Baseline Biomarkers

Baseline Biomarkers give you a clear starting point for your health. This streamlined set of blood and urine tests checks the systems that most affect daily energy, long-term heart and metabolic health, and overall wellness. It’s ideal for annual checkups, new training plans, lifestyle changes, or when you’re seeing a new clinician and want objective data.

A practical approach pairs a core panel—CBC, CMP/electrolytes, lipid panel, A1c or fasting glucose—with targeted add-ons such as thyroid (TSH), iron studies (ferritin/iron/TIBC), vitamin D, vitamin B12/folate, and hs-CRP. Your results help you and your clinician spot modifiable risks early and track trends over time. Labs inform decisions but do notreplace a medical exam or imaging when needed.

Signs, Situations & Related Needs

  • Annual wellness & prevention: first comprehensive labs or a fresh baseline

  • New goals: starting a fitness plan, weight-loss program, or nutrition reset

  • Risk factors: family history of heart disease or diabetes, high blood pressure, high BMI/waist, smoking/nicotine use

  • Symptoms worth checking: fatigue, low stamina, hair/skin changes, frequent cramps, brain fog

  • Medication check-in: starting or adjusting meds that can affect kidneys, liver, lipids, or thyroid

  • Urgent care: chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or stroke-like symptoms require immediate medical attention

Why These Tests Matter

What testing can do

  • Identify cardiometabolic risks (cholesterol patterns, glucose control) early

  • Provide organ function context (kidney, liver, electrolytes) before you change meds, diet, or training

  • Reveal nutrient and hormone clues that affect energy, mood, and performance

  • Create a baseline so changes over time are easier to interpret

What testing cannot do

  • Diagnose conditions without a clinician’s review

  • Predict heart attacks or strokes with certainty

  • Replace age-appropriate screenings (e.g., cancer screening) or vaccinations

What These Tests Measure (at a glance)

  • CBC (Complete Blood Count): red/white cells, platelets—screens for anemia or infection. Hydration and training can shift hemoglobin/hematocrit.

  • CMP / Electrolytes: sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2, kidney markers (BUN/creatinine/eGFR), liver enzymes (AST/ALT/ALP), proteins, glucose. Illness, hydration, and medications influence results.

  • Lipid Panel (± ApoB, Lp[a]): total, LDL, HDL, triglycerides; ApoB refines risk; Lp(a) is inherited and stable.

  • Glucose Control (Fasting Glucose, A1c ± Insulin): current and 3-month averages to flag prediabetes risk.

  • Thyroid (TSH ± Free T4/T3): metabolism and energy. Biotin supplements can interfere with some assays—hold if advised.

  • Iron Studies (Ferritin, Serum Iron, TIBC/Transferrin, % Saturation): oxygen transport and stores. Ferritin can rise with inflammation—pair with symptoms and hs-CRP.

  • Vitamin D (25-OH): bone and muscle support; low levels are common in winter or indoor work.

  • Vitamin B12 & Folate: red blood cell and nerve health.

  • hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein): low-grade inflammation marker; follow trends, not single spikes.

  • Urinalysis / Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine (as indicated): hydration, kidney, and metabolic risk context.

How the Testing Process Works

  1. Choose your starter set: core panel (CBC, CMP, lipids, A1c or fasting glucose).

  2. Add goal-based tests: TSH, iron studies, vitamin D, B12/folate, hs-CRP as needed.

  3. Prepare for accuracy: follow fasting or supplement-hold instructions on your order (e.g., biotin, high-dose vitamins).

  4. Get your draw: visit a nearby patient service center; most results post in a few days.

  5. Review & plan: discuss results with your clinician; set goals and a follow-up cadence.

Interpreting Results (General Guidance)

  • Within reference range: use as your personal baseline; recheck per your plan.

  • Borderline results: consider lifestyle changes and retesting; look at trends rather than a single number.

  • Elevated or low values: confirm if needed and interpret with history, symptoms, meds, and timing (illness, dehydration, hard workouts).
    Always interpret results with a qualified healthcare professional.

Choosing Panels vs. Individual Tests

  • Quick baseline: CBC • CMP/Electrolytes • Lipid Panel • A1c or Fasting Glucose

  • Energy & thyroid focus: add TSH (± Free T4) and B12/Folate

  • Iron status check: add Ferritin/Iron/TIBC/Transferrin (consider hs-CRP for context)

  • Bone/muscle support: add Vitamin D (25-OH)

  • Heart-risk detail: add ApoB and Lp(a) (if family risk is high)

  • Kidney risk context: add Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine (especially with diabetes, hypertension, or high training loads)

FAQs

Do I need to fast?
Often yes for lipids and fasting glucose. Follow the instructions on your order.

Will supplements affect results?
Some can. High-dose biotin may affect thyroid tests; iron and vitamin D can shift levels. Check your order for any holds.

How often should I repeat these labs?
Many people repeat annually. Your clinician may adjust timing based on risk, symptoms, or prior results.

Can I draw blood after a hard workout?
Better to schedule on a rest/easy day; intense sessions can raise CK and liver enzymes and shift electrolytes.

What if a result is out of range?
Don’t panic. Many results need confirmation and context. Discuss next steps with your clinician.

Related Categories & Key Tests

  • General Health Panels Hub

  • Cardiometabolic Health • Fitness & Performance Tests • Thyroid Testing • Vitamin & Nutrition Tests • Men’s Health • Women’s Health

  • Key Tests: CBC • CMP/Electrolytes • Lipid Panel (± ApoB, Lp[a]) • A1c/Fasting Glucose (± Insulin) • TSH (± Free T4/T3) • Ferritin/Iron/TIBC/Transferrin • Vitamin D (25-OH) • Vitamin B12 • Folate • hs-CRP • Urinalysis • Urine Albumin-Creatinine

References

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — Screening recommendations for cardiovascular risk and diabetes.
American Heart Association — Lipid and risk assessment guidance.
American Diabetes Association — Standards of Care in Diabetes (screening and monitoring).
Endocrine Society — Testing considerations for thyroid and biotin interference.
National Kidney Foundation — Albumin-to-creatinine ratio and kidney risk.
National Lipid Association — ApoB and Lp(a) risk considerations.

Available Tests & Panels

Your Baseline Biomarkers menu is pre-populated in the Ulta Lab Tests system. Use filters to select a core panel, add goal-based tests (thyroid, iron, vitamin D, B12/folate, hs-CRP), and include urinalysis or urine albumin-creatininewhen appropriate. Follow any fasting or supplement-hold instructions and review results with your clinician to build a personalized follow-up plan.

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Blood
Blood Draw, Phlebotomist

 The Baseline Biomarkers - Basic Plus panel is a more comprehensive set of tests compared to the Basic panel. It encompasses fundamental health metrics and integrates additional tests that delve into liver function, blood sugar levels, iron metabolism, and more. This panel provides a broader perspective on an individual's health, allowing for a more detailed analysis of potential imbalances or issues.
Blood
Blood Draw, Phlebotomist

 The Baseline Biomarkers - Advanced panel is an all-encompassing suite of tests that covers a spectrum of key health metrics, ranging from general wellness indicators to specialized measurements concerning inflammation, thyroid function, hormone balance, and more. This panel is meticulously designed for those seeking a profound understanding of their health status, underpinned by an extensive array of laboratory evaluations.
Blood, Urine
Blood Draw, Phlebotomist, Urine Collection

 The Baseline Biomarkers - Comprehensive panel is the epitome of thorough diagnostic testing, encapsulating a vast array of health metrics. From basic organ function and metabolic indicators to advanced thyroid assessments and hormone evaluations, this panel offers a panoramic view of an individual's health, enabling an exhaustive understanding of physiological functions and potential anomalies.
Blood, Urine, Varied
Blood Draw, Phlebotomist, Urine Collection

Blood
Blood Draw

Blood
Blood Draw

Many types of biomarkers have been used over the years to study disease in humans. These well-known biomarkers are crucial in diagnosing and managing heart disease, cancer, infections, and overall health. 

Baseline biomarker lab tests are an essential tool for managing your health and changing your life. Baseline biomarkers help you know where you stand, whether it's your overall health or managing a disease process.

Your baseline biomarkers predict and prepare you for what's ahead. Keep reading this guide to find out how biomarkers and baseline biomarker lab tests can help you.

How Baseline Biomarkers Measure Health

When you want to improve your health, baseline biomarkers are a fantastic place to begin. A biomarker is a measurable marker of a normal biological process, a disease process, or a response to therapies or interventions.

Biomarkers are often used to assess health or disease in a person. Nowadays, a wide range of biomarkers are used to evaluate your heart, immune and metabolic systems. 

Many biomarkers are included in yearly physicals when your doctor checks your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Regularly checking biomarkers can help you achieve optimal health and maintain healthy living.

The ideal baseline biomarker panel has certain qualities that make it the best tool to check for a specific disease or condition. These qualities include:

  • Safe
  • Easy to measure
  • Cost-effective
  • Easy to follow up
  • Consistent for all genders and ethnic groups

Causes of Poor Baseline Biomarker Measurements

Your medical history and lifestyle have the most significant impacts on your overall health. Eating a poor diet high in fat can lead you to have high triglyceride and cholesterol levels. 

Having a history of heart disease can change your baseline biomarker health and cause levels of inflammation in your body. If you have rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune illness like lupus, your biomarkers for inflammation will be positive. For example, you're much more likely to have a positive ANA screen.

If you have high cholesterol and elevated triglycerides as a baseline, this changes your baseline values to be abnormal compared to other people.

What Can Baseline Biomarkers Measure and Detect

Biomarkers can measure brain health and detect neurological diseases like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Biomarkers are measured in tests on cerebral spinal fluid and panels to detect certain types of antibodies.

Certain biomarkers relating to cancer are measured to see how well your body responds to treatment. Biomarker testing looks for genes, proteins and is also used for tumor type testing.

Biomarkers are also useful for finding the right cancer treatments for you. Some targeted therapies and immunotherapies only work for people with certain biomarkers.

You can also use them to determine your risks of cardiovascular disease and maintaining your heart health. Cardiac biomarkers like troponin levels are sensitive tests that detect a protein entering your bloodstream immediately after a heart attack. This protein stays in your blood for a few days and eventually returns to a normal level. 

How Illnesses Are Detected With Baseline Biomarkers from Lab Tests

Blood tests can tell you if the levels of the different substances in your blood are within the normal range. Normal ranges depend on your age, gender, and race, but most normal ranges are defined as what's seen in more than 95% of people.

Specific markers like your white blood cells, red blood cells, cholesterol, and vitamin levels can all reveal the presence of disease. It can also establish a baseline for your health and predict illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. High levels of inflammation on a blood test can point toward arthritis. Low levels of blood cells and point towards an illness, even cancer.

Blood tests for diabetes can precisely predict your long-term risk of developing diabetes over a period of time. In addition, most health care decisions your doctor will make will come from 

Baseline Biomarker Lab Tests

You can choose from different baseline biomarker tests, but a baseline biomarker panel test is the most common. The basic panel usually includes a complete blood count to measure your red blood cell and white blood cell levels and other blood components.

Next is a comprehensive metabolic panel which checks your liver and kidney health. You'll also have your blood sugar and a lipid panel that checks your HDL, LDL, lipids, and cholesterol levels.

You'll need to assess your thyroid function, and a TSH lab test will measure the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood.

A vitamin b12 level and a c-reactive protein measure any inflammation in your body and are great tools to find inflammatory conditions like arthritis, infections, or malignancies.

Other baseline biomarkers include:

FAQS about Baseline Biomarker Lab Tests

Are you wondering how you can get started with testing your biomarkers to measure your health? It's easy to get started by visiting Ulta Lab Tests to order your baseline biomarkers panel.

If I have an illness, can a baseline biomarkers panel help me? The answer is yes. The baseline biomarker panelscontain many tests that provide insight into the underlying causes of illnesses, including those of the blood, kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, and diabetes.

Baseline Biomarker Lab Tests at Ulta Labs

Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate and reliable tests allowing you to make informed decisions about your health. Here is what is so amazing about Ulta Lab Tests:

  • Secure and confidential results
  • No need for health insurance
  • No need for a physician's referral
  • Always affordable pricing
  • You have a 100% satisfaction guarantee

Order baseline biomarker lab tests today, and you'll receive secure and confidential results in 24 to 48 hours in most cases. Take control of your health and order your tests at Ulta Lab Tests today!