The Hormone Zone & The Longevity Protocol utilizes hundreds of biomarkers and specialty testing to provide the most comprehensive medical analysis available.
Your labs tell a story. If you know how to interpret the story. Conventional “normal” ranges are designed to catch disease. A functional and longevity approach looks for patterns earlier—before symptoms become diagnoses—so we can optimize energy, metabolism, hormones, inflammation, recovery, and longevity.
The Goal? Identify trends, correct deficiencies/excesses, and reduce long-term risk.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) — Functional Interpretation
What this panel evaluates:
Oxygen delivery, immune balance, inflammation signals, nutrient status (iron/B12/folate), clotting ability.
| WBC | 4.5–7.5 x10³/µL | High: inflammation/infection/stress; Low: immune suppression/nutrient issues |
| Neutrophils % | 45–65% | High: acute stress/infection; Low: viral trends |
| Lymphocytes % | 25–45% | High: viral/immune activation; Low: stress/cortisol effect |
| Monocytes % | 4–9% | High: chronic inflammation, recovery phase |
| Eosinophils % | 0–4% | High: allergies/asthma/parasite patterns |
| Basophils % | 0–1% | High: allergic/inflammatory signals |
| RBC | ♀ 4.2–5.0 / ♂ 4.5–5.5 M/µL | Low: anemia patterns; High: dehydration/altitude/testosterone effect |
| Hemoglobin | ♀ 13.0–14.5 / ♂ 14.0–16.5 g/dL | Low: anemia/iron/B12/folate; High: thick blood risk |
| Hematocrit | ♀ 38–44% / ♂ 41–49% | Tracks hydration, oxygen capacity |
| MCV | 84–92 fL | High: B12/folate/thyroid; Low: iron deficiency |
| MCH | 28–32 pg | Low: iron deficiency trend |
| MCHC | 32–35 g/dL | Low: iron deficiency/hypochromia |
| RDW | 11.5–13.0% | High: mixed deficiencies, inflammation, higher risk marker |
| Platelets | 180–320 x10³/µL | High: inflammation/iron deficiency; Low: bleeding risk patterns |
Functional pattern clues (quick reads)
Low MCV + high RDW → iron deficiency trend
High MCV → B12/folate deficiency, thyroid slowing, alcohol pattern
High platelets + low ferritin → classic iron deficiency signature
Chemistry / Metabolic Panel (CMP) — Functional Interpretation
What this panel evaluates:
Liver & kidney function, electrolytes, protein status, blood sugar, hydration, acid-base balance.
| Glucose (fasting) | 75–90 mg/dL | High: insulin resistance; Low: reactive hypoglycemia trend |
| BUN | 10–16 mg/dL | High: dehydration/high protein; Low: low protein/liver issues |
| Creatinine | 0.7–1.1 mg/dL | Context = muscle mass + kidney filtration |
| eGFR | ≥ 90 | Lower: reduced kidney filtration (age-adjusted context) |
| Sodium | 138–142 mmol/L | Low: adrenal/overhydration; High: dehydration |
| Potassium | 4.0–4.7 mmol/L | Low/high: adrenal, kidney, meds, arrhythmia risk |
| Chloride | 101–106 mmol/L | Acid-base/hydration clues |
| CO₂ (bicarb) | 24–28 mmol/L | Low: metabolic acidosis; High: alkalosis |
| Calcium | 9.2–10.0 mg/dL | Needs albumin + PTH/Vit D context |
| Total Protein | 6.8–7.6 g/dL | Low: low intake/absorption; High: inflammation |
| Albumin | 4.2–4.8 g/dL | Low: inflammation/liver; High: dehydration |
| Globulin | 2.2–3.2 g/dL | Immune/inflammation marker |
| A/G ratio | 1.4–2.2 | Low: inflammation; High: low globulins |
| Bilirubin (total) | 0.4–1.0 mg/dL | Detox/bile flow, Gilbert’s context |
| ALP | 55–90 U/L | High: bile/bone; Low: zinc deficiency trend |
| AST | 10–26 U/L | High: liver/muscle; interpret with ALT/CK |
| ALT | 10–26 U/L | High: fatty liver/metabolic stress |
ABO Blood Typing
What it tells you: Your blood group (A, B, AB, O) and Rh factor (±).
Use: transfusion safety, pregnancy compatibility, medical records.
Sex Hormone Panel for Women
(Optimal ranges vary by cycle phase & whether on hormone therapy.)
Estradiol (E2)
- Follicular: 30–80 pg/mL
- Ovulation peak: 150–400 pg/mL
- Luteal: 80–250 pg/mL
- Post-menopause: 50 to 150 pg/mL (Optimal Replacement Range)
- Too low: dryness, sleep issues, bone loss; Too high: heavy cycles, breast tenderness, water retention.
Estrone (E1)
- 2:1 ratio of E2:E1 is optimal
- Often tracks: adipose-driven estrogen and conversion patterns.
FSH
- Follicular: 3–10 mIU/mL
- Perimenopause: rising/variable
- Post-menopause: <20 is the Optimal Replacement Range
- Higher suggests: ovarian reserve decline / menopause transition.
Testosterone
- Total: 70-150 ng/dL (functional target)
- Low: low libido/energy; High: acne/hair growth/PCOS pattern.
Progesterone
- Luteal (mid-luteal optimal): 10–20 ng/mL
- Follicular: <1 ng/mL
- Low luteal progesterone → PMS, anxiety, sleep disruption, spotting.
Sex Hormone Panel for Men
Total Testosterone
Functional optimal: 700–1100 ng/dL (symptom-dependent)
Free Testosterone
Optimal: >25 ng/dL (or lab-specific free T upper-middle range)
Estradiol (E2)
Optimal: 20–40 pg/mL
Too low → joint pain/low libido; too high → water retention/mood swings.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Optimal: 2–6 mIU/mL
High LH + low T suggests primary testicular issue; low LH + low T suggests pituitary/hypothalamic pattern.
PSA
Functional target: <4.0 ng/mL (age-adjusted)
Trend over time matters more than one value.
Adrenal Function
Pregnenolone
Optimal: 90–150 ng/dL
Low can correlate with stress depletion, brain fog; high may reflect supplementation or upstream hormone shifts.
DHEA (prefer DHEA-S)
Optimal (age-adjusted): mid–upper third of lab range
General functional target often: >280 for Women >400 for Men
Prolactin
Optimal: 5–15 ng/mL
High can suppress libido/fertility and reflect stress, medications, pituitary signaling.
Insulin & Metabolic Panel
Fasting Blood Sugar
Optimal: 75–90 mg/dL
Fasting Insulin
Optimal: 2–9 µIU/mL
Higher suggests insulin resistance.
Hemoglobin A1C
Optimal: 4.9–5.3%
5.4–5.6 = early drift; ≥5.7 = prediabetes pattern.
Creatine Kinase (CK)
Optimal: ~50–200 U/L (athletes can be higher)
High reflects muscle damage/exertion, statin effects, inflammation.
Lactic Acid
Optimal: 0.5–1.8 mmol/L
High can reflect poor oxygen utilization, mitochondrial stress, acute illness/exertion.
Complete Lipid Panel
Functional targets
- Triglycerides: <100 mg/dL
- HDL: ≥60 mg/dL
- LDL-C: individualized risk-based target
ApoB
Functional targets (risk-based):
- <80 mg/dL (lower if very high risk)
- ApoB >130 mg/dL is commonly referenced as a risk-enhancing factor.
Inflammatory Biomarkers
ESR (Sed Rate)
Optimal: 0–10 mm/hr
Higher suggests chronic inflammation.
Homocysteine
Optimal: <8 µmol/L
High can reflect low B12/folate/B6 needs, methylation burden, vascular risk.
Uric Acid
Optimal: Men 4.0–6.0 / Women 3.5–5.5 mg/dL
High often tracks insulin resistance and gout risk.
CRP (prefer hs-CRP)
Optimal: <1.0 mg/L
Risk categories commonly used: <1 low, 1–3 moderate, >3 high.
Ferritin
Optimal (functional): 50–150 ng/mL
Low = iron deficiency trend; high may reflect inflammation or iron overload—interpret with iron saturation and CRP.
Thyroid Panel Comprehensive
TSH
Functional optimal: 0.8–2.0 mIU/L (symptom-dependent)
Many labs list normal roughly ~0.4 to 4–5.5.
Free T3
Optimal: Upper third of lab range (often ~3.2–4.2 pg/mL, lab-dependent)
Free T4
Optimal: Upper half of lab range (often ~1.2–1.5 ng/dL, lab-dependent) d)
Total T4
Optimal: > 7 (binding protein dependent)
Reverse T3
Optimal: < 11 ng/dL High can reflect stress/illness/calorie restriction impacting conversion.
Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)
Optimal: Negative
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb)
Optimal: Negative
TSI (Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulins)
Optimal: Negative Positive suggests Graves’-type stimulating autoimmunity.
Nutritional Markers
Vitamin D (25-OH)
Optimal: 50–70 ng/mL
RBC Zinc
Optimal: mid–upper lab range (commonly ~10–14 mg/L, lab-dependent)
RBC Magnesium
Optimal: upper half of lab range (often ~5.5–6.5 mg/dL, lab-dependent)
Cardio IQ OmegaCheck
Common functional targets
- Omega-3 Index: 8–12%
- AA/EPA ratio: lower is generally better (often <10, ideally lower)
Methylmalonic Acid (MMA)
Optimal: <0.20 µmol/L
Higher suggests functional B12 deficiency trend.
Folate
Optimal: >20 ng/mL (or RBC folate in upper range)
Iron and Copper Panel
- Total Iron: 75–130 µg/dL
- TIBC: 300–360 µg/dL
- Iron Saturation: 25–40%
- Ferritin: 50–100 ng/mL (context matters)
- Ceruloplasmin: 20–35 mg/dL (low = copper transport issues; high = inflammation/estrogen effect)
- Reticulocyte Count: 0.8–2.0% (or absolute retic per lab)
- Low retic with anemia → iron not reaching marrow
- Rising retic after iron therapy → good response
Longevity Markers
IGF-1
Optimal: age-adjusted midrange (avoid extremes) (>150, <220)
Too low = frailty trend; too high = growth signaling risk pattern.
Spike Protein Antibodies
Reflects immune response to vaccination/infection; interpretation depends on assay and clinical context.
MTHFR Gene Mutation
Helps explain methylation/folate processing tendencies; action is based on labs + symptoms (homocysteine, folate, B12).
GGT
Optimal: < 9 for women, <14 for men U/L
Higher can reflect oxidative stress, fatty liver, alcohol effects, toxin burden.
Cystatin C
Optimal: 0.6–1.0 mg/L
A sensitive kidney filtration marker (less muscle-dependent than creatinine).
Specialty Testing
Vibrant Wellness Total Tox Burden
Assesses patterns of environmental exposures; used to guide detoxification and prevention strategies.
Food Reactivity (ImmunoLabs)
Identifies immune reactivity trends to foods; best used alongside symptom tracking and structured elimination/reintroduction.
Adrenal Stress Index (Salivary Cortisol)
Evaluates cortisol rhythm across the day (morning → afternoon → evening) for fatigue, sleep, stress resilience patterns.
Genomic Testing (New Amsterdam Genomics)
Assesses genetic pathways that influence metabolism, detoxification, methylation, inflammation, and personalized prevention.
In-Office Biomarkers
Nitric Oxide
Supports vascular health assessment; often used as a performance/endothelial function marker.
Zinc Tally
Functional assessment of zinc status (often used to guide supplementation strategy).
InBody 570 (Body Composition + Visceral Fat)
Tracks lean mass, fat mass, hydration, and visceral fat trends—key for metabolic risk.
ThyroFlex test
In-office screening tool for thyroid-related signs (used as a complement, not a replacement for lab testing).
SphygmoCor Central Blood Pressure
Measures central (aortic) pressure and arterial stiffness—useful for cardiovascular risk refinement.
CNS Vital Signs Cognitive Testing
Tracks memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function to establish a cognitive baseline and monitor change.
