Blood Testing

We use LabCorp and Boston Heart for a foundational yearly (or twice yearly) health assessment. These are completed at Leaves of Life by our phlebotomist, who then ships the blood sample directly to the lab. After they analyze it, the results are received at our office and are then reviewed with the patient by one of our providers.

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) measures the cells that make up your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It evaluates hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV (mean corpuscular volume), MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin), RDW (red cell distribution width), platelet count, and the different types of white blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils). These values help identify signs of anemia, infection, inflammation, immune disorders, and other blood-related conditions. Monitoring trends over time is often more informative than evaluating a single result.

The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) evaluates your body's metabolic health and the function of several major organs. It includes markers of liver function (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, globulin, and total protein), kidney function (BUN, creatinine, and estimated GFR), blood glucose, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, and CO₂), calcium, and other metabolic markers. These tests provide important information about liver and kidney health, hydration, electrolyte balance, and overall metabolic function. Watching for trends and changes over time can help identify developing health concerns before symptoms arise.

Fasting is recommended for the most accurate blood glucose measurement.

Traditional cholesterol testing provides useful information but does not fully predict an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease. In fact, many people who experience a heart attack or stroke have normal or only mildly elevated cholesterol levels, while many with high cholesterol never develop cardiovascular disease.

A more comprehensive assessment may include advanced lipid testing, which measures the size and number of LDL and HDL cholesterol particles. Larger LDL particles are generally considered less likely to penetrate the walls of blood vessels, whereas smaller, denser LDL particles are more likely to contribute to plaque formation.

Additional laboratory markers—such as C-reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], fasting insulin, homocysteine, and others—can provide further insight into cardiovascular risk and help guide individualized lifestyle and dietary recommendations.

Fasting is required for accurate lipid measurements.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin through sun exposure and can also be obtained from certain foods and supplements. It plays an essential role in bone health, immune function, muscle strength, and calcium absorption.

Vitamin D levels can vary based on sun exposure, season, skin pigmentation, age, body weight, diet, and supplement use. Because of limited sunlight during much of the year, many people living in northern climates, including Ohio, have low vitamin D levels.

The best way to determine whether you are getting the right amount of vitamin D is through a 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH Vitamin D) blood test. Your healthcare provider can use the results to recommend an appropriate supplementation plan, which may need to be adjusted seasonally as your sun exposure changes.

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) measures your average blood glucose level over the previous 2–3 months by assessing the amount of glucose attached to hemoglobin in your red blood cells. It is commonly used to screen for and monitor prediabetes and diabetes.

Measuring fasting insulin along with glucose can provide additional information about how effectively your body is responding to insulin. When cells become less responsive to insulin (insulin resistance), the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin to keep blood sugar normal. Over time, this increased demand can contribute to rising blood glucose levels and the development of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Essential fatty acids play an important role in maintaining healthy cell membranes, supporting brain function, regulating inflammation, and promoting cardiovascular, eye, skin, and joint health. An imbalance in these fats—particularly a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids or an excess of certain omega-6 and trans fats—may contribute to chronic inflammation and has been associated with a variety of health conditions.

This panel measures several types of fatty acids, including trans fats, saturated and unsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA, and alpha-linolenic acid [ALA]), omega-6 fatty acids (including arachidonic acid), and other key fatty acid markers. The results can help evaluate your dietary fat intake, identify potential imbalances, and guide personalized nutrition and supplementation recommendations to support overall health.

Many people are told their thyroid function is "normal" based on a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test alone. While TSH is an important screening marker, it does not provide a complete picture of thyroid function. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland and signals the thyroid to produce the hormones T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine).

T4 is the primary hormone released by the thyroid and must be converted—primarily in the liver and other tissues—into T3, the body's active thyroid hormone. Measuring TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 together can help identify whether symptoms may be related to altered pituitary signaling, reduced thyroid hormone production, or impaired conversion of T4 to T3. Understanding where the imbalance occurs can help guide a more personalized treatment plan.

A comprehensive thyroid evaluation may also include thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (TG) antibodies to screen for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the most common autoimmune thyroid disorder. These antibodies may be present years before significant changes in thyroid hormone levels occur and can help identify an autoimmune cause of thyroid dysfunction.

Another marker, Reverse T3 (rT3), is an inactive form of thyroid hormone that is also produced from T4. During periods of significant illness, chronic stress, inflammation, or calorie restriction, the body may produce more Reverse T3 and less active T3. In selected individuals, measuring Reverse T3 may provide additional information about thyroid hormone metabolism and the body's response to stress, although it is not routinely recommended for everyone.

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and is one of the best indicators of your body's iron reserves. Testing ferritin annually can help identify both low and high iron stores before they lead to more serious health problems. Low ferritin may occur long before anemia develops and can contribute to fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, hair loss, restless legs syndrome, headaches, and difficulty with concentration. Elevated ferritin may indicate excess iron stores, inflammation, liver disease, or other underlying health conditions that warrant further evaluation. Because ferritin levels can change over time due to diet, blood loss, pregnancy, chronic disease, or supplementation, monitoring this marker yearly can help detect changes early and guide appropriate treatment to support energy, cognitive function, and overall health.