What bloodwork should I get before starting peptides?

A simple baseline screen. Most people start with a complete blood count, liver and kidney markers, and a metabolic panel (HbA1c, fasting glucose, lipids), then add goal-specific markers. On this page you can select your goals to build one combined list to bring to any lab.

Do I need bloodwork before a GLP-1 like retatrutide or tirzepatide?

Many people get a baseline first so they have something to measure progress against. A common GLP-1 baseline covers metabolic markers (HbA1c, fasting glucose, lipids), liver, kidney, and pancreas (lipase). This is general information, not medical advice; talk to a doctor about your situation.

Where do I get these tests done?

Any standard lab can run them. Build your panel on this page, then message us and we will help you choose the right baseline and read the results once they are back.

Build your panel

Select your goals and see which bloodwork is right for you.

Most people are chasing more than one thing. Pick everything that applies and we will combine it into a single blood draw, with no duplicate tests.

Tap your goals above and we will build one combined panel for you, with no duplicate tests.

Or browse every goal

First-timer / budget baseline

The Essentials

Core safety

CBC · Liver: ALT, AST · Kidney: Creatinine, eGFR

Metabolic

HbA1c · Fasting glucose · Lipid panel

General

Thyroid (TSH)

The minimum safe baseline before starting any peptide protocol.

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

GLP-1 · Retatrutide / Tirzepatide

Fat Loss

Metabolic

HbA1c · Fasting glucose · Lipid panel (Total, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides)

Organ safety

Liver: ALT, AST, GGT · Kidney: Creatinine, eGFR · Pancreas: Lipase

General

Thyroid (TSH) · Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Optional

Testosterone · Vitamin D

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

Tesamorelin · MOTS-c

Visceral Fat & Metabolic

Metabolic

HbA1c · Fasting glucose · Fasting insulin (HOMA-IR) · Triglycerides

Liver (fatty liver)

ALT · AST · GGT

GH axis

IGF-1 (for Tesamorelin)

General

hs-CRP · CBC · Vitamin D

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

CJC/Ipamorelin · Tesamorelin

Muscle, GH & Anti-Aging

GH axis

IGF-1 · Fasting glucose · HbA1c

Hormones

Testosterone (free + total) · Estradiol (E2)

Organ

Liver: ALT, AST · Kidney: Creatinine, eGFR

General

CBC · Lipid panel · Vitamin D

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

BPC-157 · TB-500 · KLOW · CJC/Ipa

Recovery & Injury

Healing & inflammation

hs-CRP · ESR · Ferritin

Growth (GH peptides)

IGF-1 · Fasting glucose · HbA1c

Organ safety

Liver: ALT, AST · Kidney: Creatinine, eGFR

General

CBC · Vitamin D · Testosterone

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

BPC-157 · KPV · KLOW

Gut Health

Inflammation

hs-CRP · ESR

Nutrients (absorption)

Ferritin · Vitamin B12 · Folate · Vitamin D

Liver & pancreas

ALT, AST · Lipase

General

CBC · Albumin

If you have ongoing gut symptoms, add a stool calprotectin test (gut inflammation).

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

CJC/Ipamorelin

Sleep & Restoration

GH axis

IGF-1

Hormones

Cortisol (morning) · Testosterone · Thyroid (TSH)

Metabolic

HbA1c · Fasting glucose

Nutrients

Vitamin D · Magnesium · Ferritin · CBC

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

MOTS-c · SLU-PP-332

Endurance & Performance

Metabolic

HbA1c · Fasting glucose · Fasting insulin · Lipids

Oxygen & energy

CBC (Hb, Hct) · Ferritin · Iron studies

Organ (training load)

Liver: ALT, AST · Kidney: Creatinine, eGFR

General

Vitamin D · Testosterone · TSH

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

Semax

Cognitive & Focus

Thyroid

TSH · Free T3 · Free T4

Brain nutrients

Vitamin B12 · Folate · Vitamin D · Ferritin

Metabolic

HbA1c · Fasting glucose

Other

hs-CRP · Homocysteine · CBC

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

Selank

Mood, Stress & Anxiety

Stress & hormones

Cortisol (morning) · Thyroid (TSH, FT3, FT4) · Testosterone

Nutrients

Vitamin D · B12 · Folate · Magnesium · Ferritin

Metabolic

HbA1c · CBC

Inflammation

hs-CRP

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

PT-141 · Melanotan 2

Sexual Health & Libido

Hormones

Total + Free Testosterone · Estradiol · SHBG · Prolactin · LH / FSH

Vascular / metabolic

Lipid panel · HbA1c · Fasting glucose

General

Thyroid (TSH) · CBC · Vitamin D

On Melanotan 2: get a baseline skin / mole check from a dermatologist.

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

GHK-Cu · Glutathione · Melanotan 2

Skin, Hair & Beauty

Hair & skin drivers

Ferritin · Zinc · Vitamin D · Thyroid (TSH)

Hormones

Testosterone · DHEA-S

Antioxidant / liver

Liver: ALT, AST · hs-CRP

General

CBC · HbA1c

On Melanotan 2: get a baseline skin / mole check from a dermatologist.

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

Testosterone / GH support

Hormone Optimization

Hormones

Total + Free Testosterone · Estradiol (E2) · SHBG · LH · FSH · Prolactin

Thyroid

TSH · Free T3 · Free T4

Metabolic

HbA1c · Lipid panel

Safety

PSA (men 40+) · CBC (hematocrit) · Liver: ALT, AST · Vitamin D

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

Female protocols

Women's Hormone & Wellness

Female hormones

Estradiol · Progesterone · LH · FSH · Testosterone · Prolactin

Thyroid

TSH · Free T3 · Free T4 · TPO antibodies

Iron & nutrients

Ferritin · Vitamin D · B12 · Folate

Metabolic

HbA1c · Lipids · CBC

Time the sex hormones to around day 3 of your cycle if you are menstruating.

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

General optimization

Longevity & Healthspan

Metabolic

HbA1c · Fasting glucose · Fasting insulin (HOMA-IR) · Lipids + ApoB

Inflammation

hs-CRP · Homocysteine

Hormones

Testosterone (free + total) · Thyroid (TSH, FT3, FT4)

Organ & blood

Liver: ALT, AST, GGT · Kidney: Creatinine, eGFR · CBC

Vitamins

Vitamin D · B12 · Ferritin

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

Everything, in one sitting

The Full Workup

Metabolic

HbA1c · Fasting glucose · Fasting insulin · Lipids + ApoB

Hormones

Testosterone (free + total) · Estradiol · Thyroid (TSH, FT3, FT4) · Cortisol

Organ & pancreas

Liver: ALT, AST, GGT · Kidney: Creatinine, eGFR · Lipase

Inflammation & GH

hs-CRP · Homocysteine · IGF-1

Blood & vitamins

CBC · Ferritin · Vitamin D · B12

Bring this list to any lab and ask for these by name.

Not sure which panel fits your protocol?

Tell us your goal and we will point you to the right baseline, then help you read the results once they are back. No pressure, no obligation.

Message us about bloodwork

This is general educational information, not medical advice. These are markers people commonly baseline before a protocol, not a required or complete test list, and not a diagnosis. Talk to a qualified doctor about your own situation before starting anything. Peptara Labs does not provide medical care or interpret results as a substitute for a physician.