Counts the particles that carry cholesterol to the arteries. One of the best indicators of cardiovascular risk.

Main protein of HDL, the cholesterol that carries fats back to the liver.

Sum of all circulating cholesterol. Read together with LDL, HDL and the ratios.

The cholesterol that builds up in the arteries when in excess.

The cholesterol that cleans the arteries. The higher, the better, within certain limits.

Balance between the cholesterol that builds up and the one that cleans.

Another reading of the same balance, used in risk scores.

Blood fats linked to diet, alcohol and sugar metabolism.

Amino acid that damages blood vessels in excess. Depends on vitamins B9, B12 and B6.

Share of omega-3 in red blood cell membranes. Reflects your diet over the past few months.

Blood sugar level at the time of the draw, fasting.

Glycated hemoglobin: average blood sugar over about three months. The reference test for detecting prediabetes.

Trace element involved in regulating blood sugar.

Trace element involved in blood sugar regulation.

Enzyme released when liver or muscle cells are damaged.

The enzyme most specific to the liver. Rises with inflammation, fatty liver or hepatitis.

Enzyme sensitive to alcohol, medications and fat buildup in the liver.

Pigment from the breakdown of red blood cells, eliminated by the liver.

Protein made by the liver. Reflects nutrition, inflammation and liver function.

Enzyme that digests sugars. Rises in pancreatitis.

Enzyme that digests fats. More specific to the pancreas than amylase.

Muscle waste removed by the kidneys. Its concentration reflects kidney filtration.

Waste from proteins, removed by the kidneys. Read together with creatinine and hydration.

Estimate of the volume of blood filtered per minute. The key figure for kidney function.

Pituitary hormone that controls the thyroid. The most sensitive marker: high when the thyroid slows down.

Main hormone produced by the thyroid, the storage form.

Active form of thyroid hormone, the one that acts on cells.

Needed to produce thyroid hormones.

Major antioxidant, protects the thyroid and cells.

White blood cells as a whole. Rise with infection or inflammation.

Front-line white blood cells against bacteria.

White blood cells of specific immunity, viruses and immune memory.

White blood cells that clean up tissues and trigger inflammation.

White blood cells involved in allergies and parasites.

Rare white blood cells, involved in allergic reactions.

Number of red blood cells, the oxygen carriers.

Red blood cell protein that binds oxygen. Low in anemia.

Share of blood volume taken up by red blood cells.

Average size of red blood cells. Points to the type of anemia (iron, B12, B9).

Average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell.

Average concentration of hemoglobin in red blood cells.

Variation in red blood cell size. Rises early in deficiencies.

Clotting cells. Too low, risk of bleeding; too high, inflammation.

Inflammation protein. The most widely used marker to detect ongoing inflammation.

Antinuclear antibodies: first lead for an autoimmune disease, including some forms of hair loss.

Supports immunity and iron transport.

Indicator of immune and oxidative balance.

The body’s iron store. The first marker to drop in iron deficiency.

Protein that carries iron. Rises when stores drop.

Oxygen carrier through hemoglobin.

Essential for producing red blood cells and for the nervous system. Common deficiency in vegetarians and after age 50.

Crucial for cell division and pregnancy. Read together with B12 and homocysteine.

Involved in more than 100 enzymatic reactions, including the production of neurotransmitters.

Major antioxidant, supports immunity and collagen synthesis.

Helps with calcium absorption and immunity. In winter, more than one adult in two is below the threshold in Switzerland.

Essential for vision, skin and immunity.

Protects cell membranes against oxidative stress.

Essential for bone, muscle and nerve health.

Plays a role in muscle relaxation, stress and cellular energy.

Supports wound healing, immunity and the health of skin and hair.

Vitamin B8, involved in the keratin of hair and nails.

Part of bone structure and energy metabolism.

Essential for muscle contraction and heart rhythm.

Regulates cell hydration and blood pressure.

Supports the health of connective tissue, skin and joints.

Involved in detoxification, skin and joints.

Takes part in tissue synthesis and bone metabolism.

Supports the health of bones and joints.

Component of vitamin B12, involved in blood formation.

Contributes to cellular detoxification.

Present in trace amounts, regulates mood at very low doses.

Antioxidant, boosts oxygenation and immunity.

Involved in the strength of teeth and bones.

Balance between calcium and magnesium, essential for bone and nerve health.

Ratio of calcium to phosphorus, involved in bone mineralization.

Balance between potassium and sodium, a key factor in blood pressure.

Main estrogen. Varies with the cycle, drops at menopause.

Hormone of the second half of the cycle. Confirms ovulation.

Hormone that stimulates the ovaries. Rises as menopause approaches.

Hormone that triggers ovulation.

Lactation hormone. In excess, it disrupts the cycle and libido.

Adrenal hormone, precursor of sex hormones. Declines with age.

Also present in women: energy, libido, muscle mass.

Protein that binds sex hormones. Determines the share that is actually active.

The main male hormone. Energy, libido, muscle, mood.

Protein that binds testosterone. Used to estimate active testosterone.

Precursor of sex hormones, produced by the adrenal glands.

Pituitary hormone that controls testosterone production.

In excess, lowers testosterone and libido.

Protein that carries part of the testosterone.

Marker of chronic low-grade inflammation, used to estimate biological age.

In excess, damages blood vessels and the brain. Corrected with B vitamins.

Cardiovascular and cognitive protection. Reflects your diet over the last three months.

Cellular energy molecule that declines with age. Measured on two drops of blood.

Stress hormone. Chronically high, it wears down the body and causes hair loss.

Neurotoxic, banned in paint, beware of contaminated water.

Neurotoxic, found in fish and old dental amalgams.

Toxic to the kidneys and bones, found in tobacco.

Highly toxic metalloid, found in water or certain foods.

Light metal that is potentially neurotoxic at high doses.

Can cause allergic and digestive reactions.

Found in some industries, toxic with high exposure.

Used medically, buildup should be monitored.

Can affect the nervous system with prolonged exposure.

Toxic to the lungs with chronic inhalation.

Can build up in the body at high doses.

Used in chemotherapy and industry, low toxicity at low doses.

Toxic to the nerves, once used in pesticides.

Rare radioactive metal, found in certain rocks.

Used in MRI with contrast agent, removed by the kidneys.

Screening for the human immunodeficiency virus.

Screening for infection, chronic or resolved, and for vaccine immunity.

Screening for infection, often silent for years.

Blood test screening for the infection.

The most common sexually transmitted infection, often without symptoms.

Blood test for the HSV-1 and HSV-2 viruses.

Food and respiratory allergens analyzed at the molecular level, from one blood draw.

Digestion, inflammation and permeability of the intestinal lining.

Diversity and balance of gut bacteria.

Testing for intestinal parasites.