Glossary Category: Testing & Diagnostics
Decode the labs and diagnostic panels SPOKEmed uses to look beyond “normal” ranges – including metabolic panels, hormone testing, and biomarkers that reveal the full picture of your health.
A genetic testing company specializing in multi-gene pathway analysis — examining how an individual’s genetic variants affect key biological pathways including metabolism, inflammation, hormones, and nutrients. Used at SPOKEmed to personalize clinical protocols.
A blood test measuring the percentage of hemoglobin coated with glucose over the past 2 to 3 months, used to diagnose and monitor blood sugar regulation, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes.
A protein that forms the outer shell of all atherogenic (artery-clogging) lipoprotein particles — including LDL, VLDL, and Lp(a). ApoB is a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than LDL-cholesterol alone.
A measurable biological indicator — in blood, urine, stool, or tissue — that provides objective, quantifiable information about a patient’s health status, disease risk, or treatment response. The difference between normal-range biomarkers and optimal-range biomarkers is central to SPOKEmed’s clinical model.
A standard blood test measuring 14 markers including blood glucose, kidney function, liver enzymes, and electrolytes. A foundational but limited metabolic assessment that SPOKEmed expands with additional targeted markers.
A comprehensive urine-based hormone test that measures sex hormones, adrenal hormones, and their metabolites — providing a far more detailed picture of hormonal health than a standard blood draw.
A blood or urine test measuring circulating hormone levels — typically including sex hormones, thyroid hormones, adrenal hormones, and/or pituitary markers — used to evaluate hormonal balance and identify deficiencies or excesses.
A blood test measuring cholesterol and triglycerides — including total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides — used to evaluate cardiovascular risk. A standard lipid panel is enhanced with ApoB for more accurate particle-based risk assessment.
A set of measurable blood-based indicators — including glucose, insulin, lipids, inflammatory proteins, and related compounds — that collectively characterize the state of a patient’s metabolic health and risk for metabolic disease.