pathogen-negative | DNA sequencing of the microbiome, pathogens, parasites, fungi and digestive function. Blood shows consequences; this shows cause. |
| ZonulinGut & reactivity | not standard | low | The protein that regulates intestinal tight junctions — the measurable side of intestinal permeability. |
| CalprotectinGut & reactivity | < 50 µg/g | < 20 µg/g | Distinguishes inflammatory bowel disease from IBS without a scope. |
| Secretory IgAGut & reactivity | not standard | mid-range | Your gut's frontline antibody. Both depletion and elevation are meaningful. |
| H. pyloriGut & reactivity | negative | negative | Drives reflux, low stomach acid and B12 malabsorption. Frequently silent. |
| Food sensitivity IgGGut & reactivity | not standard | context-dependent | Useful as a map of what to trial removing, never as a permanent verdict. |
We don't list that one here. Ask on your free call; we probably run it.
Questions
Bloodwork questions.
The questions we're asked most. For anything else, call and ask a person.
Optimal ranges vs normal ranges: what is the difference?
A standard reference range describes the middle 95 percent of people who used that lab, a population that is largely unwell. An optimal range is the narrower window associated with functioning well. Vitamin D is the clearest case: 30 ng/mL is the standard floor, while 50 to 80 is the range tied to immune, mood and bone function.
Which advanced markers do you test that most doctors don't?
Among others: RBC magnesium and zinc, the omega-3 index, CoQ10, F2-isoprostanes, GGT, ApoB, Lipoprotein(a), fasting insulin, free T3, reverse T3 and both thyroid antibodies, a full hormone panel and methylmalonic acid. Each is read against the optimal range, not the standard one, and all of them come from a single draw.
Why is a normal TSH not enough to rule out a thyroid problem?
TSH is a pituitary hormone. It reports what your brain is requesting, not what reached your cells. A complete assessment needs free T4, free T3, reverse T3 and both antibodies. Conversion of T4 into active T3 also depends on iron, selenium and zinc, so a thyroid can be perfectly healthy and still fail to convert.
Why does fasting insulin matter more than fasting glucose?
Insulin rises for years to hold glucose steady before glucose itself ever moves. That means a normal glucose and a normal HbA1c can both sit alongside an insulin of 11, which is years of early warning almost nobody is given. It is inexpensive, widely available, and rarely ordered on a standard physical.
What do biological age and organ age actually tell you?
Biological age is calculated from your marker set rather than your birthday, and organ-system ages (heart and vessels, metabolic, liver, kidney, inflammation, hormones) are calculated the same way from the markers for each system. They make an abstract risk picture concrete, and they're a clear way to see progress when we retest at 90 days. But they're summary numbers, not diagnoses: the individual markers underneath are what change your plan, so those are what we act on.
How many markers does a standard physical measure?
A standard annual physical typically runs about 15 markers: a complete blood count, a basic or comprehensive metabolic panel, a lipid panel and a TSH. It will not usually include fasting insulin, ApoB, Lp(a), free T3, reverse T3, thyroid antibodies, homocysteine, ferritin, intracellular minerals or an omega-3 index.
What are the eight markers most physicals never order?
Fasting insulin, ApoB, Lipoprotein(a), free T3, reverse T3, thyroid antibodies, ferritin and the omega-3 index. Between them they cover the earliest signals of metabolic disease, the true measure of cardiovascular risk, whether your thyroid hormone is actually reaching your cells, whether your iron stores can support energy and hair, and your cellular inflammatory baseline.
Why is vitamin D optimal at 50 to 80 rather than above 30?
The standard cutoff of 30 ng/mL is the level at which frank bone disease becomes unlikely. It is a floor for avoiding rickets and osteomalacia, not a target for immune function, mood, hormone production or thyroid signalling. The evidence for those outcomes clusters in the 50 to 80 ng/mL range, which is why that is the range used at the clinic.
Why does ferritin need to be 70 when the lab says 15 is normal?
Ferritin is stored iron. Hair shedding, breathlessness on stairs, cold hands, poor exercise recovery and impaired conversion of T4 into active T3 all appear well above the standard cutoff of 15 ng/mL. A ferritin of 24 is reported as normal and is a legitimate cause of fatigue. The clinic targets 70 to 100 before considering iron handled.
Do I need to fast before my blood draw?
Yes — a 10 to 12 hour fast, water only. Fasting insulin, glucose and triglycerides are all meaningfully distorted by a recent meal, and those three sit at the centre of the metabolic picture. Morning draws are preferred because cortisol and testosterone both follow a daily rhythm.
Can I use my own recent labs?
Bring them, because your history is genuinely useful — but we do not build a panel by topping up an outside set. Each of our panels is run in full so every marker is drawn at the same time, on the same assay, and read as one consistent picture. If what you actually want is an expert read of labs you already hold, we offer that separately as a standalone external lab review.
Is bloodwork covered by insurance?
We do not take insurance. Panels are billed directly, which is what allows specialty markers most plans will not cover to be included. Blood work is HSA and FSA eligible, and we can provide a superbill you may submit to your insurer yourself. Our team will give you exact costs before anything is ordered.
How long do results take?
Most panels return in about two weeks. Specialty testing such as GI-MAP or mycotoxin panels can take longer still. Your lab review is scheduled roughly two weeks after your draw so everything is back and interpreted before you sit down.
See what your own numbers say.
Your discovery call is free. We'll tell you which panel fits your case and exactly what it costs before anything is ordered.
- A licensed practitioner reviews your history
- We start from your bloodwork, not from a therapy
- Full pricing before anything is booked
- If we're not the right fit, we'll say so
329 S. Royal Oaks Blvd, Suite 103, Franklin, TN 37064 · Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · Directions
Ready to find out what's actually going on?
Your discovery call is free and carries no obligation. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit, and exactly what it costs before anything is ordered.
329 S. Royal Oaks Blvd, Suite 103, Franklin, TN · Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · HSA & FSA eligible
I've watched what happens when nobody looks closely enough, with my mom and with my own body. I built this clinic so the people who walk through our doors get the workup I wish my family had been given the first time.Dr. Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS · Founder