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Your immune system's army. Numbers rise temporarily during infections, after intense exercise or in response to stress. Persistently raised or low counts are worth a closer look.

How much your red blood cells vary in size. A higher RDW can be an early signal of mixed nutritional deficiencies, even before MCV moves out of range.

The cells that carry oxygen from your lungs around your body. Endurance athletes often sit slightly higher than average; pregnancy and certain conditions can lower them.

The average size of your red blood cells. Small cells can suggest iron deficiency; large cells can point to B12 or folate deficiency.

How densely packed haemoglobin is within your red blood cells. Provides extra detail when interpreting unusual full blood count patterns.

The iron-containing protein inside red blood cells that actually binds and carries oxygen. Low haemoglobin (anaemia) commonly causes fatigue, breathlessness and pale skin.

The proportion of your blood that's made up of red blood cells, expressed as a percentage. A key indicator of hydration status as well as red cell health.

An antibody that protects the surfaces of your gut, airways, and saliva. It's your body's first line of defence against infections coming in through the mouth, nose, or digestive tract.

The average amount of haemoglobin inside each red blood cell. Read alongside MCV, it helps narrow down the type of any anaemia present.

A measurement of the average size of your platelets. Newly produced platelets are typically larger, so this marker provides insight into how actively your bone marrow is manufacturing these crucial clotting cells to repair blood vessels.

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.

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.

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.

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

Proteins that play a major role in immunity, clotting and transport. Calculated by subtracting albumin from total protein. Patterns here can signal immune or inflammatory activity.

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

A widely used cardiovascular risk indicator. Lower is generally better. The ratio shifts with diet, training, weight changes and consistent aerobic exercise.

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.

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.

Your body's stored iron, the long-term iron savings account. Low ferritin is the earliest sign of iron deficiency, often appearing before iron itself drops or anaemia develops. Common in women with heavy periods, athletes, and people on plant-based diets.

A mineral involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including muscle function, energy production and the regulation of blood pressure. Inadequate intake is common in modern diets.

The protein that carries iron through your bloodstream. Together with iron and ferritin, it gives a complete picture of how iron is being stored, transported and used.

Essential for energy production, nerve function, and red blood cell formation. Found almost exclusively in animal products, so vegans and vegetarians need to supplement. Low B12 can present as fatigue, brain fog or tingling.

Works alongside B12 to build red blood cells and support DNA repair. Particularly important for women of reproductive age. Influenced by diet, certain medications, and alcohol intake.

The mineral your body uses to make red blood cells and carry oxygen around your body. Low iron can leave you tired, breathless, or struggling to recover from training.

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.

A by-product of how your body processes purines (found in red meat, shellfish and alcohol). Persistently high levels can crystallise in joints, linked with gout and metabolic patterns.

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.

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.

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.