Excellent 4.6 out of 5
Infectious Diseases

Blood Testing for COVID-19 Severe

Severe COVID-19 strains the immune and inflammatory systems. Blood testing for COVID-19 Severe tracks this physiology: NLR reflects immune imbalance, CRP signals systemic inflammation, and ferritin marks hyperinflammatory stress. At Superpower, we provide NLR, CRP, and ferritin tests in-clinic and at home; home collection available in New York and California.

Book a blood COVID-19 Severe test
Cancel anytime
HSA/FSA eligible
Results in a week
Physician reviewed

Every result is checked

·
CLIA-certified labs

Federal standard for testing

·
HIPAA compliant

Your data is 100% secure

Key Benefits

  • Assess your body's inflammation and immune imbalance to predict severe COVID-19.
  • Spot early risk of worsening disease; high NLR, CRP, ferritin signal hyperinflammation.
  • Flag cytokine-storm–like activity; very high ferritin and CRP warrant urgent oversight.
  • Clarify symptom severity when breathlessness or fevers persist into the second week.
  • Guide treatment intensity; rising markers support steroids or targeted immune therapies when indicated.
  • Track response to therapy; falling CRP and ferritin indicate inflammation is resolving.
  • Identify need for closer monitoring; very high NLR indicates higher risk for ICU care.
  • Best interpreted with oxygen levels, D-dimer, imaging, and your clinical course.

What are COVID-19 Severe biomarkers?

COVID-19 Severe biomarkers are blood signals that reveal how far the infection is straining the body’s defense and repair systems. They reflect three core processes that drive severe illness: runaway inflammation, blood clotting stress, and organ injury. Inflammation markers such as C‑reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‑6 (IL‑6), and ferritin come mainly from the liver and activated immune cells, signaling an amplified immune response. Clotting markers like D‑dimer and fibrinogen arise from the coagulation system and blood vessel lining (endothelium), indicating heightened clot formation and breakdown. Tissue‑injury markers such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cardiac troponin, liver enzymes (AST, ALT), and creatinine reflect damage or strain in cells of the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys. Changes in white blood cells—especially a low lymphocyte count (lymphopenia)—show immune system depletion. Measured together, these biomarkers help identify when COVID-19 is escalating toward severe disease, before complications fully declare themselves. They enable faster triage, closer monitoring, and more timely supportive care by translating hidden biology into clear, trackable signals.

Why is blood testing for COVID-19 Severe important?

COVID-19 Severe biomarkers are signals of how hard the immune and inflammatory systems are working under viral stress. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C‑reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin together show whether the body is shifting toward emergency innate defenses, how much systemic inflammation is present, and whether an acute phase response is amplifying iron storage and oxidative stress—changes that correlate with lung injury, clotting risk, and multi‑organ strain.In general, an NLR around 1–3, a very low CRP, and ferritin in the middle of the sex‑specific reference range (roughly 50–300 in men and 20–200 in women) align with a balanced response; children often have slightly lower baseline NLR. Optimal values tend to sit toward the low end for CRP and the low‑to‑middle range for NLR and ferritin.When these markers are low, they usually reflect minimal inflammatory signaling and a resilient adaptive immune response. A very low NLR suggests preserved lymphocytes; a low CRP indicates little cytokine drive. Low ferritin points to iron deficiency rather than severe viral inflammation; it can cause fatigue, shortness of breath on exertion, palpitations, and headache, which may blur the clinical picture. Low ferritin is common in pregnancy due to increased iron demand and hemodilution.Viewed together, these biomarkers map the interface of immunity, inflammation, and iron metabolism that determines clinical trajectory. They connect to coagulation (D‑dimer), tissue injury (LDH, AST/ALT), and oxygen transport (hemoglobin), and their patterns help anticipate complications and long‑term risks such as thromboinflammation, cardiac strain, and prolonged recovery.

What insights will I get?

COVID-19 Severe blood testing provides a window into how your body’s immune and inflammatory systems are responding to a significant viral challenge. These tests are important because they help reveal the balance between immune defense and inflammation, which can affect energy, metabolism, cardiovascular stability, and even cognitive and reproductive health. At Superpower, we focus on three key biomarkers for this purpose: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin.NLR measures the proportion of two types of white blood cells—neutrophils and lymphocytes. A higher NLR often signals an activated immune response and increased inflammation, both of which are common in severe COVID-19. CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation; elevated CRP levels indicate that the body is mounting a strong inflammatory reaction. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron, but it also rises in response to inflammation and can reflect the severity of immune activation.When these markers are within healthy ranges, they suggest that the immune system is stable and inflammation is controlled, supporting overall system resilience. Elevated levels, especially in combination, can indicate a heightened risk for complications, as the body’s response may be tipping toward excessive inflammation, which can disrupt organ function and recovery.Interpretation of these biomarkers can be influenced by factors such as age, pregnancy, chronic illness, recent infections, and certain medications. Laboratory methods and reference ranges may also vary, so results should always be considered in context.

Superpower also tests for

See more diseases

Frequently Asked Questions About

What is COVID-19 Severe blood testing?

It’s a focused blood panel that gauges how intensely your immune and inflammatory systems are reacting to SARS‑CoV‑2. Superpower tests your blood for NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), CRP (C‑reactive protein), and ferritin. Together they signal immune stress, systemic inflammation, and acute‑phase activation that correlate with risk of severe illness.

Why should I get COVID-19 Severe blood testing?

It helps risk‑stratify severity, track disease trajectory, and monitor recovery. Elevated NLR, CRP, and ferritin reflect dysregulated inflammation and immune suppression that are linked with complications. Seeing levels and trends gives a clearer picture than symptoms alone.

Can I get a blood test at home?

Yes. With Superpower, our team can organise a professional blood draw in your home. We measure NLR, CRP, and ferritin and deliver results with clear context.

How often should I test?

Get a baseline during suspected or confirmed infection, then repeat to track change. In practice, trending matters more than a single value. Frequency depends on how your illness evolves and whether there’s concern for worsening inflammation.

What can affect biomarker levels?

Acute infections, recent vaccines, chronic inflammatory disease, liver disease, iron status, cancer, pregnancy, smoking, and stress can shift results. Steroids, epinephrine, and other drugs can raise NLR; iron therapy raises ferritin; strenuous exercise can transiently raise CRP.

Are there any preparations needed before the blood test for NLR, CRP, Ferritin?

No special fasting is required. Hydrate normally and avoid unusually strenuous exercise just before the draw. Recent infections, vaccines, iron supplements, and anti‑inflammatory medicines can influence results.

Can lifestyle changes affect my biomarker levels?

Yes, over weeks to months. These biomarkers reflect systemic inflammation and immune balance; better overall metabolic and cardiometabolic health generally lowers baseline CRP and ferritin and normalises NLR. During acute COVID‑19, infection‑driven changes dominate.

How do I interpret my results?

Higher NLR signals neutrophil‑driven inflammation with relative lymphocyte drop—an immune imbalance seen in severe illness. High CRP indicates active systemic inflammation. High ferritin marks an acute‑phase response and iron sequestration. In COVID‑19, higher values and upward trends suggest greater severity risk. Superpower reports include reference ranges and trend insights to put numbers in context.

How it works

1

Test your whole body

Get a comprehensive blood draw at one of our 3,000+ partner labs or from the comfort of your own home.

2

An Actionable Plan

Easy to understand results & a clear action plan with tailored recommendations on diet, lifestyle changes, supplements and pharmaceuticals.

3

A Connected Ecosystem

You can book additional diagnostics, buy curated supplements for 20% off & pharmaceuticals within your Superpower dashboard.

Superpower tests more than 
100+ biomarkers & common symptoms

Developed by world-class medical professionals

Supported by the world’s top longevity clinicians and MDs.

Dr Anant Vinjamoori

Superpower Chief Longevity Officer, Harvard MD & MBA

A smiling woman wearing a white coat and stethoscope poses for a portrait.

Dr Leigh Erin Connealy

Clinician & Founder of The Centre for New Medicine

Man in a black medical scrub top smiling at the camera.

Dr Abe Malkin

Founder & Medical Director of Concierge MD

Dr Robert Lufkin

UCLA Medical Professor, NYT Bestselling Author

membership

$17

/month
Billed annually at $199
A smartphone displays health app results, showing biomarker summary, superpower score, and biological age details.
A website displays a list of most ordered products including a ring, vitamin spray, and oil.
A smartphone displays health app results, showing biomarker summary, superpower score, and biological age details.A tablet screen shows a shopping website with three most ordered products: a ring, supplement, and skincare oil.
What could cost you $15,000 is $199

Superpower
Membership

Your membership includes one comprehensive blood draw each year, covering 100+ biomarkers in a single collection
One appointment, one draw for your annual panel.
100+ labs tested per year
A personalized plan that evolves with you
Get your biological age and track your health over a lifetime
$
17
/month
billed annually
Flexible payment options
Four credit card logos: HSA/FSA Eligible, American Express, Visa, and Mastercard.
Start testing
Cancel anytime
HSA/FSA eligible
Results in a week
Pricing may vary for members in New York and New Jersey **

Finally, healthcare that looks at the whole you