Anti-Aging #4 Comprehensive Blood and Urine Test Panel, Men

What is the purpose of this test?

As men age, specific male hormones decrease in production, resulting in health conditions related to aging. These male hormones help men sustain their overall health and youthful appearance. The Anti-Aging #4 Comprehensive Blood and Urine Test Panel, Men, comprehensively analyzes a male patient's overall health. It helps physicians and their patients determine what hormone levels are deficient, allowing physicians to develop hormone replacement treatments specific to the individual. It can also present individuals with information on physical symptoms they may be experiencing to determine whether they are related to aging or another condition.

This Anti-Aging #4 Comprehensive Blood and Urine Test Panel, Men includes the following:

 The Wellness #2 Essential Blood Test Panel:

 Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14) with eGRF

• Glucose - Blood sugar level, the most direct test to screen for diabetes and also used in diabetes management.
•  Uric Acid - Uric acid is produced in two ways, from digesting food consumed and the natural breakdown of the body's cells. Uric acid is a by-product of protein metabolism eliminated through the kidneys. It is also an indicator of kidney function.
•  Kidney Profile
• Bun or Urea Nitrogen (BUN) - An indicator of kidney function.  
• Creatinine, Serum - An indicator of kidney function. 
• Bun/Creatinine Ratio - Calculated by dividing BUN by creatinine. This ratio can suggest conditions including dehydration or intestinal bleeding.
• Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) - Measures kidney function to determine kidney disease stage and detect early kidney damage.
•  Liver Panel
• Protein, Total - Assists in determining liver and kidney function and nutritional health.
• Albumin Serum - One of the major proteins essential for the healthy function of the liver and kidney.
• Globulin, Total - One of the major proteins that assist the blood in clotting properly and also comprises infection-fighting antibodies.
• Albumin/Globulin Ratio - Calculated by dividing albumin by globulin. When paired with other test results, this ratio can assist in diagnosing various liver problems.
• Bilirubin, Total - Aids in detecting hepatitis, sickle cell, anemia, cirrhosis, alcohol, and drug abuse. High concentrations may result in jaundice.
• Alkaline Phosphatase - A protein vital in detecting bone disorders and liver disease.
• Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) - An enzyme helpful in evaluating liver function. An elevated level is an indication of hepatitis.
• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT) - An enzyme helpful in identifying liver damage. Abnormalities may represent liver disease.
• Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) - An enzyme found mainly in the heart, muscles, liver, kidney, brain, and red blood cells. LDH is released more significantly into the bloodstream when an organ is damaged.
• Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) - Also known as Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGTP). GGT is an enzyme that is produced predominantly in the liver. This level is often elevated when diseases that affect the liver or bile ducts are present.
•  Fluids & Electrolytes
• Sodium - One of the major salts in body fluid. Sodium is essential in water balance and the electrical activity of nerves and muscles.
• Potassium - Helps to control the nerves and muscles.
• Chloride - Similar to sodium, it helps to maintain the body's electrolyte balance.
• Carbon Dioxide, Total - Used to help detect, evaluate, and monitor electrolyte imbalances.

• Mineral and Bone
• Iron, Total - An abnormally low test result could indicate anemia caused by iron deficiency.
• Calcium - A mineral essential for developing and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It is also vital for the normal function of muscles, nerves, and blood clotting.
• Phosphorus - A crucial mineral for energy production, muscle and nerve function, and bone formation. Most of the body's phosphorus mixes with calcium to form teeth and bones. Phosphorus is also crucial for keeping the body's acid base balanced.

Lipid Panel With Total Cholesterol: HDL Ratio

• Cholesterol, Total - A measurement used to assess heart health. Cholesterol is required by your body to build healthy cells, but high cholesterol levels can increase your risk of heart disease.
• Triglycerides - Surplus fats that are transported in the bloodstream and are also responsible for providing energy to the body.
• HDL Cholesterol - High-density lipoproteins, or "good" cholesterol, take cholesterol away from the cells and transport it back to the liver for removal or processing.
• LDL Cholesterol - Low-density lipoproteins (calculation), or "bad" cholesterol, contain the highest percentage of cholesterol and are responsible for depositing cholesterol on the artery walls.
• Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio - This ratio is calculated by dividing total cholesterol by HDL cholesterol and is used in determining the relative risk of heart disease.

Thyroid Panel with Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

The thyroid gland synthesizes, stores, and releases hormones. The hormones secreted are iodine-containing amino acids, thyroxine (T4), and tri-iodothyronine (T3). The thyroid hormones influence various metabolic processes, including weight control, energy level, and heart rate. This comprehensive test helps to evaluate thyroid hormones that control the body's metabolic rate and includes: Total T4 (Thyroxine), T3 Uptake, Free-Thyroxine Index (FTI), also known as T7, and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH).

Complete Blood Count (CBC) With Differential and Platelets - A CBC is a comprehensive screening test that can help diagnose various illnesses and diseases, including anemia, leukemia, bleeding disorders, and infections. The CBC provides the following information:

• White Blood Cells (WBC) - The body's primary defense against disease and helps to fight infection.
• Red Blood Cells (RBC) - Responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide away from all cells. Iron deficiency will lower the RBC count.
• Hemoglobin - A chemical compound inside red cells that transports oxygen through the bloodstream to all body cells. Hemoglobin gives the red color to blood.
• Hematocrit - Measures the amount of space red blood cells take up in the blood. It is reported as a percentage.
• Lymphocytes - This result, along with basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and neutrophils, deals with white blood cell function.
• Monocytes - This result, along with basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophils, deals with white blood cell function. 
• Neutrophils - This result, along with basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, deals with white blood cell function.
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) - The average hemoglobin concentration within a red blood cell.

Insulin-like Growth Factor Test (IGF-1) - is produced in the liver in response to stimulation by growth hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. This insulin-like growth factor level is used to evaluate disturbances of growth and monitor treatment with growth hormones.

Testosterone-Free (Direct) Serum Test with Total Testosterone - Small amounts are produced in women's ovaries, and levels are tested to evaluate virilization. The concentration of free testosterone is deficient, typically <2% of the total testosterone concentration. In most men and women, >50% of total circulating testosterone is bound to sex hormone-binding globulin, SHBG, and most of the rest is albumin. Free testosterone is estimated in this test by a direct, analog radioimmunoassay method. This assay uses a labeled testosterone analog with a low binding affinity for SHBG and albumin but is bound by the anti-testosterone antibody used in the assay. Since the analog is unbound in the plasma, it competes with free testosterone for binding sites on an anti-testosterone antibody immobilized on the polypropylene tube's surface.

Urinalysis with Complete Microscopic Examination - Detects urine and urinary tract infections (UTI); diagnoses and manages renal diseases, urinary tract infections, urinary tract neoplasms, systemic diseases, and inflammatory or neoplastic diseases adjacent to the urinary tract.

Vitamin D 25-hydroxy is essential for healthy bone growth and teeth formation. Without it, adults can develop osteomalacia, characterized by weakness, softness, or fractures of the bones. Vitamin D also helps regulate levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the blood and has been shown to influence the growth of other tissues in the body and the regulation of the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in developing conditions such as cancer, heart disease‚ osteoporosis, and multiple sclerosis.

Iron and Total Iron-binding Capacity (TIBC) - The iron and TIBC blood test quantifies iron serum and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Iron serum measures iron levels in the blood. In contrast, TIBC measures the total amount of iron that transferrin can bind (transferrin is the primary protein that binds to iron and transports it throughout the body). These quantities are used to calculate transferrin saturation, an indicator of the body's iron status. For example, iron levels are low in iron deficiency states while the TIBC is higher, resulting in low transferrin saturation. Conversely, iron levels are high in iron overload while the TIBC is low or normal, resulting in increased transferrin saturation. 

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) - This test measures the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels in your blood, a protein produced by the prostate gland. Elevated PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer. However, high PSA levels may also suggest a nonthreatening prostate condition such as infection or benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlarged prostate.

Estradiol - The estradiol (E2) blood test is a test that will check the estradiol, also known as 17 beta-estradiol, level in the blood. The estradiol test is often referred to as the E2 test. Although this is the most commonly ordered fertility test to check estradiol levels in women with infertility problems and for in vitro fertilization support, it is also ordered to monitor estradiol levels in fertile females and males.

DHEA-S - Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is an androgen, a male sex hormone in the blood of both men and women. It plays a role in developing male secondary sexual characteristics at puberty. The body can metabolize it into more potent androgens, such as testosterone and androstenedione, or change it into the female hormone estrogen. The adrenal cortex produces DHEA-S, the outer layer of the adrenal glands, with smaller amounts produced by the woman's ovaries and the man's testes. DHEA-S secretion is controlled by the pituitary hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and other pituitary factors. Since the adrenal glands primarily produce DHEAS, it is helpful as a marker for adrenal function. Adrenal tumors, cancers, and hyperplasia can lead to the overproduction of DHEA-S. While elevated DHEA-S levels may not be detected in adult men, they can lead to visible virilization symptoms and amenorrhea. 

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) - or simply growth hormone (GH)—is produced by the pituitary gland and secreted into the bloodstream in pulses at various points throughout the day. These pulses range from between 10 and 30 per day and can be strengthened by exercise. As the name suggests, growth hormone is essential for normal growth and development in children. Although not as active in adults, GH helps regulate bone density, muscle mass, and lipid metabolism and is important for tissue repair, muscle growth, bone strength, brain function, physical and mental health, energy, and metabolism.

Progesterone - is a female hormone produced by the ovaries during ovulation. If an egg is fertilized by sperm, progesterone helps prepare the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to receive the egg. If the egg does not become fertilized, progesterone levels drop, and menstrual bleeding begins. The placenta produces high levels of progesterone during pregnancy, beginning at the end of the first trimester and continuing through birth. Pregnant women have progesterone levels almost ten times higher than non-pregnant women. Additionally, certain types of cancer cause abnormal progesterone levels in both women and men.

Hemoglobin A1c - The Hemoglobin A1c test is used to evaluate glucose levels in the blood over the last 2 to 3 months. This test is essential in managing one's diabetes. Researchers believe that keeping the blood sugar in the body within a normal range can help people with diabetes avoid many of the risks and side effects of diabetes. For many people with diabetes, the goal is to keep the level below 7%. Additionally, a significant benefit of the hemoglobin A1c blood test is that it provides information on overall glycemic health over several months. Other blood tests that evaluate glucose levels are highly sensitive to determining glucose levels at the time of collection, but they do not give information on average glucose blood levels.

Thyroxine Free (T4) Direct - The free thyroxine (T4) direct serum test helps to evaluate thyroid gland function. The free T4 test is a newer counterpart to the total T4 test and has generally replaced its use. Both are used to help diagnose hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. However, the total T4 test results are affected by the number of proteins available in the blood to bind the hormone, whereas the free T4 test results are unaffected by the number of proteins in the blood. 

Tri-Iodothyronine (T3) Free - Free T3 measures the bloodstream's free, unbound triiodothyronine levels. Free T3 is considered more accurate than Total T3. Free T3 is typically elevated in hyperthyroidism and lowered in hypothyroidism. Most thyroid hormones circulating in the blood are bound to carrier proteins. This test measures the level of the active thyroid hormone T3 which is free (not bound to protein) and therefore available to your cells to regulate metabolism. Raised levels of FT3 indicate an overactive thyroid, whereas low levels indicate that your thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormones. 

Homocysteine - Homocysteine is an amino acid that can be linked to several vitamins like folic acid, B6, and B12. Therefore, deficiencies of these vitamins may cause elevated levels of homocysteine. Research suggests that people with high homocysteine levels have a much greater risk of heart attack or stroke than those with normal levels. Additionally, increased concentrations of homocysteine have been linked to an increase in blood clots, which can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and blood vessel blockages in any part of the body.

C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity - Measures the amount of C-reactive protein in your blood. C-reactive protein measures general levels of inflammation in your body; infections and several long-term diseases cause high levels of CRP. However, a CRP test cannot show where the inflammation is located or what is causing it; other tests will be needed to find the cause and location.

Vitamin A - or Retinol, is essential for healthy skin, eyes and vision, bone growth, immune function, and embryonic development. Vitamin A is present in the liver, dairy products, fish liver oils, dark green and yellow-orange vegetables, and fruits. Too much vitamin A may cause symptoms that include itchy skin, headache, and hair loss.

FSH and LH - The amounts of Luteinizing hormone or LH, Follicle-stimulating Hormone or FSH, and other hormones (progesterone and estrogen) are measured in both a man and a woman to determine infertility. In addition, the LH and FSH levels may help determine whether male or female sex organs (testicles or ovaries) function correctly.

Vitamin B12 - Vitamin B12 is necessary for forming normal red blood cells, nerve function, and tissue and cellular repair. It is not produced in the human body but instead ingested when consuming foods such as red meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, and fortified products such as certain breakfast cereals and bread. Deficiencies can be caused by malabsorption (when a disease or other condition interferes with absorption) or insufficient dietary intake. However, this is unusual in the United States due to the number of food items that have added B12. Vegans and those who do not consume animal products may be more prone to deficiencies.

Folate - Folic acid is a B9 vitamin that our bodies use to make new cells. It is essential because it can help prevent significant congenital disabilities of the baby's brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida) by 50% to 70%. Women need folic acid every day, whether they're planning to get pregnant or not, for the healthy new cells the body makes daily. The amount of folate inside the red blood cell (RBC) is usually at a higher concentration inside the cell than in the serum. Folate may also be ordered to help diagnose the cause of behavioral or mental changes, especially in older individuals. Necessary for normal RBC formation, tissue and cellular repair, and DNA synthesis, folate is found in leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, dry beans, peas, liver, and yeast.

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) - Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) is a protein the liver produces. It binds tightly to the hormones dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, and estradiol (estrogen), transporting them in the blood in a metabolically inactive form. The amount of SHBG in a patient's blood is affected by sex, age, and increased or decreased testosterone or estrogen production. It can also be affected by diseases and conditions such as obesity, liver disease, and hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Adult males test SHBG and testosterone levels to help determine the cause of infertility, decreased sex drive, and erectile dysfunction, especially when total testosterone results are inconsistent with clinical signs.

Cortisol - the primary adrenal glucocorticoid steroid hormone, is usually under feedback control by pituitary ACTH and the hypothalamus. Causes of low cortisol include pituitary failure or destruction, with resultant loss of ACTH to stimulate the adrenal, and metabolic errors or destruction of the adrenal gland (adrenogenital syndromes, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis). The diagnosis of hypoadrenalism usually requires confirmation with ACTH stimulation due to the circadian rhythms of cortisol and other factors. Causes of increased cortisol, which may initially present as simply a loss of normal diurnal variation, include pituitary overproduction of ACTH, production of ACTH by a tumor (notably oat cell cancers), and adrenal adenomas.

NMR LipoProfile® With Lipids (Only available through LabCorp) - The NMR LipoProfile® With Lipids test is an advanced cardiovascular diagnostic test that uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to provide a rapid, simultaneous, and direct measurement of LDL particle number and size of LDL particles, and also direct measurement of HDL and VLDL subclasses. This detailed lipoprotein particle information allows health professionals to make more effective individualized treatment decisions than previously possible based on standard lipid panel testing. The atherosclerotic culprit is not LDL cholesterol but LDL particle number. The test includes LDL-P, LDL-C, HDL-C, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, LDL and HDL Particles, HDL-P (total), Small LDL-P, LDL Size, and LP-IR Score.

Cardio IQ® Advanced Lipid Panel (Only available through Quest Diagnostics) - The Cardio IQ® Advanced Lipid Panel assesses an individual's risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) or monitors their response to treatment. This panel consists of a standard lipid profile and additional blood biomarkers identifying CVD risks across a broader range, such as Cardio IQ® Cholesterol, Total, Cardio IQ® HDL Cholesterol, Cardio IQ® Triglycerides, Cardio IQ® Non-HDL and Calculated Components, Cardio IQ® Lipoprotein Fractionation, Ion Mobility, Cardio IQ® Apolipoprotein B, and Cardio IQ® Lipoprotein (a).