Advanced Blood Testing
Assessment Stage: Advanced Investigation
Included in Future Health Assessment: Recommended where clinically appropriate
Partner: Bloody Good Blood Tests / DHM Pathology
Provider: Bloody Good Blood Tests and DHM Pathology
Approximate Cost: Varies by investigation. Some tests are Medicare rebated when clinically indicated, while others incur a private fee.
What is it?
Advanced blood testing provides additional information beyond routine pathology to help further assess cardiovascular, metabolic, kidney, nutritional and neurological health.
These investigations are not routinely required for every patient. They are recommended selectively based on your medical history, family history, symptoms, baseline test results and individual health goals.
Advanced testing helps refine risk assessment, identify early disease and personalise preventive healthcare where standard investigations do not provide the complete picture.
What does it assess?
-
Cystatin C & Combined eGFR
Approximate Cost: ~$80 (private)
Cystatin C is an alternative marker of kidney function that is less influenced by muscle mass than creatinine.
Combining creatinine and cystatin C provides one of the most accurate estimates of kidney function and may identify early chronic kidney disease before conventional tests become abnormal.
Particularly useful in:
Older adults
Athletes with high muscle mass
Individuals with low muscle mass
Borderline creatinine results
Early chronic kidney disease
-
APOE Genotype
Approximate Cost: ~$135 (private)
APOE genotyping identifies inherited variants associated with Alzheimer's disease risk and lipid metabolism.
It does not diagnose dementia, but may help personalise discussions around brain health, cardiovascular risk and long-term prevention.
-
RBC Magnesium
RBC Zinc
Approximate Cost: ~$45 each (private)
Unlike standard serum measurements, red blood cell (RBC) testing provides an indication of longer-term intracellular magnesium and zinc status.
These minerals play important roles in:
Muscle function
Nervous system function
Energy production
Immune health
Bone health
Testing may be considered where deficiency is suspected or symptoms persist despite normal serum levels.
-
Homocysteine
Medicare: Where clinically indicated
Homocysteine is an amino acid associated with:
Cardiovascular disease
Stroke
Cognitive decline
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Future Health generally recommends homocysteine testing for patients with:
Strong family history of premature cardiovascular disease
Elevated Lipoprotein(a)
Low-normal Vitamin B12 or folate
Cognitive concerns
Vegans or malabsorption disorders
It is not recommended as routine screening for every patient.
-
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
Medicare: Where clinically indicated
ESR is a non-specific marker of inflammation.
It may assist in investigating:
Autoimmune disease
Chronic inflammatory disorders
Selected infections
It complements, but does not replace, hsCRP.
-
Examples may include:
ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies)
ENA Panel
Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
Anti-CCP Antibodies
Thyroid Antibodies
Testing is performed only where clinically indicated, based on symptoms, examination findings or family history.
-
Amylase
Lipase
Medicare: Where clinically indicated
These enzymes are primarily used to investigate suspected pancreatic disease.
Routine screening is not recommended, but testing may be appropriate for patients with:
Persistent upper abdominal pain
Suspected pancreatitis
Certain gastrointestinal symptoms
Why is it important?
Routine blood tests provide an excellent overview of health, but advanced biomarkers may uncover additional information in selected individuals.
They can help:
Refine cardiovascular risk
Detect early kidney disease
Identify nutritional deficiencies
Investigate chronic inflammation
Assess inherited disease risk
Guide personalised prevention strategies
Importantly, these investigations are selected because they are likely to influence clinical decision-making rather than simply generating additional information.
Who may benefit?
Advanced blood testing may be appropriate for individuals with:
Strong family history of chronic disease
Premature cardiovascular disease
Elevated Lipoprotein(a)
Borderline kidney function
Persistent unexplained symptoms
Autoimmune symptoms
Cognitive concerns
High-performance athletes
Patients seeking a comprehensive preventive health assessment
What happens during the test?
A routine blood sample is collected.
Some investigations may require fasting, while others do not.
Your clinician will advise any specific preparation required.
Preparation
Preparation varies depending on the individual investigation.
Where appropriate:
Fast overnight.
Remain well hydrated.
Continue medications unless advised otherwise.
Inform your clinician of supplements and recent illness.
Advantages
More comprehensive assessment
Personalised investigation selection
May identify abnormalities before disease develops
Supports precision preventive medicine
Complements routine pathology
Limitations
Not required for every patient.
Some tests have limited value outside specific clinical situations.
Results should always be interpreted alongside symptoms, examination findings and standard investigations.
Some investigations incur private pathology costs.
How Future Health uses this investigation
Future Health recommends advanced blood testing selectively after reviewing:
Medical history
Family history
Lifestyle
Baseline pathology
Body composition
Cardiovascular assessment
Individual health goals
This ensures investigations are clinically meaningful and likely to influence management.
Related Future Health Domains
Cardiometabolic Health
Cognitive & Brain Health
Kidney Health
Nutrition
Healthy Ageing
Related Investigations
Comprehensive Lipid Assessment
Kidney Health Assessment
Full Blood Count
Inflammation Assessment
Eugene Preventative Health Genetic Screening
Full Body MRI
Nutrition Assessment
Future Health Summary
Advanced blood testing allows a more personalised approach to preventive healthcare by investigating areas that cannot always be assessed through routine pathology alone. Rather than ordering every available test, Future Health selects investigations based on your individual risk profile, ensuring results are clinically relevant and help guide meaningful decisions about your long-term health.