The most commonly ordered biomarker tests vary depending on the clinical context—routine wellness, chronic disease monitoring, cancer screening, or specialty testing. Below is a categorized list of widely ordered biomarker tests across general and functional medicine settings:

Basic & Routine Clinical Biomarkers

Often part of annual physicals or wellness visits:

  • CBC (Complete Blood Count) – detects anemia, infection, inflammation
  • CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) – evaluates liver and kidney function, glucose, and electrolytes
  • Lipid Panel – cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL), triglycerides
  • Hemoglobin A1c – average blood sugar over 2–3 months
  • hs-CRP (High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein) – inflammation marker, cardiovascular risk
  • TSH with Reflex T3/T4 – thyroid function
  • Vitamin D (25-OH D) – bone health, immune function
  • Ferritin – iron storage; low in anemia or chronic fatigue
  • Vitamin B12 / Folate – neurological function, methylation, anemia

Cardiometabolic & Inflammatory Risk

Often used for heart disease prevention, metabolic syndrome, or personalized prevention:

  • ApoB – better predictor of atherogenic risk than LDL
  • Lp(a) – Lipoprotein(a) – genetically elevated in some individuals, cardiovascular risk
  • Homocysteine – methylation, cardiovascular and cognitive risk
  • Fibrinogen – clotting and inflammation marker
  • Insulin (fasting) – early insulin resistance
  • HOMA-IR – insulin resistance index

Hormonal Panels

Common in fatigue, reproductive issues, weight gain, or wellness assessments:

  • Cortisol (AM/PM or 4-point saliva) – adrenal function, stress response
  • DHEA-S – adrenal reserve
  • Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone (total and free) – sex hormones
  • FSH, LH – fertility or menopause evaluation
  • SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) – hormone bioavailability

Advanced Functional or Specialty Tests

Typically ordered by integrative/functional medicine practitioners:

  • Organic Acids Test (OAT) – mitochondrial function, nutrient deficiencies, gut dysbiosis
  • HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) – mineral balance, toxic metals
  • GI MAP or GI Effects – stool analysis for gut microbiota, pathogens, digestion
  • NutrEval / Micronutrient Panel (e.g., SpectraCell) – intracellular nutrient status
  • Mycotoxin Testing – mold exposure
  • Environmental Toxins Panel (e.g., GPL-TOX) – chemical exposure
  • Genetic SNPs (MTHFR, COMT, etc.) – methylation, detox pathways

Cancer & Chronic Illness Biomarkers

Used in oncology, survivorship, or chronic disease support:

  • CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) – colorectal and other cancers
  • CA 15-3 / CA 27-29 – breast cancer
  • CA-125 – ovarian cancer
  • PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) – prostate cancer
  • Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) – liquid biopsy (in select settings)
  • Nagalase – immune function, sometimes used in GcMAF therapy contexts

Immune & Infection Markers

Helpful in autoimmune conditions, persistent infections, or immune dysfunction:

  • ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) – autoimmune screening
  • Rheumatoid Factor (RF), Anti-CCP – rheumatoid arthritis
  • ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) – nonspecific inflammation
  • IgG/IgA/IgM levels – immune profiling
  • EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) panel
  • Lyme Western Blot or Immunoblot
  • Cytokine Panels – immune dysregulation in long-COVID, ME/CFS