Which blood test panel should you get for your symptoms? Match the symptom to the markers, then to one panel
The right blood test panel for your symptoms is the one that measures the markers behind them: iron, B12 and thyroid for tiredness, blood sugar and lipids for weight changes, Apo B and Lp(a) for heart risk, and morning testosterone for low libido in men.
Symptoms overlap, so the same tiredness can come from low iron, the thyroid, blood sugar, sleep, mood or a medication. The table below matches each symptom to the markers worth discussing and to one panel from Numia Health, a physician-ordered, at-home blood testing service in Greater Vancouver.
Which panel matches which symptom?
| Symptom or goal | Markers worth discussing | Numia panel | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low energy | Ferritin, B12, folate, TSH, free T4, glucose, HbA1c | Fatigue | Still tired |
| Brain fog | B12, ferritin, TSH, glucose, sodium, calcium | Fatigue | Brain fog |
| Hair shedding | Ferritin, TSH, zinc, vitamin D | Fatigue or Basic Nutrients | Iron and hair |
| Weight gain or plateau | TSH, glucose, HbA1c, lipids, liver enzymes | Weight Loss Monitoring | Plateau |
| Heart risk or high cholesterol | Apo B, Lp(a), hs-CRP, lipids | Cardiac | Beyond lipids |
| Thyroid symptoms | TSH, free T4, free T3 | Thyroid Basic | Normal TSH |
| Cycle changes | Estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, prolactin | Female Pre-Menopause, as a baseline | , |
| Low libido or ED (men) | Morning testosterone, SHBG, LH; HbA1c, lipids | Male Hormone + Weight Loss Monitoring | Beyond testosterone |
| Heavy sweating, long workouts | Sodium, potassium, chloride | Electrolytes | Runners' sodium |
Why do overlapping symptoms point to broader panels?
Because the common causes are often quiet. Across European population studies, about 1 in 15 people had thyroid dysfunction that hadn't been diagnosed (Garmendia Madariaga et al., 2014). At a ferritin (stored iron) cut-off of 25 µg/L, about 1 in 5 women aged 25 to 54 in a US and Canadian study were iron deficient (Barton et al., 2024). A blood test is how you tell them apart.
Numia's panels also overlap, so check before you book two. The Fatigue Panel contains every Thyroid Basic marker (TSH, free T4, free T3) and every Electrolytes marker. Weight Loss Monitoring contains the Electrolytes markers plus TSH. Ferritin is on the Fatigue Panel only; Basic Nutrients measures iron, TIBC and saturation instead.
When should you see a clinician first?
Whenever symptoms are new, severe or getting worse. Call 9-1-1 for chest pain or tightness, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness or signs of a stroke, as BC Emergency Health Services advises. Once anything urgent is ruled out, a Numia panel gives you a baseline to track from there.
Where does Numia fit?
Numia Health puts the usual steps in one place. Instead of separate appointments and a lab visit, a licensed Canadian physician approves your requisition online in about 3 minutes, and a BC-licensed clinician comes to your home for a 10-minute morning draw. Results arrive in plain English in the Numia app in 7 days, and the Numia Companion, an AI that has read them, answers questions and cites the panel. Out-of-range results are physician-reviewed with next steps, an optional wellness consultation is available, and Numia is an HSA-eligible service.
Frequently asked questions
Which blood test panel should I get for fatigue?
One that checks iron stores, B12, thyroid and blood sugar together. Numia's Fatigue Panel measures all four, plus liver and kidney markers, in one draw. If your tiredness is new or getting worse, see a clinician first.
Can a blood test tell me what's causing my symptoms?
It can show which markers are out of range or drifting, which narrows the question. A clinician weighs that against your history and an exam. With Numia, a physician reviews any out-of-range result and recommends next steps.
What blood tests are recommended for erectile dysfunction?
The Canadian Urological Association suggests considering HbA1c, fasting glucose and a lipid profile, plus a morning total testosterone if there are signs of low testosterone. Numia's Male Hormone and Weight Loss Monitoring panels measure these between them.
Sources6 references
- Barton, J. C., Wiener, H. W., Barton, J. C., & Acton, R. T. (2024). Prevalence of iron deficiency using 3 definitions among women in the US and Canada. JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2413967. View source
- BC Emergency Health Services. (n.d.). When to call 9-1-1. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from View source
- Domes, T., Najafabadi, B. T., Roberts, M., Campbell, J., Flannigan, R., Bach, P., Patel, P., Langille, G., Krakowsky, Y., & Violette, P. D. (2021). Canadian Urological Association guideline: Erectile dysfunction. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 15(10), 310–322. View source
- Garmendia Madariaga, A., Santos Palacios, S., Guillén-Grima, F., & Galofré, J. C. (2014). The incidence and prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Europe: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 99(3), 923–931. View source
- Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee. (2023). Cobalamin (vitamin B12) and folate deficiency. BC Guidelines. British Columbia Ministry of Health. View source
- Numia Health. (n.d.). At-home blood work in Greater Vancouver [Home page and panel pages]. Retrieved September 25, 2026, from View source
Last updated October 12, 2026
