Which Labs Should You Order? A Practitioner's Guide to Building Functional Blood Panels

One of the most common challenges practitioners face when adopting Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis is knowing where to start. Patients arrive without recent bloodwork, and suddenly you're staring at hundreds of available tests across third-party lab marketplaces like Evexia or Ulta Lab Tests.

The answer lies in understanding that functional interpretation depends on patterns, not isolated values. A single biomarker tells you very little. A well-constructed panel tells a story.

Three Panels, Three Levels of Depth

At Optimal DX, we've developed three suggested panels to help practitioners confidently guide lab selection: ODX Vital, ODX Max, and ODX Ultimate.

ODX Vital is the entry-level panel and our recommended baseline for most new patients. It covers glucose regulation, kidney function, electrolytes, liver enzymes, iron status, a full lipid panel, core thyroid markers (TSH, Free T4, Free T3), inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, ESR), essential nutrients (Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium), and a complete blood count. This panel generates a comprehensive report and covers the fundamentals without overwhelming the patient or the budget.

ODX Max expands on Vital by adding markers that reveal more about insulin dynamics, hormonal balance, and cardiovascular risk. This includes fasting insulin, homocysteine, Lp(a), Apo B, reverse T3, DHEA-S, cortisol, estradiol, testosterone, B12, folate, and RBC magnesium. If your patient presents with fatigue, hormonal concerns, or metabolic dysfunction, Max provides the additional context needed for deeper interpretation.

ODX Ultimate is our most comprehensive panel, designed for complex cases or patients seeking a thorough baseline. It includes everything in Max plus C-peptide, amylase, lipase, fibrinogen, progesterone, zinc, and additional cardiovascular markers. When you need maximum interpretive depth, Ultimate delivers.

Matching Panels to Patient Goals

Not every patient needs the same panel. Here's a quick guide:

• General wellness check: ODX Vital
• Fatigue or low energy: ODX Max
• Hormone-related concerns: ODX Max or Ultimate
• Cardiovascular or metabolic risk: ODX Max
• Digestive complaints: ODX Ultimate
• Complex, multi-system issues: ODX Ultimate

Why Broader Panels Matter

It's tempting to order the minimum to save costs. But functional interpretation requires context. Ordering too few markers limits your ability to see compensatory patterns, early dysfunction, and system-wide stress. A comprehensive panel at intake often provides more clinical value than piecing together fragmented tests over multiple visits.

Download the Full Panel Guide

We've put together a complete comparison of all three panels, including a full list of add-on biomarkers you can include based on clinical need.

Download the ODX Biomarker Panels Guide (PDF)

Ready to Put These Panels to Work?

The ODX platform transforms lab data into actionable clinical insight. Upload results from any lab, and our software generates a Functional Health Report that identifies patterns, flags early dysfunction, and supports your clinical decision-making.

If you're ready to move beyond reference ranges and start practicing functional blood chemistry analysis, explore our membership options and see what Optimal DX can do for your practice.