Most blood panels that come back from a standard GP visit include somewhere between eight and fifteen markers. Glucose, a basic lipid panel, liver enzymes, a full blood count, and perhaps kidney function. That covers the most obvious acute risks and satisfies most routine screening requirements. It does not, by itself, give you a clear picture of how your body is actually functioning across its major systems.
Intentra tracks 41 markers across seven categories. This article explains how that list was assembled, the principles behind what was included, and why a significant number of markers — including some that appear on premium testing panels — were deliberately left out.
How the list was assembled
Two criteria governed inclusion. First, actionability: does a result outside the optimal range lead to something a person can reasonably do about it? A result that changes behaviour — whether that means a dietary adjustment, a conversation with a clinician, or a monitoring cadence — earns its place. A result that is purely informational without a practical response path is harder to justify.
Second, prevalence of silent abnormality: are a meaningful proportion of otherwise healthy people likely to be outside the optimal range without knowing it? Vitamin D deficiency is endemic. Low ferritin causes fatigue and poor recovery in people who have perfectly normal haemoglobin. Elevated homocysteine responds well to B vitamin support, but it is almost never included in a standard panel. These markers catch things people did not know were there.
Markers that met both criteria made the list. Markers that are genuinely interesting but either rarely abnormal in healthy people, or for which the practical response is simply "discuss with a specialist," were left out.
What the seven categories cover
Cardiovascular goes beyond the standard lipid panel. ApoB measures the number of atherogenic lipoprotein particles directly — a more reliable predictor of arterial plaque risk than LDL cholesterol in most research contexts. Lp(a) is largely genetic and rarely tested in standard care, but its level is important to know because it significantly elevates cardiovascular risk independently of other markers. Homocysteine responds to B vitamins and is almost never on a routine panel despite being straightforward to address.
Metabolic health includes fasting insulin alongside glucose and HbA1c. Glucose and HbA1c can appear normal for years while fasting insulin is gradually rising — the first sign of developing insulin resistance. HOMA-IR is calculated from these two values and provides an index of insulin resistance that glucose alone does not capture.
Hormonal markers reflect that hormonal balance affects energy, body composition, cognitive function, and mood — not just reproductive health. SHBG is included because total testosterone can appear normal while free testosterone (the bioavailable fraction) is low if SHBG is elevated. DHEA-S, produced by the adrenal glands, declines with age and is rarely included in standard panels despite its role as a precursor to both testosterone and oestrogen.
Thyroid extends beyond TSH. Free T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone. Standard panels often stop at TSH and Free T4, missing the conversion step. TPO antibodies identify autoimmune thyroid activity — the underlying cause of the most common form of hypothyroidism — which can be present for years before TSH shifts.
Blood and iron treats ferritin as the primary iron marker rather than serum iron alone. Ferritin reflects storage and is a far more reliable indicator of true iron status. Low ferritin with normal haemoglobin is a common and consistently underdiagnosed cause of fatigue.
Vitamins and minerals focuses on compounds where deficiency is common, silent, and dietary sources are often insufficient. Magnesium, selenium, and Vitamin D all have broad physiological roles and are frequently low in people who eat reasonably well.
Liver and kidney includes GGT alongside ALT and AST. GGT is more sensitive than either as an early marker of liver stress, and is an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome. Uric acid is included because its clinical relevance extends well beyond gout — elevated levels are associated with insulin resistance and hypertension.
What was left out, and why
Genetic markers — ApoE genotype, MTHFR variants, BRCA — were excluded. They are informative but their interpretation requires specialist clinical context, and acting on them independently without that context creates more confusion than clarity.
Highly specialised hormonal markers, isotope ratios, and panels associated with rare diseases were excluded on actionability grounds. Markers for conditions where abnormal results almost always require specialist management rather than lifestyle change were not included.
Several markers from premium testing panels were excluded because the evidence for their practical significance in asymptomatic healthy people is still developing. The goal was not comprehensiveness for its own sake.
Reference ranges are sex-specific where the evidence supports different thresholds. Intentra uses the sex recorded in your profile when displaying reference context.
A note on what Intentra does and does not do
Intentra organises and displays your blood marker data. It does not diagnose. Reference ranges provide context, not verdicts. A result outside the optimal range is an observation — it indicates something worth monitoring or discussing, not a conclusion about your health. For any result that concerns you, or before making significant changes to diet, supplementation, or medication, speak with a qualified health professional.