Wild Health Lab Dictionary
Creating the new standard of health care includes how we do blood testing. Wild Health’s standard lab panel is a custom analysis of 65+ biomarkers – hand-selected by our team of board-certified physicians as being the most impactful for measuring health, wellness, and longevity. Below is an overview of the biomarkers we analyze, and why.
Standard Male Panel
| Apolipoprotein B | Apolipoprotein B (ApoB, gene principally APOB3500) is a key protein involved in transporting lipids throughout the bloodstream, crucial for cardiovascular health. Testing ApoB is essential for assessing cardiovascular disease risk and can provide a more complete picture than a standard lipid panel. Lipoprotein particles, which carry cholesterol and triglycerides, are comprised in part of apolipoproteins. For instance, each LDL particle contains one molecule of apolipoprotein B (apoB). An elevated apoB level (≥130 mg/dL) is considered an atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk-enhancing factor, and we suggest measuring apoB in patients with triglyceride levels over ≥200 mg/dL. |
| ApoA-1 | ApoA-1, also known as Apolipoprotein A-1, is a critical protein component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, often referred to as "good cholesterol." ApoA-1 plays a significant role in reverse cholesterol transport, which involves removing excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues and transporting it back to the liver for excretion. Testing ApoA-1 levels is important for assessing cardiovascular health, as higher levels of ApoA-1 are considered cardio-protective. |
| CBC With Differential/Platelet | This is a complete blood count (CBC) that provides essential information about various components of the blood. It includes measurements of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, along with a differential count that examines different types of white blood cells. This comprehensive test is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of conditions, including infections, anemia, bleeding disorders, and immune system disorders. |
| Comp. Metabolic Panel (14) | This comprehensive panel helps assess how well the kidneys and liver are functioning, monitors blood glucose levels, and evaluates electrolyte balance. It is essential in diagnosing and managing conditions like diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, and electrolyte imbalances, and informs the individual’s Methylation status. |
| C-Reactive Protein, Cardiac | C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood is associated with non-specific inflammation. Elevated levels of CRP can be a risk marker for cardiovascular diseases as well as poor recovery or auto-imune diseases, even before symptoms manifest. |
| Folate (Folic Acid), Serum | The "Folate (Folic Acid), Serum" test measures folate levels in the blood, a crucial B-vitamin for DNA synthesis and red blood cell production. It helps assess folate status, crucial for overall health and methylation. Deficiency can lead to anemia, birth defects, and potential links to cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. In functional medicine, this test aids in identifying folate imbalances, enabling targeted interventions and optimizing health outcomes. |
| Hemoglobin A1c | The "Hemoglobin A1c" test, often abbreviated as HbA1c, measures the average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. It provides essential information about long-term glucose control in individuals. Hemoglobin A1c reflects the percentage of hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells) that has sugar attached to it. The test helps assess how well blood glucose levels are being managed and can aid in preventing diabetes. |
| Homocyst(e)ine | Homocysteine is used as a proxy to assess methylation status. It is an amino acid that is produced as part of normal metabolism, and its levels are influenced by various factors, including diet, genetics, and certain health conditions. Elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. |
| Lipid Panel With LDL/HDL Ratio | This panel includes measurements of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and other lipoproteins. This provides basic insights into an individual's cardiovascular risk. |
| Testosterone, Free and Total (Adult Males only) | Testosterone is an important hormone necessary for maintaining energy and building muscle mass. Total testosterone measures both free T and testosterone that has attached to a protein. Total T can be falsely indicated as low if the patient has low sex hormone binding globulin. It is therefore important to test both total T and free T in assessing hypogonadism, and evaluating the endocrine system in both testosterone production and binding. |
| TSH | TSH is the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and acts as an early warning signal of thyroid abnormalities before other thyroid tests fall out of range. |
| Ferritin, Serum | Ferritin is a protein that holds iron. This becomes an indicator of the body’s iron stores. Low ferritin levels could be indicative of anemia, and high levels are associated with increased inflammation and increased risk for several diseases. |
| Insulin | Insulin is a fat storage hormone critical for blood glucose regulation. Diabetes is the condition of insulin resistance. High insulin levels are an early sign that the body is developing insulin resistance, even if blood glucose levels are still considered normal. |
| Vitamin B12 | Vitamin B12 is needed for your body to maintain a healthy nervous system, make red blood cells, and create DNA. |
| Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy | Vitamin D is an essential substance, promoting calcium absorption in the gut and is most known for dining in proper bone development. Many people are deficient in Vitamin D. |
| Uric Acid | High Uric acid levels can cause gout. Purines, alcohol and fructose are the primary culprits in increasing uric acid levels, although they can also increase due to chemotherapy, medications or vitamin D deficiencies. |
Standard Female Panel
| Apolipoprotein B | Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a key protein involved in transporting lipids throughout the bloodstream, crucial for cardiovascular health. Testing ApoB is essential for assessing cardiovascular disease risk, and can provide a more complete picture than a standard lipid panel. |
| ApoA-1 | ApoA-1, also known as Apolipoprotein A-1, is a critical protein component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, often referred to as "good cholesterol." ApoA-1 plays a significant role in reverse cholesterol transport, which involves removing excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues and transporting it back to the liver for excretion. Testing ApoA-1 levels is important for assessing cardiovascular health, as higher levels of ApoA-1 are considered cardio-protective. |
| CBC With Differential/Platelet | This is a complete blood count (CBC) that provides essential information about various components of the blood. It includes measurements of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, along with a differential count that examines different types of white blood cells. This comprehensive test is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of conditions, including infections, anemia, bleeding disorders, and immune system disorders. |
| Comp. Metabolic Panel (14) | This comprehensive panel helps assess how well the kidneys and liver are functioning, monitors blood glucose levels, and evaluates electrolyte balance. It is essential in diagnosing and managing conditions like diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, and electrolyte imbalances, and informs the individual’s Methylation status. |
| C-Reactive Protein, Cardiac | C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood is associated with non-specific inflammation. Elevated levels of CRP can be a risk marker for cardiovascular diseases as well as poor recovery or auto-imune diseases, even before symptoms manifest. |
| Folate (Folic Acid), Serum | The "Folate (Folic Acid), Serum" test measures folate levels in the blood, a crucial B-vitamin for DNA synthesis and red blood cell production. It helps assess folate status, crucial for overall health and methylation. Deficiency can lead to anemia, birth defects, and potential links to cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. In functional medicine, this test aids in identifying folate imbalances, enabling targeted interventions and optimizing health outcomes. |
| Hemoglobin A1c | The "Hemoglobin A1c" test, often abbreviated as HbA1c, measures the average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. It provides essential information about long-term glucose control in individuals. Hemoglobin A1c reflects the percentage of hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells) that has sugar attached to it. The test helps assess how well blood glucose levels are being managed and can aid in preventing diabetes. |
| Homocyst(e)ine | Homocysteine is used as a proxy to assess methylation status. It is an amino acid that is produced as part of normal metabolism, and its levels are influenced by various factors, including diet, genetics, and certain health conditions. Elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. |
| Lipid Panel With LDL/HDL Ratio | This panel includes measurements of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and other lipoproteins. This provides basic insights into an individual's cardiovascular risk. |
| Estradiol (Women only) | Estradiol is a sex hormone essential for reproductive health. Too much or too little can be indicative of HPA-Axis dysfunction and can lead to many health problems including infertility, urinary tract infections, weak bones or depression. |
| Progesterone (Women only) | Progesterone is a sex hormone. Low progesterone levels can lead to female infertility (problems getting pregnant after a year of trying) or problems during pregnancy. High levels can also help diagnose certain problems with the adrenal glands. |
| TSH | TSH is the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and acts as an early warning signal of thyroid abnormalities before other thyroid tests fall out of range. |
| Ferritin, Serum | Ferritin is a protein that holds iron. This becomes an indicator of the body’s iron stores. Low ferritin levels could be indicative of anemia, and high levels are associated with increased inflammation and increased risk for several diseases. |
| Insulin | Insulin is a fat storage hormone critical for blood glucose regulation. Diabetes is the condition of insulin resistance. High insulin levels are an early sign that the body is developing insulin resistance, even if blood glucose levels are still considered normal. |
| Vitamin B12 | Vitamin B12 is needed for your body to maintain a healthy nervous system, make red blood cells, and create DNA. |
| Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy | Vitamin D is an essential substance, promoting calcium absorption in the gut and is most known for dining in proper bone development. Many people are deficient in Vitamin D. |
| Uric Acid | High Uric acid levels can cause gout. Purines, alcohol and fructose are the primary culprits in increasing uric acid levels, although they can also increase due to chemotherapy, medications or vitamin D deficiencies. |
Female Hormonal Add-Ons
| Cortisol | Cortisol is known as the stress hormone released by adrenal glands. Deviations from a normal pattern could indicate HPA-Axis dysfunction or uncommon medical conditions such as Cushing Syndrome or Addison disease. The morning level in a blood test is only a first screening for dysfunction, if dysfunction is suspected based on this first screening, a more in-depth look at the 24 hr cortisol pattern is advanced. |
| DHEA-Sulfate DHEA-Sulfate This is some text inside of a div block. DHEA-Sulfate | DHEA is the precursor hormone to estrogen and testosterone. Abnormal values could indicate HPA-Axis dysfunction. Over-production could be indicative of an adrenal tumor or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and low levels could be signs of Addison disease. This screening would indicate a need for further testing. |
| Estradiol | Estradiol is a sex hormone essential for reproductive health. Too much or too little can be indicative of HPA-Axis dysfunction and can lead to many health problems including infertility, urinary tract infections, weak bones or depression. |
| IGF-1 | Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) manages growth hormone (GH) in the body. Together, IGF-1 and GH promote normal cell growth of bones and tissue. Abnormal levels could lead to weak bones or stunted growth, and elevated levels could result in tumors. |
| Progesterone (Women only) | Progesterone is a sex hormone. Low progesterone levels can lead to female infertility (problems getting pregnant after a year of trying) or problems during pregnancy. High levels can also help diagnose certain problems with the adrenal glands. |
| Sex Horm Binding Glob, Serum | Sex hormone Binding globulin is a protein involved with the regulation of sex hormones. It is indicative for how testosterone is being utilized in the body and can help explain symptoms of too much testosterone |
| Testosterone, Free, Direct (women and children only) | Free testosterone is a measure of testosterone not bound to SHBG. It can be used to assess reasons for missed periods, difficulty getting pregnant, masculine patterns of hair growth or investigating possible PCOS |
| Testosterone, Total, LC/MS (women and children only) | Total testosterone by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) provides the sensitivity and specificity to assess low levels of testosterone. It therefore is used to assess healthy testosterone levels, which are vital for energy and building lean tissue. |
| TSH | TSH is the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and acts as an early warning signal of thyroid abnormalities before other thyroid tests fall out of range. |
| Triiodothyronine (T3), Free | T3, free is used in conjunction with T4 to assess for thyroid abnormalities. T3 free is a thyroid hormone that is not bound to anything. |
| T4, Free | Free T4 travels into tissues that use it. Most of T4 is bound, and when bound to proteins, it cannot enter the tissues that need it. T4 turns into T3. Given that only free T4 can enter the tissues that need it, it is a useful test in investigating possible thyroid hormone imbalances and thyroid dysfunction. |
Male Hormonal Add-Ons
| Cortisol | Cortisol is known as the stress hormone released by adrenal glands. Deviations from a normal pattern could indicate HPA-Axis dysfunction or uncommon medical conditions such as Cushing Syndrome or Addison disease. The morning level in a blood test is only a first screening for dysfunction, if dysfunction is suspected based on this first screening, a more in-depth look at the 24 hr cortisol pattern is advanced. |
| DHEA-Sulfate | DHEA is the precursor hormone to estrogen and testosterone. Abnormal values could indicate HPA-Axis dysfunction. Over-production could be indicative of an adrenal tumor and low levels could be signs of Addison disease. This screening would indicate a need for further testing. |
| Estradiol | Estradiol is a sex hormone essential for reproductive health. Too much or too little can be indicative of HPA-Axis dysfunction and can lead to many health problems. Healthy estrogen levels are vital for ensuring that muscle mass gain is processed in the right way, for maintaining a stable nervous system, bone health and a healthy emotional state. |
| IGF-1 | Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) manages growth hormone (GH) in the body. Together, IGF-1 and GH promote normal cell growth of bones and tissue. Abnormal levels could lead to weak bones or stunted growth, and elevated levels could result in tumors. |
| Sex Horm Binding Glob, Serum | Sex hormone Binding globulin is a protein involved with the regulation of sex hormones. It is indicative for how testosterone is being utilized in the body and can help explain symptoms of too little testosterone |
| Testosterone, Free and Total (Adult Males only) | Testosterone is an important hormone necessary for maintaining energy and building muscle mass. Total testosterone measures both free T and testosterone that has attached to a protein. Total T can be falsely indicated as low if the patient has low sex hormone binding globulin. It is therefore important to test both total T and free T in assessing hypogonadism, and evaluating the endocrine system in both testosterone production and binding. |
| TSH | TSH is the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and acts as an early warning signal of thyroid abnormalities before other thyroid tests fall out of range. |
| Triiodothyronine (T3), Free | T3, free is used in conjunction with T4 to assess for thyroid abnormalities. T3 free is a thyroid hormone that is not bound to anything. |
| T4, Free | Free T4 travels into tissues that use it. Most of T4 is bound, and when bound to proteins, it cannot enter the tissues that need it. T4 turns into T3. Given that only free T4 can enter the tissues that need it, it is a useful test in investigating possible thyroid hormone imbalances and thyroid dysfunction. |
Micro Nutrient Add-on
| OmegaCheck(TM) (EPA+DPA+DHA) | Sufficient Omega promotes cardiovascular health and reduces inflammation. This test provides insights into the levels and balance of Omega, indicating possible cardiovascular risk and assessing the need for additional Omega supplementation or nutritional support. |
| Zinc | Zinc is not stored in the body, so this test evaluates for possible deficiencies. Zinc deficiency could result in poor immune function, developmental abnormalities and hormone imbalances. |
| Magnesium | Magnesium deficiencies can result in symptoms such as muscle weakness, twitching, cramping, confusion, cardiac arrhythmias, and seizures. |
| Copper | Copper deficiency is an acquired condition that can lead to neurological dysfunctions, such as myelopathy, motor neuron impairment, polyneuropathy, cognitive impairment, and optic nerve neuropathy. |
| Vit D | Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin critical for building bones. Vitamin D also helps manage inflammation, is necessary for mood regulation, helps control infection and reduces cancer cell growth. The majority of our global population is deficient in vitamin D. |
Cardiovascular Add-Ons
| Apolipoprotein B | Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a protein that is found in certain lipoproteins, including LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Measuring ApoB levels provides information about the number of atherogenic (atherosclerosis-promoting) particles in the blood, which is crucial for assessing cardiovascular risk. |
| OmegaCheck(TM) (EPA+DPA+DHA) | Omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential nutrients that play a vital role in cardiovascular health. The OmegaCheck test measures the levels of these fatty acids in the blood, providing valuable insights into an individual's omega-3 status. |
| Lipoprotein (a) | High levels of Lp(a) are a significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. Monitoring Lp(a) levels can help identify individuals at higher risk for ASCVD. |
| Lp-PLA2 Activity | Elevated levels of Lp-PLA2 are indicative of increased inflammation in the arteries, which is a key factor in the development of ASCVD. Measuring Lp-PLA2 activity can help assess the risk of plaque rupture and subsequent thromboembolic or hemorrhagic cardiovascular events. |
| NMR LipoProfile | NMR LipoProfile is an advanced lipid profile test that provides detailed information about the size and number of different lipoprotein particles in the blood. It goes beyond traditional cholesterol measurements and helps in assessing the risk of ASCVD more accurately. This test can identify individuals with a pattern of lipoprotein particles that may increase their risk of heart disease. |
| Coenzyme Q10, Total | Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant that plays a crucial role in the production of energy in cells. It is also involved in maintaining heart health. Measuring total CoQ10 levels can be important because CoQ10 deficiency has been associated with certain heart conditions (such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and other cardiomyopathies) and may be necessary for overall cellular health. Supplementation with CoQ10 may be recommended in some cases. |
| TMAO (Trimethylamine N-oxide) | TMAO is a compound produced by gut bacteria from dietary nutrients, such as choline and carnitine. Elevated TMAO levels have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, as TMAO may promote inflammation and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Monitoring TMAO levels can provide insights into dietary habits and their impact on cardiovascular health. |
.svg)