The Numia Journal

Better health decisions start with better information.

Evidence-informed guides to help you understand your symptoms, the biomarkers that may provide useful context, your testing options in BC, and what to consider next.

Better health decisions start with better information.

Latest

Vitamin D vs D3: what's different, and how to tell if your vitamin D supplement is working

Earlier

How to get a vitamin D test in BC, and what a good vitamin D level is in nmol/L

Blood tests before trying to conceive: a pre-conception baseline for thyroid, iron, B12 and, where relevant, hormones

Fasting before a blood test in BC: needed for fasting glucose, not for cholesterol

What a high hs-CRP result means, and why you retest it

What causes high potassium on a blood test: kidneys, medications, extra potassium or a sample problem

What a high ALT or GGT means: read the pattern, not one number

High ferritin usually means inflammation, fatty liver or alcohol, not iron overload: what it means on a blood test

How much does a private blood test cost in BC? Your routes compared

Canadian lab units conversion: each marker has its own factor, from mmol/L to mg/dL and nmol/L to ng/dL

Which blood test panel should you get for your symptoms? Match the symptom to the markers, then to one panel

What is Numia Health? A physician-ordered, at-home blood testing service in Greater Vancouver

Electrolyte and kidney bloodwork in Greater Vancouver: your routes compared

The best way to get your kidney function rechecked after a flagged result

How to read your eGFR and creatinine results, and what else can push creatinine up

Testosterone testing in Vancouver: four ways to get your baseline, compared

The best blood test for testosterone: total, free, SHBG and LH as one baseline

Low energy at 45? Why your testosterone baseline matters

Weight-loss monitoring bloodwork in BC: your routes compared

The best blood tests to explain a weight loss plateau

How to monitor your health on a GLP-1 when no labs were run before you started

Repeat thyroid testing in BC: your options compared

The best thyroid panel when your TSH is normal but your symptoms aren't

How to tell whether your thyroid dose is right when the weight won't shift

Fatigue bloodwork in Vancouver after a “normal” result: your routes compared

The best comprehensive blood panel you can order yourself in Canada

How to find out why you're still exhausted when your bloodwork came back normal

Where to retest Apo B in Vancouver while you work on your numbers

How to get lipoprotein(a) tested in Canada without a cardiologist

The best markers to track while lowering cholesterol through diet and exercise

How to lower your cholesterol without going on statins

The best blood tests for suspected iron deficiency

The best advanced lipid panel available in Canada

Iron and nutrient testing in Vancouver: your options

How to get a real read on your heart risk when your lipid panel looks fine

How to check your inherited heart risk if nobody has ever tested your Lp(a)