The longevity industry has a pricing problem. Direct-to-consumer longevity clinics charge $1,500–$5,000 for blood panels that, when you strip away the markup, contain $80 worth of standard lab tests. You don't need to spend thousands to get high-quality longevity data from your blood work. You need to know what to order.
This guide gives you a tiered longevity blood panel organized by cost and clinical utility — from the essential $25 foundation through the complete advanced panel. Each test is selected based on evidence for predicting biological aging, not on what is most profitable to sell you.
Cost reality: All tests in this guide are available direct-to-consumer in most US states through Ulta Lab Tests, LabCorp Direct, Quest Health, or Private MD Labs. No doctor's order required in most states. Total cost for the complete panel: $80–160 depending on the lab.
Tier 1 — The Foundation (~$25–40)
These are the highest information-density tests available from standard blood work. They form the core of ImmuneSpan's free immune wellness scoring and should be run every 3–6 months.
- CBC provides: WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, platelets, MPV, neutrophil%, lymphocyte%, monocyte%, eosinophil%, basophil%, and absolute counts
- CMP provides: glucose, BUN, creatinine, eGFR, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, total protein, albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase
- What you can calculate: NLR, PLR, LMR, A/G ratio, FIB-4 (with age), anion gap, BUN/Creatinine ratio
- What ImmuneSpan scores from this: 64 engineered features including all immune ratios, liver indices, and electrolyte balance markers
- Measures systemic acute-phase inflammatory response at the relevant range for chronic inflammation (<3 mg/L)
- Above 1.0 mg/L: low-grade inflammation present; above 3.0 mg/L: high cardiovascular risk category
- Doubles as a quality check on your NLR — they should correlate; discordance warrants investigation
Tier 2 — The Metabolic & Hormonal Picture (~$40–70 additional)
Add these every 6 months or annually, or immediately if you have any signs of metabolic dysfunction.
- HbA1c reflects 3-month average glucose. Longevity-optimal: <5.4%. Clinical normal: <5.7%. Values between 5.4–5.6% represent meaningful glycation risk that most doctors ignore.
- Fasting insulin is not on any standard panel — you must add it. Longevity-optimal: <5 μIU/mL. Most people with "normal" HbA1c and glucose have elevated fasting insulin signaling subclinical insulin resistance. This is the earliest detectable metabolic aging signal.
- HOMA-IR (calculated: fasting glucose [mmol/L] × fasting insulin / 22.5) — below 1.5 is optimal; above 2.5 signals significant insulin resistance.
- Subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 2.5–10) is present in 10–15% of adults and dramatically affects NLR, RDW, and metabolic rate — confounding your immune aging scores without treatment
- Free T3 (often omitted from standard thyroid panels) is the metabolically active hormone. Some people convert T4 to T3 poorly — normal T4 does not rule this out
- Longevity-optimal TSH: 1.0–2.0 mIU/L (standard "normal" is 0.4–4.0 — too wide for optimization)
- Ferritin is both an iron storage marker and an acute-phase reactant — elevated ferritin can mean iron overload OR chronic inflammation (even in iron-deficient individuals who are also inflamed)
- Longevity-optimal range for ferritin: 50–100 ng/mL (men), 30–80 ng/mL (women)
- Ferritin above 300 (men) or 150 (women) in the absence of acute illness suggests iron overload — associated with oxidative stress and accelerated aging
- Ferritin below 30: iron deficiency likely driving elevated RDW; treat before interpreting immune score
- Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that regulates over 200 genes involved in immune function — deficiency directly elevates NLR and promotes myeloid skewing
- Longevity-optimal: 50–80 ng/mL. Clinical normal: ≥20 ng/mL. The gap between "not deficient" and "optimal" matters enormously for immune function
- Over 40% of Americans are below 30 ng/mL — and this has direct, measurable effects on NLR and inflammatory biomarkers
Tier 3 — Cardiovascular & Advanced Longevity (~$50–80 additional)
Add annually or if you have cardiovascular risk factors, family history, or are serious about longevity optimization.
- ApoB is the best single cardiovascular risk marker — it counts every atherogenic particle (LDL + VLDL + IDL + Lp(a)) rather than just LDL cholesterol. Target: <80 mg/dL for longevity optimization
- Lp(a) is genetically determined (largely) and not reduced by statins. Above 50 mg/dL (or 125 nmol/L) is a significant independent cardiovascular risk factor. Measure once — it changes minimally over time
- IGF-1 declines with age and reflects growth hormone axis function. Both very low and very high IGF-1 are associated with accelerated aging and mortality — there's a U-shaped longevity curve
- Longevity-optimal (adults): 120–200 ng/mL depending on age and sex
- Important confound: IGF-1 is the mechanism behind fasting's anti-aging effects — it drops with caloric restriction, potentially mediating longevity benefits
- DHEA-S is the most abundant adrenal steroid and declines dramatically with age (by 80% between age 25 and 75). Low DHEA-S is associated with immune senescence, sarcopenia, and cognitive decline
- Reference ranges are age-stratified — the relevant question is where you fall relative to your age cohort, not absolute value
The Complete Panel Summary
| Test | Tier | Direct Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBC with differential | 1 — Essential | $8–15 | Every 3–6 months |
| CMP (metabolic panel) | 1 — Essential | $8–15 | Every 3–6 months |
| hsCRP | 1 — Essential | $8–15 | Every 3–6 months |
| HbA1c | 2 — Metabolic | $8–12 | Every 6 months |
| Fasting insulin | 2 — Metabolic | $8–15 | Every 6 months |
| Thyroid (TSH+T4+T3) | 2 — Metabolic | $25–40 | Annually |
| Ferritin + iron | 2 — Metabolic | $15–25 | Annually |
| Vitamin D (25-OH) | 2 — Metabolic | $25–35 | 2x/year |
| ApoB + Lp(a) | 3 — Advanced | $30–50 | Annually |
| IGF-1 | 3 — Advanced | $35–55 | Annually |
| DHEA-S | 3 — Advanced | $20–35 | Annually |
Total Tier 1: ~$25–45 per draw · Total Tier 1+2: ~$80–125 annually · Complete panel: ~$120–200 annually.
Where to Order Without a Doctor
In most US states, you can order your own blood work directly:
- Ulta Lab Tests — typically lowest prices; draws at LabCorp Patient Service Centers
- LabCorp Direct (formerly Labcorp OnDemand) — fast scheduling, wide location coverage
- Quest Health — good coverage in eastern US
- Private MD Labs — broad test selection, competitive pricing
Note: California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Maryland restrict direct-access lab testing to varying degrees. Check your state's current rules before ordering.
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Score My Blood Work →This article is for educational purposes only. Always discuss blood work ordering and interpretation with a qualified healthcare provider, especially if you have existing health conditions.