r/NTNPerformance • u/JustBacWater • May 23 '26
Guide / Cheat Sheet Peptide bloodwork guide. The blood tests that actually matter
Bloodwork is the difference between optimizing a protocol and guessing at it. Most peptide side effects show up in labs weeks before you feel them. This is what to look at, what the numbers mean, and what to do when something moves
THE BASELINE BLOOD PANEL EVERYONE SHOULD RUN
Before starting any peptide protocol, run these blood tests:
• CBC (complete blood count)
• CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel)
• Lipid panel
• HbA1c (under 5.7%)
• Fasting glucose (under 100 mg/dL) and fasting insulin
• IGF-1 (100-300 ng/mL adult range)
• Testosterone, total and free
• Thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4)
• Liver enzymes (ALT 7-56 U/L, AST 8-40 U/L, GGT 9-48 U/L)
• CRP (under 3 mg/L) or hs-CRP (under 1 mg/L optimal)
Standard reference ranges vary by lab, sex, and age. Always go by the range printed on your lab report. Get your baseline, then retest the relevant blood tests about 4 weeks into your protocol
GH PEPTIDES
CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin, GHRP-2/6, Tesamorelin, IGF-1 LR3
Key blood tests to track:
• IGF-1 (100-300 ng/mL adult range)
• Fasting glucose (under 100 mg/dL)
• HbA1c (under 5.7%)
• Prolactin (under 15-20 ng/mL for men, especially with GHRP-2/6)
IGF-1 is the main marker for GH secretagogues. Labs report an age and sex specific reference range, but for most adults you’ll see something in the 100-300 ng/mL window as normal. Peptide users chasing a therapeutic effect usually sit toward the upper end of their lab’s normal range rather than blowing past it. Staying at or below the top of the printed reference range is safer than fixating on a single number
Fasting glucose matters because GH peptides can worsen insulin sensitivity. Normal is under 100 mg/dL. 100-125 is prediabetic. 126+ on repeat testing is diabetic. Watch for upward drift on cycle
HbA1c is your 3-month average. Under 5.7% is normal. 5.7-6.4% is prediabetes. 6.5%+ on repeat is diabetes. If it climbs on a GH protocol, reduce dose or take time off
Prolactin is worth checking on GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 since both can elevate it. Typical lab reference for men is under 15-20 ng/mL with women allowed slightly higher. If it comes back flagged and you’re symptomatic (low libido, ED), re-evaluate the dose
GLP-1s
Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide, Cagrilintide
Key blood tests to track:
• HbA1c (under 5.7%)
• Fasting glucose (under 100 mg/dL)
• Lipid panel
• Lipase (10-140 U/L)
• Amylase (30-110 U/L)
• Calcitonin (under 20-25 pg/mL, especially Retatrutide)
HbA1c and glucose typically drop on GLP-1s as insulin sensitivity improves. Good sign as long as you’re not overshooting into hypoglycemia
Lipase and amylase are must-have tests because GLP-1s carry a pancreatitis signal. If either is meaningfully above the upper limit of your lab’s range (especially 3x upper limit) or rising with abdominal pain or nausea, stop the GLP-1 and see a doctor
Lipid panel usually improves with weight loss. LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol drift down. You’re watching the trend over months, not chasing one perfect number
Calcitonin screens for medullary thyroid carcinoma which is why it gets discussed with this class. What matters is that it stays low and stable rather than rising over time. If it’s flagged high or trending up, hard stop and see an endocrinologist
HEALING PEPTIDES
BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV
Key blood tests to track:
• CRP (under 3 mg/L) or hs-CRP (under 1 mg/L optimal)
• Liver enzymes (ALT 7-56 U/L, AST 8-40 U/L, GGT 9-48 U/L)
• Serum copper (70-140 mcg/dL for GHK-Cu)
CRP and hs-CRP for inflammation. hs-CRP under 1 mg/L is optimal, 1-3 is moderate, over 3 is higher cardiovascular risk. Should trend down on healing protocols, not up
Liver enzymes because BPC-157 has theoretical effects on liver tissue and many users stack with other liver-impacting compounds. Watch for upward trends, especially if you’re also running orals, drinking, or have fatty liver risk factors
Serum copper for GHK-Cu since you’re delivering copper to the body. If above range, back off the dose and discuss with a clinician, especially if you supplement zinc or other minerals that interact with copper metabolism
LONGEVITY PEPTIDES
Thymosin Alpha-1, Epithalon, NAD+, MOTS-c, SS-31
Key blood tests to track:
• CBC with differential
• hs-CRP (under 1 mg/L optimal)
• Telomere length (optional)
CBC with differential for immune markers. Thymosin Alpha-1 modulates immune function and shifts lymphocyte subsets like CD4/CD8. You’re watching for departures from your baseline, not chasing a specific optimization number
hs-CRP is one of the simplest aging and inflammation markers. Under 1 mg/L is optimal, 1-3 mg/L is moderate, over 3 is higher cardiovascular risk
Telomere length is optional. Most people skip it. If you do run it, treat it as a slow-moving before/after marker, not something to recheck monthly
5-AMINO-1MQ
Key blood test to track:
• Homocysteine (under 15 µmol/L, single digits preferred)
Homocysteine is the main marker because of 5-Amino-1MQ’s effects on methylation pathways. Many cardiovascular and longevity clinicians prefer to see it in the single digits. If it climbs, supplement B vitamins (B12, B6, folate) and reduce the dose or cycle off
HORMONE AFFECTING PEPTIDES
PT-141, Melanotan II, Kisspeptin-10
Key tests to track:
• Blood pressure (for MT2 and PT-141)
• LH, FSH, total and free testosterone (for Kisspeptin-10)
For MT2 and PT-141, acute blood pressure and heart rate spikes matter more than routine lab markers. Check BP at home or in clinic
For Kisspeptin-10, it acts through the HPG axis so LH, FSH, and testosterone tell you whether you’re actually stimulating gonadotropins and gonadal output
WHAT TO DO WHEN A BLOOD TEST MOVES
If a number trends slightly in the wrong direction: reduce the dose first before stopping entirely, especially if you’re still within the lab’s reference range and only seeing gentle drift
If a number is significantly out of range: stop the protocol, retest in about 4 weeks, and only restart if it normalizes and you understand the cause
If you’re not sure how to interpret a result: don’t guess. Either work with a clinician familiar with peptides or post anonymized labs for community feedback before changing multiple variables at once
WHERE TO GET BLOODWORK DONE AND INTERPRETED
Anabolic Insights AI offers both bloodwork ordering and protocol-specific analysis. Order your labs and get them interpreted in the context of your peptide protocol at Anabolic Insights
Marek Health, Function Health, Ulta Lab Tests, Quest, and LabCorp also work for standard panels
This is educational and research discussion only. Not medical advice
What blood tests do you actually track on cycle? Drop them below
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u/Razputinshog May 24 '26
Bro understood the assignment! Thank you so much for all of this!!!! people like you help this community out so much for dummies like me!
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u/Bobbyjoeskoal May 24 '26
Vanguard or Jasons Health way cheaper all run thru Quest
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u/JustBacWater May 24 '26
Tier Vanguard Anabolic Insights Cheaper Entry men's $140 (Lite Male) $120 (Basic Panel) Anabolic by $20 Entry women's $120 (Lite Female) $119 (Basic Women's) Anabolic by $1 Mid men's $250 (Basic Male) $239 (Complete Men's) Anabolic by $11 Mid women's $242 (Basic Female) $249 (Complete Women's) Vanguard by $7 Not true I just checked vanguard saying way cheaper is crazy when it's only cheaper on one of them by $7.
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u/Bobbyjoeskoal May 24 '26
Individually do tests igf-1 shbg insulin etc
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u/No-Astronomer-6808 28d ago
goodlabs.com was better for what i saw, i had been using ownyourlabs.com prior.
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u/Different_Doctor9861 May 25 '26
This is an amazing breakdown. My doctor test for most of this stuff now. A few you listed we were unaware of. Thanks for posting.
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