What does a standard physical panel cover?
Three tests make up the core of most annual labs, and each one answers a broad question about your general health.
| Test | What it measures | What it leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Complete blood count (CBC) | Red cells, white cells, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit | Iron stores, B12, hormones |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) | Glucose, kidney function, electrolytes, liver enzymes, proteins | Testosterone, thyroid, SHBG |
| Lipid panel | Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides | ApoB, Lp(a) |
MedlinePlus notes that a CBC is often part of a regular checkup and is used to look for anemia, infection and blood disorders. The comprehensive metabolic panel measures 14 substances, from glucose to creatinine, and none of them is a hormone. The standard cholesterol test reports LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides.
That is a solid baseline. It just was not built to explain low drive, stubborn fatigue or a family history of early heart disease.
Why is testosterone left off?
Because guidelines advise against screening every man. The Endocrine Society guideline recommends against routine screening of men in the general population for low testosterone, and testing makes the most sense when there is a reason. Testosterone also needs an early-morning draw and a repeat to mean much, which fits awkwardly into a routine physical.
Guidelines do describe when testing makes sense. The American Urological Association advises considering a testosterone measurement in men with unexplained anemia, bone density loss, diabetes, past chemotherapy or testicular radiation, HIV, chronic narcotic or corticosteroid use, infertility or pituitary problems, even without symptoms. It also says men with a BMI of 30 or more, or a waist over 40 inches, should have testosterone checked. If one of these fits you, mention it. Our answer on what to do when a doctor won’t test testosterone has more.
Why are SHBG and ApoB usually missing too?
They answer narrower questions. SHBG is the protein that carries testosterone in the blood, and its main job on a lab report is to help interpret testosterone. Without a testosterone result next to it, it has little to say, so it is rarely ordered alone. Our page on the SHBG blood test explains when it changes the picture.
ApoB counts the particles that carry cholesterol into artery walls. According to the American College of Cardiology’s summary of the 2026 dyslipidemia guideline, ApoB more accurately reflects cardiovascular risk and may help refine treatment decisions in prevention. It is not part of the standard cholesterol test, so it has to be requested. Our ApoB blood test page covers how it differs from LDL.
Related question: is it worth asking for these tests if you feel fine?
For testosterone, usually not, unless you fit one of the groups above. A healthy man with no symptoms gains little from a single number.
ApoB and Lp(a) are different. The same 2026 guideline summary recommends measuring Lp(a) at least once in every adult’s lifetime, because it is largely inherited and does not change much. A man with a parent or sibling who had early heart disease has a real reason to ask for both. Our comparison of a men’s health panel vs annual physical labs shows the full gap.
How do you get them checked?
You have two routes. The first is your primary care doctor: name the symptom or risk factor, ask for an early-morning draw, and request free testosterone and SHBG alongside the total. The second is to book testing directly, an option when you want a broader panel or faster answers. Our answer on getting blood work without a referral explains how that works.
Filling the gaps at Ultimate Male
The Comprehensive Health Optimization Panel adds what a physical leaves out: total and free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, thyroid, ApoB, Lp(a), hs-CRP, nutrients and more, on top of a metabolic panel and lipids. The Targeted Preventative Health Panel focuses on heart and nutrient markers if hormones are not your question.
Book after a free 10-minute call, give blood on site at San Gabriel or Downey, and review the results one on one with a PA-C or MD. Testing is direct-pay, with itemized receipts that work for FSA and HSA. You are free to share the report with your primary care doctor. Start with our preventative blood testing options.
