From the Research
Routine well physical monitoring should include a complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), lipid panel, urinalysis, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test, as these tests provide valuable baseline information and can detect potential health issues before symptoms develop. The CBC evaluates blood cells and can detect anemia, infections, or blood disorders, with recent studies suggesting that CBC components such as white blood cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and red cell distribution width can predict cardiovascular and metabolic diseases 1. The CMP assesses kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance, and blood sugar levels. A lipid panel measures cholesterol levels and triglycerides to evaluate cardiovascular risk. Urinalysis can detect kidney issues, diabetes, or urinary tract infections. TSH screening helps identify thyroid dysfunction.
Additional tests may be recommended based on age, sex, and risk factors, such as:
- Hemoglobin A1C for diabetes screening
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for men over 50
- Vitamin D levels in those at risk for deficiency
- Pap smears for women The frequency of these tests varies by age and health status, with most healthy adults needing them every 1-3 years, while those with chronic conditions may require more frequent monitoring 2. It is essential to note that the complete blood count is one of the most frequently ordered laboratory tests in medicine, and understanding its components and their physiologic basis can aid in difficult diagnoses and monitoring treatments for hematologic disorders and other medical problems 3.