Why blood work matters
Peptide protocols affect hormones, metabolic markers, inflammatory response and organ function. Without baseline blood work you have no reference point. Without mid-protocol testing you have no safety signal. Without post-cycle testing you have no evidence of what changed. The protocols on this platform are built around blood work — it is part of the protocol, not an afterthought.
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Baseline before you start
Every protocol requires a baseline panel run before the first dose. This gives you a reference point for every marker. Without it you cannot interpret mid-protocol results.
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Mid-protocol check
Run at the halfway point — typically week 4, 6 or 8 depending on protocol length. Checks for unexpected changes and confirms the protocol is working as expected.
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End of cycle
Run at protocol completion. Confirms return to baseline and identifies any markers that need attention before starting a subsequent cycle.
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4 weeks post-cycle
Often skipped but the most informative. Shows how markers have settled after the protocol ends and whether any intervention is needed.
Testing windows by protocol type
| Protocol type | Baseline | Mid-cycle | End of cycle | Post-cycle |
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| Starter (4–6 weeks) | Before day 1 | Week 3 | Week 6 | Week 10 |
| Intermediate (8–12 weeks) | Before day 1 | Week 4–6 | Week 12 | Week 16 |
| GH / Sermorelin (16+ weeks) | Before day 1 | Week 6–8 | Week 16 | Week 20 |
| GLP-1 / Metabolic (24 weeks) | Before day 1 | Week 8 + 16 | Week 24 | Week 28 |
| TRT / Hormonal (ongoing) | Before day 1 | Month 3 | Month 6 | Quarterly ongoing |
| Longevity (annual cycles) | January | April + July | October | Following January |
Key panels by protocol category
Healing & Recovery
Full blood count · CRP hs · ESR · Liver panel (ALT, AST) · Creatinine · eGFR
GH / Sermorelin
IGF-1 · Fasting glucose · HbA1c · Thyroid (TSH, T3, T4) · Metabolic panel
GLP-1 / Metabolic
HbA1c · Fasting insulin · HOMA-IR · Lipid panel · Liver enzymes · eGFR
TRT / Hormonal
Total T · Free T · SHBG · LH · FSH · Oestradiol · Haematocrit · PSA (males)
Cognitive / Neurological
Full blood count · B12 · Folate · Thyroid · CRP · Homocysteine
Longevity
Full panel · IGF-1 · Telomere length · Epigenetic clock · NAD+ · ApoB · Lp(a)
What to tell your testing provider
Suggested framing
You do not need to disclose what compounds you are using. A straightforward approach: "I am monitoring my health proactively and would like to run a [panel name] panel. I track my own results and would like the raw data." Private testing providers routinely process self-requested panels with no clinical referral required.
When to involve a GP
Consult a GP or private physician if any of the following appear: IGF-1 above 400 ng/mL · Fasting glucose above 7.0 mmol/L · HbA1c above 48 mmol/mol · Haematocrit above 52% · ALT or AST more than 3× upper limit of normal · TSH outside 0.3–5.0 mIU/L · Total testosterone below 8 nmol/L or above 40 nmol/L · Any marker significantly outside laboratory reference range that was previously normal.
Blood work — what's worth monitoring
Each protocol reference notes the markers worth discussing with a clinician and why they matter — general information, not a prescribed testing schedule.
View Blood Work Calendars →