Most of the markers Intentra tracks are not included in a standard annual blood test. Getting them requires asking — sometimes specifically, sometimes more than once. This article explains how to have that conversation, what test groupings to request, and what to expect when you do.
The framing here is practical and internationally applicable. Healthcare systems vary significantly in how blood tests are ordered, funded, and reported. Some of what follows will depend on whether you see a general practitioner, a private physician, or order tests directly through a private lab — all of which are options in different countries and circumstances.
Why you need to ask
Standard blood panels are designed around acute risk screening. They are calibrated to catch serious pathology in a broad population efficiently. This is sensible from a public health standpoint. It is not the same as a comprehensive view of how your body is functioning.
A GP ordering a "full blood count and metabolic panel" will typically cover haemoglobin, white cells, platelets, glucose, basic kidney and liver markers, and sometimes TSH. This leaves out fasting insulin, ApoB, Lp(a), homocysteine, ferritin (as a standalone), DHEA-S, Free T3, magnesium, and several others that appear in Intentra markers.
The most effective approach is to come prepared with specific requests, framed in clinical language. Most clinicians respond well to informed patients who can explain why they are asking for a particular marker.
How to group your requests
Rather than listing individual markers, group them by test panel. Clinicians order by panel, not by individual marker, and framing your request this way tends to go more smoothly.
Lipid and cardiovascular panel Ask for: ApoB, Lp(a), LDL, HDL, triglycerides, hsCRP, homocysteine. Standard lipid panels typically include LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. ApoB and Lp(a) require a specific request in most systems. Homocysteine is sometimes bundled with cardiovascular risk panels.
Metabolic and glucose panel Ask for: fasting glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin. Fasting insulin is the critical addition here. It is widely available but almost never ordered unless specifically requested. To calculate HOMA-IR, you need both fasting glucose and fasting insulin.
Thyroid panel Ask for: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, TPO antibodies. Many clinicians will order TSH and Free T4 without prompting. Free T3, Reverse T3, and TPO antibodies typically require a specific request. "I would like to assess the full conversion pathway and rule out autoimmune thyroid activity" is a reasonable framing.
Hormonal panel Ask for: total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol, cortisol (AM, fasting), DHEA-S, prolactin. AM cortisol requires a morning blood draw, typically before 9am. Free testosterone is often calculated rather than directly measured.
Iron studies Ask for: ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation. Ferritin is widely available but some panels only include serum iron without ferritin. Confirm which is included before assuming your iron status is covered.
Full blood count Ask for: haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell count. These are almost always included in a standard full blood count.
Vitamins and minerals Ask for: Vitamin D (25-OH), Vitamin B12, folate, magnesium, zinc, selenium. Vitamin D is widely available and sometimes included by default; others typically require specific requests. Selenium in particular is not available through GP-ordered panels in all countries and may require a private lab.
Liver and kidney Ask for: ALT, AST, GGT, creatinine, eGFR, uric acid. ALT, AST, creatinine, and eGFR are standard. GGT and uric acid usually require a specific request.
Direct-to-consumer and private lab options
In many countries, private blood testing is available without a GP referral. Services such as private pathology labs, functional medicine clinics, and direct-to-consumer testing platforms allow you to order a comprehensive panel independently.
This is useful when your GP is unwilling to order certain markers through the public system, when you want to test more frequently than standard care allows, or when you simply prefer to manage your own data. Costs and availability vary significantly by country and provider.
If you use a private service, upload your results to Intentra via the blood markers upload flow and they will be parsed and linked to your marker tracking automatically.
Preparing for the conversation
Come with a printed or written list of the panels you want. It is easier to tick off a list than to remember everything in the room.
Mention that you track your health data over time and want a baseline across these systems. Most clinicians respond well to this framing — it signals long-term thinking rather than anxiety about a specific symptom.
If a marker is declined, ask whether it can be ordered as a self-funded test or through a private lab. In most cases the answer is yes.
Ask for a copy of your results in a format you can keep. In many countries you have a legal right to your own health data. Digital copies are easiest to upload.
After the results
Upload your results to Intentra using the Upload Health Records flow. Results are parsed automatically and linked to your blood marker tracking.
Intentra organises and displays your data. It does not diagnose. Any result outside the optimal range is an observation worth monitoring or discussing — not a conclusion. For results that concern you, speak with a qualified health professional before drawing conclusions or making significant changes.