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Looks at red cells, white cells, and platelets. Useful when there's a symptom to explain — fatigue, heavy periods, easy bruising. Guidelines don't recommend it as a routine test in people without symptoms.

Measures kidney and liver function, blood sugar, and electrolytes. Standard when something needs investigating or a medication needs monitoring; not recommended as a routine test in people without symptoms.

LDL is the strongest modifiable predictor of heart attack and stroke. Estrogen therapy can shift lipid profile — worth tracking.

Detects diabetes years before symptoms; A1c reflects 3 months of blood sugar.

Measures thyroid function. Worth doing when there are symptoms that fit — fatigue, weight or mood changes, cold intolerance. USPSTF and AAFP both advise against screening people without symptoms.

Measures 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Low levels are common, but USPSTF found that treating deficiency picked up by screening didn't improve outcomes in people without symptoms — which is why it isn't recommended as a routine test.

Measures vitamin B12. Worth testing when there's a recognized depletion risk — a plant-based diet, metformin, older age with symptoms, or an absorption problem. Not recommended as a routine test otherwise.

Measures iron stores. Useful when there's fatigue, heavy periods, or a low hemoglobin to explain. No guideline recommends it as a routine test at a set interval in people without symptoms.

Curable with 8–12 weeks of pills — but silent for decades if untreated.

HPV-driven cervical cancer is almost fully preventable with screening. Testosterone can cause atrophic changes that need a note on the requisition so the lab interprets the sample correctly.

A clinician looking at moles or spots that have changed. USPSTF found insufficient evidence for routine whole-body skin exams in adults without symptoms — but asking about a specific lesion that has changed is different, and worth doing.

HPV-related anal cancer risk is higher for people living with HIV and for people who have receptive anal sex. Under-screened in most primary care.

Many STIs are silent. Throat and rectal swabs catch infections a urine test misses — ask specifically if you have oral or anal sex.

Daily or on-demand PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV. DoxyPEP (a doxycycline dose after sex) cuts syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea for many people.

Hypertension is silent and the #1 preventable cause of stroke.

Reduces flu, hospitalization, and heart attack risk after infection.

Updated boosters restore protection against current variants and cut the risk of hospitalization, long COVID, and post-infection cardiovascular events.

Tetanus is rare but often fatal without vaccination.

Recommended for gay, bi, and other MSM, trans and non-binary people who have sex with men, sex workers, and their partners.

Prevents cervical, throat, and anal cancers — relevant regardless of gender.

Gum disease is linked to heart disease and diabetes complications.

Catches glaucoma, diabetic changes, and vision loss early.

LGBTQ2S+ and trans people face higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality — driven by minority stress, not identity. Affirming care makes a measurable difference.