Female Performance & Recovery Test

A liver enzyme that leaks into the blood when liver cells are stressed. Mildly raised ALT is common after heavy training, recent alcohol, certain medications, or fatty changes in the liver. Persistently high ALT is worth discussing with a GP.

An enzyme that leaks into your blood when liver cells are stressed or damaged. Often looked at alongside ALT to give a clearer picture of liver health. Heavy exercise can also raise it temporarily.

An enzyme involved in both liver and bone activity. Levels naturally vary with age (higher in growing teens, post-fracture healing) and during pregnancy, as well as with liver function.

The most abundant protein made by your liver. It transports hormones and nutrients around the body and helps regulate fluid balance. Low albumin can reflect liver, kidney, gut or nutritional factors.

A liver enzyme particularly sensitive to alcohol intake and certain medications. Useful for understanding the source when other liver markers are raised.

The combined amount of albumin and globulin in your blood. It's a broad picture of protein status, used together with albumin and globulin to spot imbalances.

A yellow pigment made when old red blood cells are broken down. Slightly raised bilirubin is often a harmless inherited pattern (Gilbert's syndrome); larger elevations can reflect liver or red blood cell processes.

An estimate of how efficiently your kidneys filter blood, calculated from your creatinine. Higher is generally better. It's the single most-used indicator of overall kidney functio n.

A waste product your muscles produce that's filtered out by your kidneys. Levels can shift with muscle mass, hydration status and protein intake, so very muscular people often sit slightly higher than the population average.

Another waste product cleared by the kidneys, this one from protein breakdown. It's affected by hydration, protein intake and kidney function.

The cholesterol that picks up excess from your arteries and returns it to your liver. Higher HDL is generally protective. It's influenced by exercise, alcohol intake, and the types of fat in your diet.

The cholesterol most associated with build-up in artery walls when it sits high for years. Diet (especially saturated fat), genetics, body composition and activity level all influence LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein).

The total amount of cholesterol circulating in your blood, including both protective (HDL) and less-protective (LDL) types. On its own it tells you very little, which is why we always read it alongside HDL, LDL and the ratio below.

A form of fat your body uses for energy. Levels are heavily influenced by recent meals (which is why we ask you to fast), alcohol, carbohydrate intake and overall body composition.

A marker your liver releases when there's inflammation anywhere in the body. High CRP can reflect short-term inflammation (a recent illness, intense training, an injury) or longer-term, low-grade inflammation linked to lifestyle, sleep and stress.

Your average blood sugar level over the past 8-12 weeks, expressed as a percentage. Often called your "glucose memory" because, unlike a single glucose reading, it can't be gamed by a recent meal or fast.

The same measurement in mmol/mol, the unit the NHS and UK clinicians use. We show both so you can compare to NHS or older test results easily.

Your main stress and energy hormone, produced by your adrenal glands. It follows a strong daily rhythm: highest in the morning (which is why we ask for a morning sample) and lowest at night. Affected by sleep, training, work stress and caffeine.

The main and most active oestrogen. In women it varies dramatically through the cycle, in pregnancy, and around menopause. In men it sits much lower but still has roles in bone, brain and cardiovascular health.

The principal male sex hormone, also important in women at lower levels. Influences muscle mass, libido, mood, energy and bone density. Levels naturally peak in the morning, which is why we ask for a morning sample.

The protein that binds sex hormones in the blood. High SHBG can reduce the amount of biologically active testosterone, even when total testosterone looks normal.

A pituitary hormone that signals the ovaries or testes. In women it varies through the menstrual cycle and rises sharply around menopause; in men it sits in a steady range.

Works alongside FSH to regulate reproductive hormones. In women, LH triggers ovulation; in men, it signals the testes to produce testosterone.

A pituitary hormone best known for its role in lactation, but it also influences reproductive function, libido and metabolism in everyone. Levels can rise temporarily with stress, exercise and sleep.

The active thyroid hormone, the one actually doing the work in your cells. T3 influences metabolic rate, energy, body temperature, mood and heart rate.

The storage form of thyroid hormone, mostly converted into T3 when needed. Most of your circulating thyroid hormone is in this T4 form.

The pituitary signal that tells your thyroid how hard to work. Counter-intuitively, high TSH usually means your thyroid is under-active (the brain is shouting at it), and low TSH often means it's over-active.