What is the Elite Athlete Testing Panel?

The Elite Athlete Testing Panel is a comprehensive blood test designed for professional athletes, high-performance individuals and serious fitness enthusiasts who want to optimise their physical performance, recovery and long-term health. Intensive training places significant physiological demands on the body, making it essential to monitor key biomarkers that influence endurance, muscle growth, recovery and metabolic efficiency.

This panel evaluates a wide range of physiological systems, including hormones, cardiovascular risk markers, inflammation markers, metabolic health, nutrient status, fatty acid balance and organ function. By analysing these biomarkers together, athletes and clinicians can gain deeper insight into how the body responds to training stress, nutrition and recovery strategies.

The Elite Athlete Panel expands upon standard sports performance testing by including additional markers such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid balance, homocysteine and zinc, which provide further insight into cardiovascular health, inflammation control and nutritional optimisation.

Biomarkers Included in the Elite Athlete Panel

Haematology – Full Blood Count (FBC)

The full blood count evaluates oxygen transport capacity, immune response and overall blood health.

Includes:

• Haemoglobin (Hb)

• Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)

• White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

• Platelet Count (PLT)

• Haematocrit Level (HCT)

• Mean Cell Volume (MCV)

• Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH)

• Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

• Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

• Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)

• Neutrophils

• Lymphocytes

• Monocytes

• Eosinophils

• Basophils

These markers help evaluate oxygen delivery to muscles and immune resilience during intense training cycles.

Lipid & Cardiovascular Markers

Cardiovascular efficiency is essential for endurance performance and circulation.

Includes:

• Total Cholesterol

• HDL Cholesterol

• LDL Cholesterol

• Triglycerides

• Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1)

• Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)

• Lipoprotein(a)

Fatty Acid Profile

Essential fatty acids influence inflammation control, recovery and cardiovascular health.

Includes:

• Omega 3 Index
• Omega-6:Omega-3
• Omega Trans Fat Index
• Omega AA:EPA

These markers help evaluate whether dietary fat intake supports optimal anti-inflammatory balance.

Inflammation Markers

• High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)

• Homocysteine

Homocysteine is linked to cardiovascular health, oxidative stress and methylation processes important for recovery and energy metabolism.

Electrolytes & Kidney Function (U/E)

Hydration, electrolyte balance and kidney function are essential for athletic performance.

Includes:

• Creatinine

• eGFR

• Urea

• Sodium

• Potassium

• Chloride

• Bicarbonate

Vitamins & Nutrients

These micronutrients support muscle contraction, nerve function and immune health.

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin B12

• Folate

• Magnesium

• Zinc

• Calcium

• Phosphate

Iron Status Profile (ISP)

Iron plays a crucial role in oxygen transport and endurance capacity.

Includes:

• Iron

• Ferritin

• Transferrin

• Transferrin Saturation

Liver Function Tests (LFT)

The liver regulates metabolism, nutrient processing and detoxification.

Includes:

• ALT

• AST

• ALP

• GGT

• Bilirubin

• Albumin

• Total Protein

  Myoglobin

Muscle Damage Marker

• Creatine Kinase (CK)

  CKMB

CK levels increase when muscles experience high training stress or micro-damage.

Thyroid Function

Thyroid hormones regulate metabolic rate and energy utilisation.

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

• Free T3 (FT3)

• Free T4 (FT4)

Hormonal Profile

Hormones influence muscle growth, stress response and recovery.

Includes:

• Total Testosterone

• Free Testosterone

• Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

• Free Androgen Index (FAI)

• Luteinising Hormone (LH)

• Cortisol

• DHEA-S

Metabolic Health

These markers assess blood sugar regulation and energy metabolism.

• Fasting Glucose

• HbA1c

• Insulin

Bone Health

• Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

PTH regulates calcium metabolism and skeletal health.

Why do I need Elite Athlete blood testing?

Athletic performance depends on multiple physiological factors including oxygen transport, hormone balance, nutrient availability, inflammation control and metabolic efficiency. Even small biochemical imbalances can significantly affect endurance, recovery, strength and training adaptation.

Elite athletes often train at intensities that place substantial stress on metabolic and endocrine systems. Regular testing helps ensure that training programmes, recovery strategies and nutrition plans are aligned with the body's physiological needs.

Elite testing can identify factors that may limit performance such as:

• Hormonal imbalance

• Nutrient deficiencies

• Chronic inflammation

• Overtraining stress

• Metabolic inefficiency

• Cardiovascular risk markers

Symptoms that may indicate the need for testing include:

• Persistent fatigue during training

• Reduced endurance or strength

• Slow recovery after exercise

• Frequent illness

• Muscle soreness lasting longer than normal

• Difficulty building muscle mass

• Sleep disturbances

• Mood changes or low motivation

• Hormonal symptoms such as low libido

• Unexplained performance decline

Testing provides valuable insights that allow athletes to optimise training intensity, nutrition strategies and recovery protocols.

Benefits of the Elite Athlete Panel

1. Advanced performance optimisation
The panel identifies physiological factors that influence endurance, strength and recovery.

2. Inflammation control monitoring
Markers such as hs-CRP and Omega fatty acid balance help evaluate inflammatory stress.

3. Hormone balance insights
Testosterone, cortisol and thyroid hormones influence muscle growth and metabolism.

4. Cardiovascular health monitoring
Lipid markers and homocysteine help evaluate cardiovascular efficiency.

5. Nutritional status evaluation
Vitamins and minerals help detect deficiencies affecting performance.

6. Recovery monitoring
Creatine kinase helps detect muscle damage from intense training.

7. Metabolic efficiency assessment
Glucose, insulin and HbA1c evaluate energy utilisation.

8. Personalised training optimisation
Results can guide nutrition, supplementation and training adjustments.

Step by Step

We offer two convenient ways to take this test anywhere in the UK.

Option 1 – Visit a Clinic

• Choose your nearest UK clinic when booking

• Attend your appointment

• A healthcare professional collects your blood sample

• Samples are sent to the laboratory for analysis

• Results are delivered securely

Option 2 – Home or Hotel Visit

For £60 extra, a trained phlebotomist can visit you.

• Book online

• A phlebotomist travels to your home, office or hotel

• Your blood sample is collected safely and professionally

• No need to travel

Both services are available UK-wide.

Your Results Explained

Low Levels

Low biomarker levels may indicate nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalance or reduced recovery capacity.

Examples include:

• Vitamin D: deficiency below ~25 nmol/L

• Ferritin: low iron stores affecting endurance

• Testosterone: low levels may reduce muscle growth and recovery

• Omega-3: low levels may increase inflammation

Symptoms may include fatigue, reduced endurance and slower recovery.

Normal Levels

Normal biomarker levels suggest balanced metabolic, hormonal and nutritional status.

Typical UK ranges include:

• HbA1c: below 42 mmol/mol

• TSH: 0.4 – 4.0 mIU/L

• CRP: below 3 mg/L

• Vitamin D: 50–125 nmol/L

Maintaining these levels supports optimal performance and recovery.

High Levels

Elevated markers may indicate excessive training stress, inflammation or metabolic imbalance.

Examples include:

• CK: elevated after intense training

• CRP: high levels may indicate inflammation or overtraining

• Cortisol: elevated levels may indicate stress or recovery imbalance

• Homocysteine: elevated levels may increase cardiovascular risk

Further evaluation can help optimise training load and recovery strategies.