Bodybuilder Blood Test Panel- Beginner

This is a simple bodybuilder test panel for those who do not require Cystatin-C or GGT tests.  The panel includes: 

• Complete Blood Count (Immune Cells, Red Blood Cells, and Hematocrit)
• Complete Metabolic Panel (Blood sugar. electrolytes, kidney and liver function)
• Lipids (LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides)
• Testosterone, Total LC/MS and Free Testosterone by Equilibrium Dialysis
• Ultrasensitve Estradiol (Only Test Accurate in Men)

Bodybuilder Tests- Beginner

The following is a list of carefully selected laboratory tests and panels that are vital in properly preserving one's health while simultaneously enhancing one's body composition and strength:

Complete blood count (CBC)

The components of your blood that are measured by a complete blood count (CBC) test panel are as follows: red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting oxygen; white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infection; hemoglobin, which is the protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen; hematocrit, which is the ratio of red blood cells to the fluid component in your blood (which correlates with blood thickness); and platelets, which aid in the process of blood clotting.

All androgens, including testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), have the ability to boost the number of red blood cells and their proportion in the blood (hematocrit), hence increasing the thickness of the blood (polycythemia). A high hematocrit level is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and headaches. This panel is important because it determines when you have reached a hematocrit of 53, which indicates that you either need to donate blood or undergo therapeutic phlebotomy.

Tests included in the CBC panel:

• White blood cell count (WBC or leukocyte count)
• WBC differential count
• Red blood cell count (RBC or erythrocyte count)
• Hematocrit (Hct)
• Hemoglobin (Hbg)
• Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
• Red cell distribution width (RDW)
• Platelet count
• Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)

Complete Metabolic Profile (CMP)

 The comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) is a blood test that measures several substances in your blood, including electrolytes, proteins, glucose, and liver and kidney function markers. It is often used to help diagnose and monitor a variety of medical conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease. The test is usually done as part of a routine health evaluation or to check for potential health problems. The results of the CMP are usually reported as a series of numbers, with a reference range indicating the normal values for each substance measured. It is important to note that the interpretation of a comp metabolic panel may vary depending on the individual's medical history and other factors. A healthcare provider should be consulted to interpret the test results correctly. Tests included:

The Serum Glucose test is how we diagnose diabetes. If the glucose is 126 on a fasting blood draw, meaning the blood was drawn first thing in the morning after an overnight fast, before you ate any breakfast, then you have diabetes. Now, that's assuming that when we repeat the test, we get the same results. It needs to be abnormal more than once.

The Uric Acid test is how we diagnose gout.

The BUN, Blood Urea Nitrogen, can be abnormal in kidney disease, dehydration, heart failure, malnutrition, and liver disease.

Serum Creatinine is a measure of kidney function. The BUN to Creatinine ratio can give information on the possible cause of kidney dysfunction, say heart failure or dehydration, or decreased kidney blood flow.

Serum Sodium can be increased in dehydration. Serum sodium levels can drop when you take diuretics. SIADH stands for syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone. Serum Potassium can be grown in adrenal insufficiency and acute renal failure, as well as with an improper combination of medicines. Potassium could be decreased in primary aldosteronism, diuretic therapy, and renal tubular acidosis.

Serum Chloride can be increased in dehydration and renal tubular acidosis, and it can be decreased in congestive heart failure and primary aldosteronism. Carbon Dioxide can be increased in primary pulmonary diseases, such as severe COPD and primary aldosteronism. It can be decreased in metabolic acidoses, such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

Serum Calcium can be increased in an endocrine disease called primary hyperthyroidism. It can also be an increase in malignancy. However, most of the time, when a person has a high Serum Calcium found unexpectedly, it's simply due to hyperparathyroidism, which can be treated. We can also have decreased Serum Calcium in hypoparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency.

The Serum Phosphorus can be increased in acute or chronic renal failure and decreased in malabsorption and vitamin D deficiency.

The total Serum Protein can be increased in multiple myeloma and sarcoidosis, and it can be decreased in chronic glomerulonephritis, a type of chronic renal disease.

Serum Albumin can be decreased in liver disease, cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome. The total Globulin and the albumin-to-globulin ratio can be increased or decreased due to several causes.

The total Bilirubin can be increased in hepatitis, hemolytic anemia, and blockage of the bile ducts, either the bile ducts within the liver or the bile duct that drains the gallbladder and the liver. That's what we mean when we say cholestasis, or biliary obstruction. Direct Bilirubin is increased in the same ways as total Bilirubin, but the ratio of direct to total gives us clues as to the causes. A syndrome called Gilbert's disease is one of the most common causes of a mildly elevated total Bilirubin found on a routine CMP. Although it's called a disease, it's familiar and doesn't cause any liver or health damage.

Alkaline Phosphatase can be increased in bone and liver disease and decreased in malnutrition and celiac disease.

The AST and ALT are often called liver enzyme tests. They don't measure liver function but give evidence of liver damage, but they can also cause damage to other body parts. They can be increased by liver disease, muscle disease, pancreatitis, and excessive exercise.

Lipid Test Panel

This panel consists of LDL, which is known as "bad cholesterol," HDL, which is known as "good cholesterol," and triglycerides (fatty acids dissolved in the blood). A higher dose of T or AAS may cause an increase in LDL cholesterol while causing a decrease in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. A significant drop in HDL could potentially lead to cardiovascular problems in the long run. FASTING IS NEEDED.

Total Testosterone determined using Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, and Free Testosterone determined by Equilibrium Ultrafiltration.

Due to the fact that the standard total testosterone test based on immunoassays has a ceiling of 1,500 ng/dL, men whose testosterone levels are high are unable to use the test. The LC/MS test for testosterone does not have a maximum allowable concentration. In addition, some laboratories provide computed free testosterone rather than the equilibrium ultrafiltration-based one, which is more accurate for determining this essential quantity.

Ultra-Sensitive Estradiol (E2) Test

The test that is most frequently used might overestimate the estradiol level. This test makes use of immunoassay technology, which is unable to distinguish between C-Reactive Protein (which is involved in inflammation) and estradiol; hence, it interprets the combination of the two as being estradiol. This ultrasensitive estradiol test utilizes an assay technology known as liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), which is not constrained by the aforementioned limitation. In addition, DHT analogs like oxandrolone have the potential to significantly lower estradiol levels, which can result in joint pain and other difficulties related to low estradiol. Notice that only 0.4 percent of total testosterone is converted to estradiol during the aromatization process. The body does this to counteract the beneficial effect that estradiol has on lipids, which is a result of testosterone's detrimental effect on lipids. When your total testosterone level is high, your estradiol level will also be high. When making the assumption that an aromatase inhibitor is required, you should proceed with extreme caution. Click the link that says the effect of high and low estradiol levels on men's health for additional details. How to estimate estradiol levels given varied dosages of testosterone