Test 100+ biomarkers in a single draw
Visit one of 2,000+ lab locations, with AI and care team support for results
- CLIA-certified labs
- HIPAA compliant
- Personalized health protocol
How to ask your doctor for blood work
To ask your doctor for blood work, name your reason, such as a symptom, a family history, or a health goal, and ask which tests fit. In a study of family-medicine visits, lab tests were the most common patient request, raised in 34% of visits.
Doctors and patients can expect different things from a blood test, which can leave people frustrated when results come back. Agreeing on each test's purpose starts before the appointment.
Steps to take before your appointment
Preparation helps your doctor choose the right blood tests.
- Write down your symptoms and when they started, and raise the main concern first.
- Note family conditions, since they can signal a higher-than-usual chance of heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
- List every medicine, vitamin, and supplement you take, with doses.
- Message your provider through the patient portal or call ahead so the order is ready.
- Ask whether to fast or pause a medication, and never stop a medicine unless your provider says so.
Then comes the request itself.
What to say to your doctor
The clearest request states your reason in one sentence and asks which blood tests your doctor suggests. Questions written down beforehand can help you ask more of them.
- "I've felt tired for months, so which tests could explain that?"
- "Since type 2 diabetes runs in my family, which tests make sense for me?"
- "Is it time to recheck the labs for my thyroid medication?"
- "Would a ferritin test fit if I want to know my iron stores?"
Most requests lead to a few common tests worth knowing by name.
Common blood tests to ask about
No single "full blood panel" checks everything, so name tests that match your reason. A complete blood count and a comprehensive metabolic panel are often part of a routine checkup.
| Test | What it checks | When to ask about it |
|---|---|---|
| Complete blood count (CBC) | Red cells, white cells, and platelets | A routine checkup, suspected infection, suspected anemia, or a known blood condition |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) | Blood sugar, electrolytes, kidney health, and liver health | A routine checkup, unexplained symptoms, or medication side effects |
| Lipid panel | LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides | Heart disease risk or a family history of heart disease |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) | How well the thyroid is working | Signs of too much or too little thyroid hormone, or a thyroid medication dose check |
| Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) | Average blood sugar over 2 to 3 months | Age over 45, diabetes risk factors, or signs of high blood sugar |
| Ferritin or iron studies | The body's iron stores | Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, or pale skin |
| Vitamin D | Vitamin D level | Low bone density, bone pain, muscle weakness, or a high risk of deficiency |
| Vitamin B12 | B12 level, often checked with folate | Fatigue, tingly hands and feet, or signs of certain anemias |
Whether a test costs you anything often depends on the reason recorded for ordering it.
How insurance treats requested blood work
Screening blood work at a preventive visit is often covered at no cost in network, though $0 isn't guaranteed. The same test ordered for a symptom can carry a copay or count toward your deductible.
Among privately insured adults, 40.3% of preventive encounters led to out-of-pocket costs. The code listed as a visit's main reason can decide whether it's billed as preventive. On Medicare, extra tests during a yearly wellness visit can add coinsurance or a deductible. Check cost with the office or your insurer before the draw, then focus on the results.
Get 100+ biomarkers tested in-lab or at home
One blood draw a year. A full picture of your health, explained in plain language.
Get 100+ biomarkers tested in-lab or at home
One blood draw a year. A full picture of your health, explained in plain language.
Questions to ask once results come back
A few direct questions make sure every result gets explained and followed up. Studies have found 6.8% to 62% of lab tests went without follow-up. Seeing results in the portal before hearing from your doctor raised worry for 16.5% of patients with out-of-range results.
- Can I get a copy of my lab report?
- What does each out-of-range value mean against my lab's own range?
- Who will contact me if a value is off?
- Should anything be retested at the same lab?
Those questions assume your doctor agreed to order the tests.
When your doctor says no, or you want to skip the visit
If your doctor declines, ask what drove the decision and have your request noted in your chart. If your concern remains, consider a second opinion or a telehealth visit.
Some services sell physician-ordered blood tests without a visit and send you to a partner lab. Those direct-to-consumer prices are often lower than an uninsured patient pays at a hospital lab. Insured costs depend on deductibles and copays. Either way, results still need someone to explain them.
Know your baseline with Superpower
Asking your doctor for blood work gets tests ordered, but results still need explaining and follow-up. A Superpower membership includes 100+ biomarkers in a single draw, at 2,000+ lab partner locations nationwide. AI and care team support helps you understand your results, and a personalized protocol helps you act on them.
It's time to take control of your health. Start your Superpower membership and get your baseline in one draw.
References
- Jerant A, Fenton JJ, Kravitz RL, et al. Association of clinician denial of patient requests with patient satisfaction. *JAMA Intern Med*. 2018;178(1):85-91. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.6611
- Watson J, Whiting PF, Salisbury C, Hamilton WT, Banks J. Blood tests in primary care: a qualitative study of communication and decision-making between doctors and patients. *Health Expect*. 2022;25(5):2453-2461. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13564
- National Institute on Aging. How to prepare for a doctor's appointment. National Institutes of Health. Reviewed February 3, 2020. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus Genetics. Why is it important to know my family health history? National Library of Medicine. 2021. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Patient portals: an online tool for your health. A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. National Library of Medicine. Reviewed July 23, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. How to prepare for a lab test. National Library of Medicine. 2024. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- Sansoni JE, Grootemaat P, Duncan C. Question prompt lists in health consultations: a review. *Patient Educ Couns*. 2015;98(12):1454-1464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2015.05.015
- MedlinePlus. Complete blood count (CBC). National Library of Medicine. Updated October 15, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). National Library of Medicine. Updated December 4, 2023. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Cholesterol levels. National Library of Medicine. Updated October 15, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test. National Library of Medicine. Updated October 30, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test. National Library of Medicine. Updated May 20, 2025. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Ferritin blood test. National Library of Medicine. Updated March 18, 2025. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Vitamin D test. National Library of Medicine. Updated December 4, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. Vitamin B test. National Library of Medicine. Updated August 20, 2026. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- HealthCare.gov. Preventive care benefits for adults. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- Hoagland A, Yu O, Horný M. Inequities in unexpected cost-sharing for preventive care in the United States. *Am J Prev Med*. 2025;68(1):5-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.09.011
- Tran A, Laporte A, Nauenberg E, Hoagland A. Role of chronic conditions in out-of-pocket costs for preventive care in the US. *JAMA Netw Open*. 2026;9(1):e2553157. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.53157
- Medicare.gov. Yearly wellness visits. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- Callen JL, Westbrook JI, Georgiou A, Li J. Failure to follow-up test results for ambulatory patients: a systematic review. *J Gen Intern Med*. 2012;27(10):1334-1348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-011-1949-5
- Steitz BD, Turer RW, Lin CT, et al. Perspectives of patients about immediate access to test results through an online patient portal. *JAMA Netw Open*. 2023;6(3):e233572. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.3572
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office for Civil Rights. CLIA program and HIPAA privacy rule; patients' access to test reports. *Fed Regist*. 2014;79:7290-7316. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- MedlinePlus. How to understand your lab results. National Library of Medicine. Updated September 4, 2025. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- Lin T, Margo CE. Cost comparisons of physician-ordered versus direct-to-consumer laboratory testing. *Cureus*. 2024;16(11):e74173. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.74173
Heart & Vascular Health
Metabolic Health
Energy
Liver Health
Kidney
Sex Hormones
Thyroid Health
Nutrients
Immune System
Inflammation