Nexuses

Nexuses Library

The markers. The rationale. The references.

Every test in the Blueprint Bloodwork protocol explained — what it measures, why it matters, why we test it at the frequency we do, and the research it stands on. Start with what you're curious about.

Pulse

Every 3 months

Full Blood Count

Core Labs

The broadest surveillance panel in the draw — red cell indices, white cell differential, and platelets. Detects anaemia, infection, and early haematological disease on a quarterly trend line.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

Core Labs

Kidney function, liver function, and electrolytes in a single panel. Tracks eGFR, ALT, albumin, and electrolyte balance — each on a quarterly trend that catches gradual deterioration before symptoms appear.

Urine FEME

Core Labs

Full urine examination and microscopy. The broadest non-invasive screen we run — detecting renal pathology, infection, metabolic dysfunction, and early bladder and kidney signals in a single sample.

uACR

Renal

Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. The earliest detectable signal of kidney damage — microalbuminuria precedes any change in eGFR or creatinine by years, and independently predicts cardiovascular risk.

Fasting Glucose

Metabolic

The most direct snapshot of glycaemic status — where blood sugar sits after an overnight fast, the state in which insulin resistance first becomes visible as a rising number.

Full Lipid Panel

Cardiovascular

Total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides. The clinical communication standard and risk calculator input — run alongside ApoB for a complete picture of atherogenic particle burden.

hsCRP

Inflammation

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein. The most widely validated biomarker of systemic inflammation and a direct predictor of cardiovascular events.

ApoB

Cardiovascular

Apolipoprotein B. A direct count of every atherogenic particle in your blood — a more precise measure of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol.

HbA1c

Metabolic

Glycated haemoglobin. A three-month average of blood glucose — the gold standard measure of long-term glycaemic control.

Fasting Insulin & HOMA-IR

Metabolic

The earliest signal of insulin resistance — fasting insulin rises years before glucose or HbA1c move. HOMA-IR calculates the degree of resistance from both together.

Homocysteine

Cardiovascular

An amino acid that, when elevated, is independently associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cognitive decline.

IL-6

Inflammation

Interleukin-6. A cytokine and upstream driver of the inflammatory cascade — including CRP production.

Cystatin-C

Renal

A more sensitive marker of kidney filtration than creatinine — detects early changes in renal function before standard tests register them.

Uric Acid

Metabolic

Associated with gout, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular risk. A marker of purine metabolism and oxidative stress.

ApoA-I

Cardiovascular

The principal protein in HDL particles. The ApoB/ApoA-I ratio captures the balance between atherogenic and atheroprotective particles.

Ferritin

Inflammation

Both an iron storage protein and an acute-phase reactant. Elevated ferritin can indicate iron overload or systemic inflammation.

Fibrinogen

Inflammation

A clotting protein and inflammation marker. Elevated levels predict cardiovascular events independent of LDL and other traditional risk factors.

Pulse+

Every 6 months

Testosterone

Hormonal

Total and free testosterone, with SHBG. The primary androgen — critical for body composition, energy, cognitive function, and cardiometabolic health.

DHT

Hormonal

Dihydrotestosterone. The most potent androgen — converted from testosterone by 5α-reductase, the driver of prostate growth and androgenic hair loss.

Oestradiol & Progesterone

Hormonal

The primary female sex hormones. Oestradiol governs bone density, cardiovascular protection, and mood; progesterone balances oestrogen and regulates the luteal phase.

FSH & LH

Hormonal

The pituitary gonadotropins that instruct the gonads. Rising FSH is the earliest signal of declining ovarian reserve; the FSH/LH pattern localises the site of hormonal dysfunction.

DHEA-S

Hormonal

The most abundant circulating steroid — an adrenal androgen precursor that declines with age and reflects the overall steroid hormone reserve.

IGF-1

Hormonal

Insulin-like Growth Factor 1. A marker of growth hormone activity — associated with muscle maintenance, tissue repair, and longevity.

Cortisol

Hormonal

The primary stress hormone. Chronically elevated cortisol suppresses immunity, disrupts sleep, and drives metabolic dysfunction.

Prolactin

Hormonal

A pituitary hormone that, when elevated, suppresses testosterone in males and disrupts ovulation in females — one of the most commonly missed causes of low libido.

TSH

Thyroid

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone — the most sensitive screen for thyroid dysfunction. Tested alongside Free T3 and Free T4 for a complete picture.

Vitamin D

Micronutrient

25-hydroxyvitamin D. Affects immune function, bone density, mood, and cardiovascular health. Deficiency is widespread and largely asymptomatic.

Omega-3 Index

Micronutrient

EPA + DHA content of red blood cell membranes — a validated biomarker of cardiovascular risk and systemic inflammation.

Vitamin B12 & Folate

Micronutrient

Essential cofactors in the methylation cycle. Deficiency in either elevates homocysteine; B12 deficiency causes neurological damage that folate supplementation can mask.

RBC Magnesium

Micronutrient

Intracellular magnesium — a more accurate measure of status than serum. Cofactor for over 300 enzymes including all ATP-dependent reactions.

Zinc & Selenium

Micronutrient

Trace minerals with outsized roles — zinc in immune function and testosterone synthesis; selenium in thyroid hormone conversion and antioxidant defence.

Blueprint Bloodwork

Every 12 months

PSA

Cancer

Prostate-Specific Antigen. The primary screen for prostate cancer in males over 40 — tested annually at the correct ceiling for false-positive risk.

CA-125

Cancer

A tumour marker used in ovarian cancer screening. Most meaningful as a trend over time rather than a single reading.

CEA

Cancer

Carcinoembryonic antigen. Associated with colorectal, lung, and breast cancers — most informative as a longitudinal trend rather than a threshold crossing.

CA 19-9

Cancer

The primary blood marker for pancreatic cancer. A rising trend across annual draws is more informative than any single reading — particularly alongside new-onset glycaemic changes.

AFP

Cancer

Alpha-Fetoprotein. The primary blood marker for hepatocellular carcinoma and germ cell tumours. Establishes a baseline for those with metabolic liver disease or risk factors.

FIT

Cancer

Faecal Immunochemical Test. Detects occult blood in stool from colorectal cancers and large adenomatous polyps — the most validated non-invasive colorectal cancer screen.

M2-PK

Cancer

Tumour Pyruvate Kinase M2. Detects the metabolic signature of rapidly proliferating cells — catching non-bleeding polyps and early cancers that FIT misses.

ESR

Autoimmune

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. A slow-responding inflammation marker that complements hsCRP — sensitive to chronic inflammatory conditions and haematological malignancy.

ANA Screen

Autoimmune

Antinuclear antibody screen. Detects autoantibodies associated with systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions.

Rheumatoid Factor & Anti-CCP

Autoimmune

The two most validated autoantibodies for rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-CCP can precede joint symptoms by years — early detection changes outcomes.

TSI

Autoimmune

Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin. The autoantibody that causes Graves' disease — detectable before overt hyperthyroidism develops.

Beta-2-Microglobulin

Autoimmune

A marker of cell turnover and immune activation. Significantly elevated levels are associated with multiple myeloma and B-cell lymphomas.

AMH

Sex-Specific

Anti-Müllerian Hormone. The most reliable marker of ovarian reserve — more stable than FSH across the cycle and predictive of menopausal timing.

Vitamin A

Micronutrient

Serum retinol. One of the narrowest therapeutic windows of any fat-soluble micronutrient — deficiency and toxicity from over-supplementation both carry serious consequences.

Foundation

Once at enrollment
Nexuses Library — Markers, Rationale, References | Chronicle by Nexuses