Most healthy adults should get blood work done at least once a year during their annual physical. Your age, health history, and risk factors will help decide if you need testing more often. People in their 20s and 30s should have yearly blood work, while those over 50 typically need yearly blood work as well.
Blood tests are like a window into your body’s health. They show what’s happening inside before you might feel any symptoms. Think of them as your body’s report card, they tell you what’s working well and what might need attention. Regular blood work helps catch problems early when they’re easier to treat. It also helps your doctor track how well your medications are working and whether your lifestyle changes are making a difference.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about blood work schedules. We’ll look at what tests you need at different ages, which health conditions need closer monitoring, and how to prepare for your tests. You’ll also learn about the most common blood tests and what they check for, so you can take charge of your health journey.
Blood Work Guidelines by Age
What Tests You Need in Your 20s
In your 20s, most healthy adults need blood work yearly. This age is when you build the foundation for lifelong health. Even if you feel great, getting baseline numbers helps track changes as you age.
Basic tests for this age group include:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) to check for anemia and infections
- Basic metabolic panel for kidney function and blood sugar
- Lipid panel for cholesterol levels
- Thyroid function tests if you have symptoms
The American Heart Association says all adults 20 and older should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years if their risk stays low. But if you have risk factors like family history of heart disease or diabetes, you might need tests more often.
Young adults often skip blood work because they feel healthy. But this is actually the best time to catch problems early. High cholesterol and prediabetes can start in your 20s without any symptoms. Finding these issues now means you can make simple lifestyle changes instead of needing medications later.
Testing Frequency in Your 30s
How often you should get blood work done in your 30s is yearly. This decade brings new health considerations. Your metabolism might slow down, stress levels often increase with career and family demands, and risk factors for chronic diseases start to show up.
Important additions to your testing routine:
- Hemoglobin A1C to screen for diabetes
- More detailed thyroid panels
- Vitamin D levels
- Iron studies if you’re tired often
Your 30s are also when family history becomes more important. If your parents developed diabetes or heart disease in their 40s or 50s, you should start monitoring those markers more closely now. Women planning pregnancy or who’ve had gestational diabetes need extra attention to blood sugar levels.
Blood Work in Your 40s
In your 40s, you should have blood work done yearly. This decade often brings the first signs of age-related health changes. Hormone levels shift, metabolism slows, and the risk for chronic conditions begins to rise.
It’s also recommended to begin routine screening for diabetes at age 40, even if you feel healthy. A Hemoglobin A1C test or fasting glucose test can help detect prediabetes early, when lifestyle changes can make the biggest difference.
Key tests for your 40s include:
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- Advanced lipid testing
- Hormone panels (especially for women approaching menopause)
- C-reactive protein for inflammation
- Liver function tests
The guidelines recommend that doctors examine “risk-enhancing factors” during this age to personalize your testing schedule. Your doctor may recommend yearly testing if you have multiple risk factors such as obesity, family history of diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Annual Testing After 50
In your 50s, your healthcare provider may recommend that you have blood work done yearly during your wellness check. This shift to annual testing helps catch age-related health changes quickly. Many chronic diseases become more common after 50, and early detection makes a huge difference in treatment success.
Essential yearly tests include:
- Complete blood count
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- Lipid panel
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Thyroid function
- Vitamin B12 and D levels
- Kidney function markers
Men over 50 should add PSA testing for prostate health. Women need bone density markers like calcium and phosphate levels.
Senior Years Testing Requirements
In your 70s, you should have your blood work done at least once each year. However, your healthcare provider might recommend that you have it done more often. Seniors often take multiple medications that need monitoring. Age also affects how your body processes nutrients and medications.
Special considerations for seniors:
- Medication level monitoring
- Nutritional status checks
- Kidney and liver function (medications can affect these)
- Electrolyte balance
- Blood cell counts for anemia
Testing helps ensure medications work properly without causing harmful side effects. It also catches common senior health issues like vitamin deficiencies, dehydration, and organ function decline.
Common Blood Tests and Their Purpose
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A CBC measures 10 components in your major blood cells—white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. This basic test is like a health snapshot. It shows if you’re fighting an infection, have anemia, or have blood clotting problems.
Your CBC results reveal:
- Red blood cell count (carries oxygen)
- White blood cell count (fights infection)
- Hemoglobin levels (oxygen-carrying protein)
- Hematocrit (percentage of red blood cells)
- Platelet count (helps blood clot)
Doctors order CBCs for almost everything—from routine checkups to diagnosing why you’re tired all the time. Low red blood cells might explain fatigue, while high white cells could mean infection. It’s often the first test that alerts doctors to investigate further.
Lipid Panel for Heart Health
Your lipid panel checks cholesterol and triglycerides—the fats in your blood that affect heart disease risk. This test breaks down your cholesterol into good (HDL) and bad (LDL) types, plus measures triglycerides.
If your cholesterol is checked at a public screening, they may measure your HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol. But a full lipid panel gives more detailed information your doctor needs to assess heart disease risk.
Target numbers vary by age and risk factors, but generally:
- Total cholesterol: Under 200 mg/dL
- LDL (bad) cholesterol: Under 100 mg/dL
- HDL (good) cholesterol: 40 mg/dL or higher for men, 50 mg/dL or higher for women
- Triglycerides: Under 150 mg/dL
Blood Sugar and A1C Testing
Blood sugar tests check for diabetes and prediabetes. The two main tests are fasting glucose and Hemoglobin A1C. Fasting glucose shows your blood sugar at one moment, while A1C measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months.
Understanding A1C results:
- Normal: Less than 5.7%
- Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%
- Diabetes: 6.5% or higher
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every 3 years for adults with normal blood glucose levels. But if you have prediabetes, yearly testing helps track whether lifestyle changes are working or if you’re progressing toward diabetes.
Thyroid Function Tests
Your thyroid controls metabolism, energy, and mood. Thyroid tests usually start with TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). If that’s abnormal, your doctor might order T3 and T4 tests for a complete picture.
Common thyroid problems include:
- Hypothyroidism (underactive): Causes fatigue, weight gain, cold sensitivity
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive): Causes weight loss, anxiety, heat sensitivity
- Hashimoto’s disease: Autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid
- Thyroid nodules: May need additional monitoring
Women are more likely to have thyroid problems, especially during pregnancy and menopause. If you have symptoms or family history, yearly thyroid testing makes sense.
Metabolic Panels
A basic metabolic panel (BMP) examines the levels of eight different compounds in your blood—calcium, glucose, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, creatinine, chloride and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). These tests check how well your kidneys work and whether your body’s chemical balance is normal.
The comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) includes everything in the BMP plus liver function tests. It adds:
- Albumin and total protein
- Liver enzymes (ALT and AST)
- Bilirubin
- Alkaline phosphatase
These panels help diagnose kidney disease, liver problems, and electrolyte imbalances. They’re especially important if you take medications that can affect organ function.
Special Circumstances Requiring More Frequent Testing
Chronic Disease Management
If you manage a chronic condition like diabetes, high blood pressure, or thyroid problems, you may need blood work done more often to monitor these conditions effectively. Each condition has its own monitoring schedule.
For diabetes management, testing frequency depends on control:
- Well-controlled diabetes: A1C every 6 months
- Newly diagnosed or changing treatment: A1C every 3 months
- Kidney function: Yearly or more often if problems exist
- Lipid panel: Yearly
High blood pressure requires:
- Kidney function tests yearly
- Electrolyte checks if on diuretics
- Lipid panels to assess overall heart risk
Heart disease patients need:
- Lipid panels every 4-12 months
- Liver function if on statins
- Inflammatory markers periodically
Medication Monitoring
Some medications require regular blood tests to ensure they are working correctly and not causing harmful side effects. Your doctor will tell you exactly what tests you need and when.
Common medications needing monitoring:
- Blood thinners: Monthly to quarterly INR tests
- Statins for cholesterol: Liver function every 6-12 months
- Thyroid medication: TSH levels every 6-12 weeks until stable, then yearly
- Diabetes medications: A1C every 3-6 months
- Some blood pressure medicines: Kidney function and electrolytes yearly
Never skip these monitoring tests. They help your doctor adjust doses for the best results with the fewest side effects. Missing tests could mean your medication stops working well or causes hidden damage.
Pregnancy and Women’s Health
Pregnancy brings unique testing needs. Women get blood work at their first prenatal visit, then periodically throughout pregnancy. Tests check for anemia, infections, blood type, and immunity to certain diseases.
Women with a history of gestational diabetes should have lifelong screening for the development of prediabetes or diabetes every 1-3 years. This is because gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later.
Women-specific testing considerations:
- Iron levels during heavy periods
- Thyroid function during pregnancy and menopause
- Hormone panels for irregular periods
- Bone health markers after menopause
- B12 levels if vegetarian or over 50
Risk Factors That Change Testing Frequency
Certain factors mean you need blood work more often than standard guidelines suggest. Your doctor considers your whole health picture when deciding on testing schedules.
Risk-enhancing factors include a positive family history; specific racial/ethnic backgrounds; and certain health conditions such as metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, chronic inflammatory conditions, premature menopause or pre-eclampsia.
High-risk groups include:
- Family history of diabetes, heart disease, or high cholesterol
- Overweight or obesity (BMI over 25)
- High-risk ethnic backgrounds (African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American)
- Smokers and former smokers
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Poor diet high in processed foods
If you have multiple risk factors, your doctor might recommend testing every year instead of every few years. This closer monitoring helps catch problems before they become serious.
How to Prepare for Blood Work
Fasting Requirements
Fasting usually means not eating, drinking certain beverages and taking medications 9 to 12 hours before the cholesterol test. But not all tests need fasting. Your doctor will tell you exactly what to do.
Tests that usually require fasting:
- Fasting glucose
- Lipid panel (sometimes)
- Basic or comprehensive metabolic panel
- Iron studies
Tests that don’t require fasting:
- Complete blood count
- Thyroid function
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Most vitamin levels
When fasting, you can drink plain water. Actually, drinking water helps make the blood draw easier by keeping your veins full. Black coffee and tea used to be off-limits, but some doctors now allow them. Always ask first to be sure.
What to Tell Your Doctor
Always inform your healthcare provider about any medications or supplements you take, as some may affect your test results. This includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Important things to mention:
- All medications and supplements
- Recent illnesses or infections
- Alcohol consumption in the past few days
- Unusual stress or sleep problems
- Changes in diet or exercise
- For women: pregnancy or menstrual cycle timing
Being honest helps your doctor interpret results correctly. For example, a recent cold can affect white blood cell counts. Heavy exercise the day before can raise certain muscle enzymes. These details matter for accurate diagnosis.
Day of Testing Tips
Making your blood draw go smoothly takes a little preparation. These simple steps can make the experience easier and less stressful.
The night before:
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Eat a normal dinner (if fasting, before 8 PM)
- Drink extra water
- Avoid alcohol
The morning of your test:
- Wear short sleeves or loose sleeves that roll up easily
- Bring a list of your medications
- Arrive early to reduce stress
- Keep drinking water if allowed
- Bring a snack for after (if you fasted)
During the blood draw:
- Tell the technician if you’ve fainted before
- Look away if needles bother you
- Take deep breaths and relax your arm
- Apply pressure afterward to prevent bruising
Understanding Your Results
Normal Ranges and What They Mean
Blood test results come with reference ranges—the normal values for healthy people. But “normal” doesn’t always mean “optimal.” Your results might be in range but still need attention based on your health goals.
Each test has a range of expected values. If your results are within this range, your health is generally stable. But ranges can vary between labs. They also differ by age, sex, and sometimes ethnicity.
Understanding your report:
- Results show your number and the normal range
- Flagged results (high or low) appear marked
- Trends matter more than single results
- “Normal” ranges are based on population averages
- Optimal ranges might be narrower than normal ranges
Don’t panic about slightly abnormal results. One unusual number rarely means serious illness. Your doctor looks at the whole picture—your symptoms, history, and all test results together.
When to Be Concerned
If your results are outside the normal range, it doesn’t necessarily mean a serious problem. Your doctor will consider the results in the context of your overall health. Some variations are harmless or temporary.
Red flags that need quick follow-up:
- Very high or low blood sugar
- Extremely abnormal blood counts
- Kidney or liver function way off normal
- Dangerously high cholesterol or triglycerides
- Severe anemia
- Signs of infection with symptoms
Minor abnormalities often just need monitoring. Your doctor might repeat the test to confirm results. Many factors can cause temporary changes—dehydration, recent illness, stress, or even lab error.
Following Up on Abnormal Results
If your doctor is concerned about any results, they may recommend follow-up tests or a change in your treatment plan. This might mean repeating tests, adding new ones, or starting treatment.
Typical follow-up steps:
- Repeat the abnormal test to confirm
- Order additional tests for more information
- Review medications and supplements
- Discuss lifestyle changes
- Consider specialist referral if needed
- Start treatment if necessary
- Schedule monitoring tests
Don’t ignore follow-up recommendations. Early treatment often prevents bigger problems. Ask questions if you don’t understand why follow-up is needed. Your health is a partnership with your doctor.
Where to Get Blood Work Done
Primary Care Offices
Your primary care doctor’s office is usually the most convenient place for routine blood work. At Yorktown Health Lisle, we make blood work part of your comprehensive care plan. We know your history, can explain results in context, and immediately address any concerns.
Benefits of testing at your doctor’s office:
- Coordinated with your overall care
- Results go directly to your doctor
- Follow-up is automatic
- Insurance usually covers routine tests
- Questions answered immediately
We schedule blood work during your annual physical or as separate appointments when needed. Our team helps you understand what tests you need and why, making the process less stressful.
Laboratory Services
Many independent labs offer blood tests without a doctor’s visit. You can get your test done and have the results sent directly to your physician. Major lab chains like Quest and LabCorp have locations throughout the area.
Lab services work well for:
- Doctor-ordered tests when the office doesn’t draw blood
- Employer health screenings
- Tests needed while traveling
- Second opinions on results
The downside is labs can’t interpret results or provide medical advice. You still need your doctor to explain what the numbers mean and plan any treatment.
Direct-to-Consumer Testing
Online services now let you order your own blood tests without a doctor’s order. You pick tests, pay online, visit a lab, and get results directly. This appeals to people who want to track their health independently.
But there are important limitations:
- Insurance rarely covers these tests
- No professional interpretation included
- May miss important health issues
- Can’t replace regular medical care
- Some states restrict direct ordering
Around 52% of adults find it challenging to understand their medical tests without professional help. Having a doctor explain results and recommend next steps is worth the extra step.
Insurance and Cost Considerations
Coverage for Routine Testing
Most insurance plans cover basic blood work during annual checkups. Preventive care benefits often include standard screening tests at no cost to you. But coverage varies widely between plans.
Typically covered annually:
- Complete blood count
- Basic metabolic panel
- Lipid panel
- Glucose or A1C testing
- Thyroid screening (if indicated)
Your age and risk factors affect coverage. Insurance is more likely to cover frequent testing if you have chronic conditions or take certain medications. Always check your benefits before testing.
Final Thoughts
Regular blood work is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for protecting your health. Whether you’re 25 or 75, these tests give you and your doctor crucial information about what’s happening inside your body. They catch problems early, track treatment progress, and help you make informed decisions about your health.
Remember that guidelines are just starting points. Your personal testing schedule depends on your unique health picture, your age, family history, lifestyle, and existing conditions all play a role. The healthcare provider takes into account your health history and may recommend other testing along with your blood work.
Don’t wait for symptoms to appear before getting tested. Many serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney problems develop silently for years. Regular blood work finds these issues when they’re most treatable. It’s not about being worried—it’s about being proactive.
Taking charge of your health starts with knowing your numbers. Schedule your blood work with Yorktown Health Lisle today. Our caring team will help you understand what tests you need, explain your results clearly, and work with you to create a personalized plan for your best health. Your health journey doesn’t have to be complicated—we’re here to make it easier, one test at a time.