The markers I'd love to see
What to ask for, and where to get it.
Why bloods?
Your blood test results are one of the easiest ways to get a snapshot of what's going on in your body: where you've been, where you are now, and where things may be heading. Bloods are widely available and much less expensive than many other functional tests, and they give clues about what's happening right across your body, from your energy and hormones to your gut, liver, heart and thyroid.
That's why the more markers you have, the fuller the picture. I read them against narrower, functional ranges to spot the quieter shifts early, so we can make simple food and lifestyle changes now.
I'll work with whatever you have. List 1 is plenty to start, and your doctor can usually run it.
Four simple steps
- Ask your doctor for List 1.
- If you'd like, top up a few extras privately at a lab near you.
- Test in the morning, after an overnight fast (tips).
- Upload your results at least 3 working days before we meet.
The essentials
Ask your doctor for these, using these names. Tap a name to see why it matters.
- Full blood count (FBC)energy, iron and immunityUS: complete blood count (CBC) with differential.
- Urea and electrolytes (U&Es)sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, creatinine, eGFRUS: part of the comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP).
- Bone profilecalcium, phosphate, albumin, alkaline phosphataseUS: calcium and albumin are in the CMP. Ask for phosphate too.
- Liver function tests (LFTs)ALT, AST, total protein, albumin, globulinUS: in the CMP.
- Fasting glucose and HbA1cyour blood sugar, now and over three months
- Lipid profilecholesterol and triglyceridesUS: lipid panel.
- Thyroid: TSH, free T4 and free T3energy and metabolism
- Ferritin and iron studiesyour iron stores
- Vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folatemood, energy and bones
Want the fuller picture? See Lists 2 and 3
Often left off standard panels. Add these privately if you'd like the fuller picture.
- Fasting insulinan early sign of how you handle sugar
- Thyroid antibodies (TPO and thyroglobulin), total T4 and T3the fuller thyroid picture
- Oestradiol, progesterone, FSH, LHwhere you are in perimenopause
- Total and free testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-Senergy, libido and muscle
- Morning cortisolyour main stress hormone
- hs-CRP, homocysteine and fibrinogeninflammation and heart health
- ApoB and lipoprotein(a)a clearer heart picture (Lp(a) only once in your life)
- RBC magnesium, zinc and coppersleep, stress, immunity, skin and hair
- GGT, bilirubin (total, direct and indirect) and LDHliver, gallbladder and B vitamins
- Bicarbonate and uric aciddigestion and blood sugar clues
Only if budget allows: Reverse T3, ESR, MMA, prolactin, IgG and IgA, lipase and amylase, C-peptide or fructosamine, and urine albumin if your eGFR is under 90.
Choose your country
Start with your GP. Mention how you've been feeling (tired, poor sleep, low mood, heavy periods or brain fog are all worth saying), and ask for List 1 by name. Your GP decides what's clinically needed, so they may not run everything. That's completely fine. Download your results from the NHS App or ask for a printout.
Top up privately, if you'd like to. You book and pay the lab directly.
Build your own panel by ticking what you want.
From £39, plus £45 to £59 for a blood draw.
Big all-in-one women's screens, with draws at Superdrug.
About £303, plus £30 for a draw.
Single tests from the Guy's and St Thomas' lab, handy for the harder-to-find ones.
Priced per test.
Prices checked November 2026, so please check before you book. Topping up what your GP has run usually costs £100 to £300.
Start with your doctor. US insurance usually covers most of List 1 at your annual physical, so ask for List 1 by name and say how you've been feeling. The aim is to get as much as you can covered first.
Top up only what's missing. If a few markers aren't covered, both big US labs let you order single tests yourself, then visit one of their locations for the draw.
Order single tests or panels online, then book a draw at a Quest centre.
Order online, then visit a Labcorp location.
Prices vary by test and state, so check before you order.
Start with your GP or polyclinic. Ask for List 1 by name, and mention how you've been feeling.
Want the fuller picture? Private clinics can run a full women's panel in one go.
Ask for Dr Paul Chang, a GP I connected with for functional blood testing. He can run a wide range of markers, including hormones, thyroid and inflammation.
Clinics in Holland Village (255 Holland Avenue) and Katong (437 Joo Chiat Road). Call +65 6015 0230 to book.
These are suggestions only. I have no affiliation with any of these labs, and you book and pay them directly. Living somewhere else? Your doctor or a local private lab can run the same markers.
Already had bloods done? Results from the last three to six months are the most useful, and older ones are good for comparison. Send what you have and I'll let you know if they'll work.
Getting ready for your test
- Go in the morning, ideally between 7am and 9am. Cortisol is highest then.
- Fast for 10 to 12 hours, and drink plenty of water, as this makes your results more accurate.
- Still have a cycle? Note which day of your cycle you test on, as it helps me read your hormones.
Send them my way
Upload your results on my upload page (or at the end of your ROOTED intake), or email them to hello@katarinadamree.com, at least 3 working days before we meet. I'll really dig into them before our session, then we'll go through what's happening, why, and what to focus on first, with a plan made for your real life.
PDF if you can, photos if you can't. A PDF keeps every number sharp, and most labs (and the NHS App) let you download one. If you only have paper copies, clear photos are fine: lay each page flat in good light and make sure every number is in the shot.
My work is educational and complements medical care. It isn't a substitute for advice from your doctor. I don't diagnose or treat medical conditions, and if anything in your results needs medical attention, I'll ask you to take it to your doctor.
Why each marker matters
This part is totally optional. If you'd like to know what each marker tells us about your body, tap any section below to learn more.
Blood count
Full blood count: shows how well your blood carries oxygen, which is closely tied to energy. The size and shape of your red cells give early clues about iron, B12 and folate, and the white cells show how your immune system is doing.
Blood sugar
Fasting glucose: your blood sugar right now. Steady blood sugar means steadier energy and fewer cravings. HbA1c: your average over three months. Fasting insulin: often rises years before glucose does, so it's one of the best early signs of how your body is handling sugar.
Kidneys, electrolytes and minerals
Sodium, potassium, chloride: hydration and the balance your nerves and muscles rely on. Urea, creatinine, eGFR: how well your kidneys are filtering, plus hints about hydration and protein intake. Calcium: bones, muscles and nerves. Phosphate: works with calcium, and a low reading can point to digestion that needs support. Bicarbonate: gives clues about stomach acid and B1. Uric acid: linked to blood sugar, kidneys and joints, and a low level can hint at a nutrient need.
Proteins, liver and gallbladder
Total protein, albumin, globulin: whether you're getting and absorbing enough protein. ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase: how your liver is coping. UK panels often include ALT but not AST, so ask for both. GGT: a sensitive liver marker that can also reflect alcohol and oxidative stress. Bilirubin: liver and gallbladder flow, and the direct and indirect split tells us more than the total. LDH: read alongside your red cells, it helps show whether B12 or folate need attention.
Heart and cholesterol
Cholesterol and triglycerides: these often shift as oestrogen falls in perimenopause, so it's good to know your numbers. ApoB: counts the particles that carry cholesterol, so it gives a clearer picture than LDL alone. Lipoprotein(a): mostly set by your genes, so you only need it once.
Thyroid
TSH: the signal from your brain to your thyroid. Standard tests often stop here. Free T4 and free T3: free T4 is the storage form your thyroid makes, and free T3 is the active form your body turns it into. Free T3 is what reaches your cells and sets the pace for your energy, metabolism, body temperature, mood and digestion, and even your hair and skin. Your TSH can look normal while free T4 or free T3 sit low, which is one reason you can still feel tired, cold or foggy with "normal" results. So ask for both by name. Total T4 and T3: fill in the picture of how much hormone you're making and converting. TPO and thyroglobulin antibodies: autoimmune thyroid issues become more common around menopause, and antibodies can rise long before TSH changes.
Iron
Ferritin: your iron stores. Low ferritin is one of the most common reasons women feel exhausted, especially with heavy periods. Serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation: show how much iron is moving around and available to use, which ferritin alone can't tell us.
Inflammation
hs-CRP: a sensitive measure of background inflammation, which can affect energy, mood and long-term heart health. Homocysteine: linked to B vitamins, heart health and brain health. Fibrinogen: another inflammation and heart health marker that rounds out the picture.
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamin D: bones, mood and immunity. Many of us run low, especially in winter. B12 and folate: energy, mood, focus and healthy red blood cells. RBC magnesium: sleep, stress, muscles and blood sugar, measured inside red cells for more accuracy. Zinc and copper: immunity, skin, hair and thyroid, and they work as a balanced pair.
Hormones and stress
Oestradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH: a snapshot of where you are in perimenopause. They change through your cycle and from month to month, so they're one piece of the puzzle rather than a verdict. Testosterone and SHBG: energy, libido, muscle and motivation. SHBG shows how much testosterone is free to use. DHEA-S: an adrenal hormone that tends to fall with age and stress. Morning cortisol: your main stress hormone, very helpful for busy, always-on women.
Optional extras
Reverse T3: shows whether stress, low calories or a nutrient need may be slowing how your body makes active T3. ESR: a general inflammation marker. MMA: confirms whether your body is using B12 well, if your B12 looks borderline. Prolactin: useful if your cycle has changed or you have breast tenderness. IgG and IgA: a view of your immune system, including gut immunity. Lipase and amylase: digestive enzymes from the pancreas. C-peptide or fructosamine: extra blood sugar detail. Urine albumin: only if your eGFR comes back under 90.