Build Your Own Blood Test

17-OH Progesterone is a precursor hormone involved in cortisol and androgen synthesis. For active individuals, this marker may provide insight into how your body manages stress hormones and supports recovery and performance.

ACTH is the pituitary hormone responsible for triggering cortisol release from your adrenal glands. For active individuals, monitoring ACTH may help assess how your body adapts to training stress and supports recovery processes.

According to the NVKC, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) already plays a role before birth in forming the reproductive organs, and in women after puberty in the growth and maturation of the follicles, the egg sacs. The support cells of those follicles make it, and the NVKC therefore calls the amount in the blood a measure of the follicle supply. According to the NVKC, AMH in women falls at a constant rate from a certain age. The international guideline on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) adds that AMH is lower with a higher BMI (body mass index, weight relative to height) in the general population. In PCOS itself, AMH is strongly raised instead, according to the NVKC. Whether someone's AMH turns out low or high only shows in a blood test. Unilabs uses 0.58 to 8.13 µg/l for women aged 30 up to and including 34, Star-SHL 0.71 to 7.59 µg/l for the same age group. According to the NVKC, the measured amount of AMH depends on the measurement method, and limits can therefore differ between laboratories.

Androstenedione is a precursor hormone converted into testosterone and estrogen. For active individuals, this marker may help assess hormonal pathways that influence muscle development, recovery, and overall physical performance.

Calcitonin is a thyroid-produced hormone that regulates calcium and bone metabolism. For active individuals, monitoring calcitonin may help assess bone health and mineral balance, both of which are critical for injury prevention and performance.

Cortisol reflects your body's recovery and stress load. For active individuals, monitoring cortisol helps identify overtraining, optimise recovery windows, and balance training intensity with adequate rest.

DHEA-S is an anabolic precursor hormone that may influence recovery and performance. Active individuals benefit from monitoring adrenal reserve, especially during high training volumes.

DHT is a potent androgen derived from testosterone that may influence muscle development, recovery, and body composition. Active individuals benefit from understanding their full androgen profile.

Dopamine drives motivation, focus, and reward response — qualities essential for physical performance. This urine test provides insight into catecholamine production and neurological readiness.

Estradiol (E2) plays a role in bone health, recovery, and joint protection for active individuals. Balanced estrogen levels may support training adaptation and injury prevention. Your healthcare provider can help determine whether your levels are optimal for your performance goals.

Estrone (E1) is a weaker estrogen that may influence body composition and recovery in active individuals. As it is primarily produced in fat tissue, levels could reflect energy balance and training status. Your healthcare provider can help contextualise your results.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a pituitary hormone that reflects reproductive and hormonal health in active individuals. Intense training could influence FSH levels through effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Your healthcare provider can help assess whether your training is affecting hormonal regulation.

Free testosterone is the bioavailable form directly responsible for muscle protein synthesis, recovery, and physical drive. For active individuals, it may indicate your body's capacity for adaptation and performance. Your healthcare provider can help assess whether your levels support your training goals.

IGF-1 is a critical marker for active individuals and active individuals, as it plays a central role in muscle repair, tissue recovery, and training adaptation. Tracking IGF-1 can help optimize your performance strategy.

IGF-BP3 regulates the availability of IGF-1, a key growth factor for tissue repair and training adaptation. For active individuals, monitoring IGF-BP3 helps paint a complete picture of your body's recovery and growth mechanisms.

Inhibin B provides insight into gonadal health, which can influence hormonal balance, recovery capacity, and overall physical performance. For active individuals, reproductive hormone balance is often a factor in training outcomes.

LH is a critical pituitary hormone for active individuals, as it regulates sex hormone production that influences recovery, body composition, and training adaptation. Monitoring LH can help detect overtraining-related hormonal disruption.

Melatonin governs your sleep-wake cycle, and sleep is one of the most critical factors in physical recovery and performance. Monitoring melatonin can help identify whether your circadian rhythm supports optimal training adaptation.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates calcium and phosphorus, critical for bone strength and muscle function. For active individuals and active individuals, balanced PTH levels may support skeletal resilience and recovery.

Parathyroid hormone is central to calcium regulation, which directly impacts bone integrity, muscle contraction, and recovery in active individuals. Monitoring PTH helps ensure your mineral metabolism supports peak physical performance.

Pregnenolone is the starting point for all steroid hormone production, including those critical for recovery, stress management, and performance. For active individuals, monitoring pregnenolone can help assess hormonal reserve under training demands.

Your progesterone value tells you whether you ovulated in this cycle, and for an athlete it is the first blood value to give away that the energy balance has become too tight. Progesterone is the hormone the corpus luteum produces after ovulation; before ovulation there is barely any progesterone in the blood, afterwards tens of times as much. When energy intake is too low for the training load, a missed ovulation is one of the body's first adaptations, and a low luteal progesterone shows it before the period stops. So whether your progesterone is too high or too low is never judged without the cycle day: after ovulation the value belongs between 13.1 and 46.3 nmol/l, before it stays below 0.62 nmol/l.

Prolactin influences reproductive hormone balance and recovery capacity. For active individuals, monitoring prolactin can help identify hormonal disruptions that may affect training outcomes, sleep quality, and overall performance.

Your SHBG value tells you how much of your testosterone circulates bound, and so is unavailable to your muscles and bones. SHBG stands for sex hormone binding globulin, a protein from the liver that holds testosterone and oestradiol in your blood, and whatever is held never reaches the cell. That makes this value relevant to anyone training seriously, because it moves both ways. A strict cut or a large endurance volume raises SHBG, so free testosterone falls while the total still looks acceptable. Insulin resistance and visceral fat push SHBG down instead, so the total looks low while the free fraction is normal. Two athletes, two opposite movements, and in both cases a total that misleads.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that may affect mood, motivation, and recovery. For active individuals and active individuals, balanced serotonin could support mental focus, quality sleep, and a positive mindset during training.

Total testosterone is a key hormone for physical performance, influencing muscle protein synthesis, recovery capacity, and energy output. For active individuals, monitoring testosterone may help optimize training adaptations and recovery strategies.

Free T3 is considered the most active thyroid hormone and may be important for physical performance, metabolic efficiency, and recovery. Some sports medicine providers suggest that optimal T3 levels can support training adaptations and energy availability.

Free T4 is the main thyroid hormone and may be essential for physical performance, metabolic efficiency, and training recovery. Some sports medicine providers note that adequate T4 levels can support sustained energy output during prolonged physical activity.

Reverse T3 is an inactive thyroid hormone that may increase during overtraining, underfuelling, or physical stress. For active individuals, elevated levels might indicate the body is conserving energy by reducing active thyroid hormone availability.

TPO antibodies indicate potential autoimmune thyroid activity. For active individuals, undetected thyroid autoimmunity may subtly affect training capacity, recovery, and metabolic efficiency. Including TPO testing in your health monitoring can support optimal performance readiness.

Your TSH value tells you how hard your pituitary is pulling on your thyroid, and in anyone who trains hard that number moves with sleep, energy balance and load. TSH is thyroid-stimulating hormone: a messenger that the pituitary, a gland under the brain, sends to the thyroid to say how much thyroid hormone to make. If the thyroid makes too little, the pituitary pulls harder and TSH rises; if it makes too much, the signal switches off and TSH falls. At the laboratory that runs the test the usual adult range runs from 0.27 to 4.20 mE/L. One abnormal TSH after a heavy training week or a short night is not a diagnosis in an athlete but a reason to draw again at a comparable moment.

TRAb antibodies may indicate Graves' disease, which can cause hyperthyroidism. For active individuals, an uncontrolled overactive thyroid can significantly impact heart rate, recovery, and body composition. TRAb testing may help identify the cause of unexplained performance changes.

TSI antibodies may indicate Graves' disease, which can lead to hyperthyroidism. For active individuals, an overactive thyroid may affect metabolism, heart rate, and recovery. Understanding your TSI status can be part of a comprehensive approach to performance health.

Thyroglobulin is a thyroid protein that may provide insight into thyroid gland function for active individuals. Some sports medicine providers note that thyroid health can influence metabolic rate, energy availability, and the body's response to training demands.

Thyroglobulin Antibodies are immune markers that may indicate autoimmune thyroid activity. For active individuals, undetected thyroid autoimmunity might subtly affect metabolic efficiency, recovery, and training adaptations over time.

Total T3 measures triiodothyronine, the most metabolically active thyroid hormone. For active individuals, T3 may influence metabolic rate, energy availability, and recovery capacity. Monitoring T3 can help you and your healthcare provider optimise your training readiness.

Active Vitamin B12 measures the bioavailable B12 your cells can utilise. For active individuals, B12 may support oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and recovery. This test could help optimise your performance-related nutritional status.

Folate measures vitamin B9, a nutrient that may support oxygen-carrying red blood cell production and tissue repair. For active individuals, maintaining adequate folate levels could be important for endurance and recovery optimisation.

Holotranscobalamin measures the earliest sign of B12 depletion. For active individuals, catching B12 deficiency early may help maintain red blood cell production, oxygen transport, and optimal recovery from intense training.

Intrinsic Factor Antibodies tests for autoimmune B12 malabsorption. For active individuals with persistently low B12 despite adequate nutrition, this test may help determine if an underlying autoimmune condition is affecting B12 absorption and recovery.

MMA Blood measures functional B12 activity at the cellular level. For active individuals, this test may detect subtle B12 insufficiency that could impair red blood cell production, oxygen transport, and muscle recovery before it shows on standard tests.

MMA Urine is a non-invasive functional B12 assessment. For active individuals, this convenient test may help detect cellular B12 insufficiency that could impair oxygen transport, recovery, and endurance without needing a blood draw.

Vitamin A measures retinol, a fat-soluble vitamin that may support physical performance through its role in immune function, vision, and tissue repair. For active individuals, maintaining optimal levels could help support training adaptation and recovery.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is considered essential for converting carbohydrates into energy during exercise. Active individuals may have higher requirements due to increased metabolic demands. A healthcare provider can help assess whether your levels support optimal performance.

Vitamin B12 is considered important for oxygen transport via red blood cells and energy metabolism during exercise. Active individuals may have increased requirements. Healthcare providers specialising in sports medicine can help assess your optimal levels.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is considered essential for energy metabolism and antioxidant defence during intense physical activity. Active individuals may have increased requirements. A sports medicine professional can help assess your optimal levels.

Vitamin B3 (niacin) is considered a key precursor to NAD+, which may support energy production and cellular recovery during physical training. Active individuals may have increased metabolic demands for niacin. Consult a sports medicine professional for guidance.

Vitamin B6 is considered essential for amino acid metabolism during exercise, which may directly support muscle protein synthesis and recovery. Active individuals may have increased requirements. Consult a sports medicine professional for optimal assessment.

Vitamin B7 (biotin) is considered important for macronutrient metabolism during physical performance. It may support efficient energy utilisation from fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. A sports medicine professional can help assess your optimal levels.

Vitamin C is considered a critical antioxidant for active individuals, potentially supporting immune function during intense training and aiding tissue repair and recovery. Active individuals may have increased vitamin C requirements. Consult a sports medicine professional for guidance.

Your vitamin D level tells you how much vitamin D your body has in store, and that store drops between October and March, exactly the months when your training load peaks. At 52 degrees north your skin makes almost none in that period, so you live off what you built up over summer. The test measures 25-OH-D, the storage form. That number does say something about muscle function, but differently from how it is often sold: correcting a real deficiency helps, while pushing an already adequate value higher delivers nothing measurable.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that may support exercise recovery by reducing oxidative stress from intense training. Monitoring levels can help optimise your recovery strategy.

Vitamin K1 supports bone mineralisation and blood clotting — both essential for active individuals. Adequate levels may help reduce fracture risk and support recovery from training.