You get your car serviced regularly. You check your bank account. You probably even update your phone more often than you'd like.
But how often do you check what's happening inside your body?
Blood testing can provide useful information about cholesterol, blood sugar, blood cells, thyroid function, liver and kidney function, nutritional status and more.
That doesn't mean everyone needs dozens of blood tests every year. The tests that make sense for you depend on factors such as your age, medical history, medications, symptoms and individual risk factors.
However, there are several common blood tests that frequently form part of routine health assessments.
Here are some of the tests worth knowing about.
1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The Complete Blood Count, usually shortened to CBC, is one of the most commonly performed blood tests.
It measures several important components of your blood, including:
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
Platelets
These measurements can provide information relevant to conditions including anemia, infections and certain blood disorders.
A CBC doesn't provide a complete picture of your health on its own, but it's commonly included as part of broader health testing.
If persistent tiredness is one of the reasons you're considering blood work, you may also want to read our guide to 7 blood tests that may help investigate fatigue.
→ Explore CBC and general health blood tests
2. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, or CMP, provides information about several important areas of your health from a single blood sample.
A CMP typically measures substances related to:
Blood glucose
Electrolytes
Calcium
Kidney function
Liver function
Blood proteins
Because it covers several different areas, CMP testing is commonly included in routine health assessments.
Changes in these measurements don't automatically mean something is wrong. Results need to be considered alongside factors such as your health history, medications and other laboratory results.
Interested in learning more about liver-related testing? Read our comprehensive guide to liver health and diagnostic tests and look for Understanding Liver Health: Comprehensive Guide to Diagnostic Tests, Common Diseases, and Modern Treatments.
→ Compare general health and wellness tests
3. Cholesterol and Lipid Panel
You can feel perfectly healthy and still have abnormal cholesterol levels.
That's one reason cholesterol testing can be an important component of preventive healthcare.
A lipid panel commonly measures:
Total cholesterol
LDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
Triglycerides
These measurements can help healthcare professionals assess cardiovascular risk alongside other factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes and family history.
How frequently you should have your cholesterol tested depends on your individual circumstances.
For more information about cholesterol and lifestyle, see our Top 10 Tips to Manage High Cholesterol.
→ Explore cardiac health and cholesterol testing
4. Blood Glucose and Diabetes Testing
Blood glucose testing measures the amount of glucose circulating in your blood.
Another commonly used test is Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
Unlike a single glucose measurement, A1c provides information related to your average blood glucose over approximately the previous two to three months.
These tests may be used when screening for or monitoring conditions involving blood sugar, including prediabetes and diabetes.
Your age, weight, family history and other risk factors can influence whether and how frequently diabetes screening is appropriate.
→ Compare diabetes blood tests
5. Thyroid Testing
Your thyroid produces hormones involved in regulating numerous processes throughout your body.
A common initial thyroid blood test measures thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
Depending on the reason for testing and the results, additional thyroid tests may also be appropriate.
Thyroid testing may be considered when someone has relevant symptoms, risk factors, a known thyroid condition or other clinical indications.
Possible symptoms associated with thyroid disorders can include changes in energy, weight, heart rate, temperature tolerance and mood—but these symptoms can have many other causes as well.
Fatigue is one of the reasons people sometimes investigate thyroid function. Our guide Feeling Tired All the Time? 7 Blood Tests That May Help You Find Out Why explains thyroid testing alongside several other commonly considered tests.
6. Iron and Ferritin
Iron plays an essential role in producing hemoglobin, which allows red blood cells to transport oxygen.
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and is commonly measured when assessing the body's iron stores.
Depending on the circumstances, iron testing may include:
Ferritin
Serum iron
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)
Transferrin saturation
Complete Blood Count
Iron testing can be particularly relevant when investigating possible iron deficiency or anemia.
However, abnormal iron or ferritin results can have multiple explanations, so results should be interpreted appropriately rather than assuming that a low or high result automatically means you should start or stop supplementation.
→ Compare anemia, iron and ferritin tests
7. Vitamin B12 and Other Nutritional Tests
Blood testing can also measure certain vitamins and nutrients.
Vitamin B12 is particularly important for normal nervous-system function and red blood cell production.
Other nutritional blood tests may assess substances such as vitamin D, folate and various minerals.
Routine testing for every vitamin isn't necessary for everyone. Testing is generally more useful when there is a specific reason to suspect a deficiency or when a healthcare professional recommends monitoring a particular nutrient.
→ Explore vitamin and nutritional testing
8. Kidney Function Tests
Your kidneys filter waste products from your blood and perform several other important functions.
Routine blood work may include measurements related to kidney function, such as creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
You can learn more about creatinine in our guide Understanding Creatinine: What It Is and Its Importance.
Kidney disease may not always produce obvious symptoms in its earlier stages. For a broader explanation, read Signs of Kidney Disease: Recognizing the Early Warning Signs.
→ Explore kidney and liver tests
9. Testosterone Testing
Testosterone isn't necessarily something every person needs tested annually.
However, testosterone testing may be appropriate in certain circumstances, particularly when symptoms or an existing medical condition warrant investigation or monitoring.
In men, symptoms sometimes associated with low testosterone can include reduced libido, changes in muscle mass and decreased energy.
Importantly, these symptoms aren't specific to testosterone deficiency.
Testosterone levels can also fluctuate, and factors such as age and time of day can influence results.
USLabTesting lists Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone and other testosterone testing options.
→ Compare testosterone blood tests
Do You Need to Order Every Test Separately?
Not necessarily.
If you're interested in several routine health markers, a health panel may be more convenient than ordering multiple individual tests.
For example, USLabTesting lists a Standard Health Panel combining several commonly ordered laboratory tests, including:
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Urinalysis (UA)
Lipid Panel
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
That allows several areas of health to be assessed together rather than purchasing each test individually.
→ View the Standard Health Panel
For people looking for additional testing options, USLabTesting also lists broader male and female wellness panels.
→ Compare General Health & Wellness Tests
What About Blood Tests After 50?
The tests that may be appropriate can change as you get older because health risks and screening recommendations can change with age.
Rather than assuming everyone over a certain age needs the same laboratory panel, screening decisions should take your individual health and risk factors into account.
Women approaching or over 50 may also find our article Why Women Over 50 Should Prioritize General Health Checkups useful.
Should You Really Have Blood Tests Every Year?
Not necessarily.
There isn't a universal list of blood tests that every healthy adult needs to take every 12 months.
Your appropriate testing schedule depends on factors including:
Age
Sex
Medical history
Family history
Existing medical conditions
Medications
Previous laboratory results
Symptoms
Lifestyle and individual risk factors
Someone monitoring an existing condition may require regular laboratory testing, while another healthy person may need testing less frequently.
A healthcare professional can help determine an appropriate screening schedule for your individual circumstances.
Can You Order Blood Tests Yourself?
Depending on the test and applicable requirements, many laboratory tests can be purchased directly by consumers in the United States.
This can make testing more convenient for people who want to monitor particular health markers or obtain laboratory information to discuss with their healthcare provider.
But prices can vary, and two tests with similar names don't necessarily measure exactly the same things.
Before ordering, check:
Which biomarkers are included
Whether fasting is required
How the sample is collected
Where you need to go for collection
How results are provided
Whether professional interpretation is included
USLabTesting helps you browse and compare available laboratory testing options.
The Bottom Line
Blood tests can provide useful information about what's happening inside your body, but more testing isn't automatically better.
CBC, metabolic, cholesterol and blood glucose tests are commonly used as part of health assessments, while thyroid, iron, vitamin and hormone testing may be appropriate depending on individual circumstances.
The goal should be to choose tests that provide useful information—not simply to order the largest number of tests possible.
If unexplained tiredness is what brought you here, continue with our guide to 7 Blood Tests That May Help Investigate Fatigue.
Or explore available testing options:
→ Compare Health & Wellness Blood Tests
Important Medical Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The appropriate laboratory tests and screening frequency vary between individuals. Discuss your personal health, symptoms, risk factors and laboratory results with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.