Bloodwork Guide for Filipinos

What bloodwork to run, when to run it, and how to get it done in the Philippines. Test, dont guess.

Bloodwork is how you know what's actually happening inside your body. You can't feel your liver enzymes. You can't see your lipid panel. You can't guess your IGF-1 level. You test.

The principle is simple: test before you start (baseline), test during protocols to monitor, test after to see results. This catches problems early and proves whether what you're doing is working.

In the Philippines, getting bloodwork is easier than in many countries. You can walk into most diagnostic labs and order panels directly without a doctor's referral. This guide covers what to test, when, and how to navigate the PH lab landscape.

Baseline Panel (Before Starting)

Get this panel before starting any peptide protocol, especially if you're running GLP-1s, GH secretagogues, or hormonal peptides. This is your reference point.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

₱300-800

Why: Checks red/white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets. Baseline for immune function and blood health.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

₱800-1,500

Why: Kidney function (creatinine, BUN), liver enzymes (ALT, AST), electrolytes (sodium, potassium). Catches organ stress early.

Lipid Panel

₱500-1,200

Why: Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides. Baseline for cardiovascular health, especially important for GLP-1s.

Fasting Glucose & HbA1c

₱200-600 (glucose), ₱600-1,200 (A1c)

Why: Blood sugar control. HbA1c shows 3-month average. Track metabolic improvement on GLP-1s.

Thyroid Panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4)

₱1,200-2,500

Why: Thyroid controls metabolism and energy. Low thyroid mimics fatigue from peptides.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

₱500-1,000

Why: Inflammatory marker. Track inflammation reduction over time.

Total baseline cost: Roughly ₱4,000-8,000 for the full panel. Some labs offer bundled packages that reduce the per-test cost.

Compound-Specific Monitoring

Different peptides need different monitoring. Add these to your baseline panel depending on what you're running.

GLP-1 Agonists (Sema, Tirz, Reta)

Tests: Baseline panel (above) + lipase/amylase if concerned about pancreatitis risk

Timing: Baseline, then retest at 3 months (glucose, A1c, lipids), then every 6 months

Watch for: Improved A1c (should drop), improved lipids (LDL down, HDL stable or up), stable liver/kidney function

Growth Hormone Secretagogues (CJC, Ipa, MK-677)

Tests: IGF-1 (the main marker for GH response), fasting glucose (GH can affect insulin sensitivity)

Timing: Baseline IGF-1, retest at 4-6 weeks to see if it's elevated, then every 3-6 months

Cost: IGF-1 test ₱1,500-3,000

Watch for: IGF-1 should increase (target upper-normal range). Glucose should stay stable. If glucose creeps up, insulin sensitivity may be affected.

Healing Peptides (BPC-157, TB-500)

Tests: Baseline panel is enough. These dont typically affect bloodwork markers.

Timing: Baseline before starting, optional retest after protocol if you want peace of mind

Watch for: Stable liver/kidney function. No red flags.

General Recommendation

Liver enzymes (ALT, AST): Monitor if running multiple peptides or long-term protocols

Kidney function (creatinine, BUN): Check every 6-12 months on any peptide

CBC: Annually or if you feel off (fatigue, weakness)

Typical Monitoring Schedule

Baseline (before starting)

Full panel: CBC, CMP, lipids, glucose, A1c, thyroid, CRP. Add compound-specific tests.

4-6 weeks in

Compound-specific (e.g., IGF-1 for GH peptides). Optional liver/kidney check if running high doses.

3 months

Glucose, A1c, lipids (for GLP-1s). Liver/kidney if concerned. IGF-1 if running GH.

6 months

Full panel repeat. See how markers have changed. Adjust protocol if needed.

Annually

Full panel maintenance check. Even if feeling fine, confirm nothing is drifting.

How to Get Bloodwork in the Philippines

In the Philippines, you can walk into most diagnostic labs and request bloodwork directly. No doctor referral needed for most standard panels. This makes it easy to monitor your own health.

Types of labs:

▸Hospital-based labs: Attached to major hospitals (PGH, St. Luke's, Makati Med, etc.). Reliable, sometimes more expensive. Good for comprehensive panels.
▸Standalone diagnostic centers: Chains like Hi-Precision, MedExpress, HealthWay. More affordable, widely available, fast turnaround. Good for routine monitoring.

What to do:

1.Walk into the lab (most accept walk-ins, some allow online booking)
2.Tell them what tests you want (e.g., "CBC, CMP, lipid panel, A1c")
3.They give you a quote. Pay upfront.
4.Blood draw (fasting required for glucose, lipids, CMP — usually 8-12 hours)
5.Results in 1-3 days (faster for common tests, longer for specialty like IGF-1)

Rough costs for common panels (PHP):

▸Basic metabolic panel: ₱800-1,500
▸CBC: ₱300-800
▸Lipid panel: ₱500-1,200
▸A1c: ₱600-1,200
▸Thyroid panel: ₱1,200-2,500
▸IGF-1: ₱1,500-3,000

Prices vary by lab and location. Metro Manila tends to be slightly more expensive than provincial labs. Bundled wellness packages (offered by many diagnostic centers) can reduce per-test cost.

PH Lab Landscape

Unlike some countries where you need a doctor to order every lab, the Philippines gives you direct access. Use this. Monitor yourself. If a doctor wants to interpret your results, great. But you dont need to wait for a clinic to approve bloodwork orders.

Reading Your Results (Basic Framing)

Lab reports show reference ranges. Most labs use population averages (e.g., fasting glucose 70-100 mg/dL is "normal"). But optimal is often tighter than normal.

What to look for (trends matter more than single snapshots):

▸Glucose/A1c: Lower is better (within reason). Fasting glucose under 90, A1c under 5.5% is optimal.
▸Lipids: LDL lower, HDL higher. Triglycerides under 100. Watch ratios (total chol/HDL, trig/HDL).
▸Liver enzymes (ALT, AST): Should stay in range. Rising trend = potential liver stress.
▸Kidney (creatinine): Stable is good. Rising creatinine = kidney stress.
▸IGF-1: Should increase on GH peptides. Target upper-normal range for age.
▸CRP: Lower = less inflammation. Target under 1.0 mg/L.

This is not medical interpretation. If you see concerning values, work with a doctor to understand them. But tracking trends yourself (is my A1c dropping? are my lipids improving?) gives you feedback on whether your protocol is working.

This is not medical advice. Bloodwork guidelines are educational. Work with a qualified healthcare professional to interpret your results and make protocol decisions.

For compound-specific bloodwork recommendations, check the compound library. For side effect monitoring, see the side effect guide.