Which Blood Test Should You Actually Get
If you've read the Cura Check framework, you know the six numbers that matter most: blood pressure, cholesterol (ideally including ApoB), blood sugar, weight trend, smoking status, and activity level. Blood pressure and the lifestyle factors you can track yourself. The rest comes from a simple blood draw.
The short answer
Ask for a lipid panel and a comprehensive metabolic panel, and add HbA1c if blood sugar has ever come up. That combination costs roughly $30–100 out of pocket, takes one blood draw, and gives you every lab value Cura Check asks for.
The core panel, test by test
Lipid panel
What it gives you: Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides
LDL is the single most modifiable driver of heart attack and stroke risk. Cura Check uses total cholesterol and HDL directly in its cardiovascular estimate.
Ask for: lipid panel
Basic or comprehensive metabolic panel
What it gives you: Fasting glucose, creatinine, electrolytes, liver enzymes (comprehensive only)
Glucose flags early blood sugar problems. Creatinine is used to estimate kidney function, which feeds the cardiovascular risk model.
Ask for: CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel)
HbA1c
What it gives you: Your average blood sugar over about three months
A single glucose reading can be thrown off by what you ate. HbA1c is steadier and is how prediabetes and diabetes are usually confirmed.
Ask for: hemoglobin A1c
What each number is telling you
- LDL cholesterol — Under 100 mg/dL is generally considered favorable; 160 or higher is a flag in the Cura Check brain-health count.
- HDL cholesterol — Higher is generally better. Low HDL raises estimated cardiovascular risk.
- Triglycerides — Under 150 mg/dL is typical. Very high values can also make calculated LDL unreliable.
- Fasting glucose — 100 to 125 mg/dL is the prediabetes range; 126 or above on repeat testing suggests diabetes.
- HbA1c — 5.7 to 6.4 percent is prediabetes; 6.5 percent or above suggests diabetes.
- Creatinine / eGFR — Used to estimate how well your kidneys filter. It feeds directly into the cardiovascular risk calculation.
Reference ranges vary between labs, and a single out-of-range value is rarely an emergency. If you're staring at a result right now, our guide to understanding blood test results walks through what to do next.
Advanced markers: worth it or not
ApoB
Counts cholesterol-carrying particles rather than the cholesterol inside them. Tracks risk more closely than LDL, especially if your triglycerides are high or you have metabolic syndrome.
When to add it: Worth adding if you already know your LDL is borderline, or you have a family history of early heart disease.
Lp(a)
A largely inherited particle that raises cardiovascular risk independently of everything else. Standard panels skip it.
When to add it: Once in a lifetime is usually enough — the number barely moves. Especially worth it with a family history of early heart attack or stroke.
hs-CRP
A general marker of inflammation that can refine cardiovascular risk when the picture is borderline.
When to add it: A second-step test. Skip it if you're currently sick, since infection raises it temporarily.
Two markers worth reading about in depth: Lp(a), the cholesterol number standard panels skip, and the p-tau217 blood test for early Alzheimer's changes.
Before you order, check your state
New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Maryland restrict or require a physician's order for direct-to-consumer lab testing. If you live in one of these states, plan on going through your doctor.
Where to order
These are options, not rankings. Any of them can get you the same core numbers.
- • Quest direct ordering
- • LabCorp OnDemand
- • Independent ordering platforms that route to Quest or LabCorp draw sites
- • Your own doctor, which is often the simplest route if you already have one
What this costs
A basic panel typically runs roughly $30–100. Adding HbA1c is usually another $15–40. Advanced panels with markers like ApoB and Lp(a) run roughly $150–400. If you have insurance and a doctor orders the panel as part of routine preventive care, your share is often much lower or nothing at all — worth asking before you pay cash.
How the draw actually goes
- 1. Book online or get the order from your doctor.
- 2. Show up at the draw site. It takes about ten minutes and one needle stick.
- 3. Results usually post to a portal or email in one to three business days.
- 4. Type the values into Cura Check to see what they mean together, not one at a time.
Common questions
Can I order my own blood test without a doctor?
In most US states, yes. Direct-to-consumer lab companies use a partner physician to sign off on the order, so you can book online and walk into a draw site. New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Maryland restrict or require your own physician's order.
How much does a basic blood panel cost without insurance?
A lipid panel plus a metabolic panel typically runs about $30 to $100 when paid out of pocket. Adding HbA1c usually costs another $15 to $40. Advanced panels that include ApoB, Lp(a) and hs-CRP generally run $150 to $400.
Do I need to fast before a lipid panel?
Often not. Non-fasting lipid panels are considered acceptable for routine risk assessment by major guidelines. If your triglycerides are very high, or your doctor is tracking them specifically, they may ask for a 9 to 12 hour fast. Follow whatever instruction the ordering lab gives you.
How often should I repeat these tests?
For most healthy adults, every one to two years is reasonable, or sooner if a number was abnormal, you changed medication, or your doctor advises differently.
What is ApoB and why isn't it on a standard panel?
ApoB counts the actual number of cholesterol-carrying particles in your blood, which tracks cardiovascular risk more closely than LDL cholesterol alone. It's inexpensive but not yet routine, so you usually have to ask for it by name.
How long do blood test results take?
Routine lipid, metabolic and HbA1c results are usually back within one to three business days, and often appear in your patient portal before anyone calls you about them.
Print this and hand it over
A one-page worksheet listing the exact panel to ask for, plus the measured items a blood test can't give you — blood pressure, height, weight, medications. Fill it in at the visit, then type the values into Cura Check.
Print the office visit worksheet (PDF)This page is for general information and isn't a recommendation to use any specific lab or service. Always confirm testing options and requirements for your state.
This information is for general educational purposes and isn't a substitute for advice from your own care team. Cura Well Plan does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and AI-generated content may contain errors — always confirm important details with a qualified healthcare provider. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, contact emergency services immediately.