What Labs Are Included in an Annual Physical?

Reviewed by the Evolve Health clinical team · 2026-10-16 · 7 min read

"Is blood work included, or is that extra?" "Do I have to fast?" "Will my insurance cover the labs, or just the visit?" These are the questions our front desk hears every week from people booking a physical — and they are fair questions, because every clinic assembles its panel a little differently. This guide walks through the exact panel, what each test is actually looking at, and the two ways the list gets built depending on whether you are paying yourself or using insurance.

The standard panel: seven tests, in plain English

These seven make up the core panel. Together they give your clinician a baseline picture of your blood, your metabolism, your heart risk, and how your major organs are doing — the numbers every future visit gets compared against.

One important framing: every one of these is a screening test. A result outside the reference range is a clue to look closer, not a verdict — your clinician reads each number against your history, your medications, and your prior results before drawing any conclusion.

Self-pay vs. insurance: how your lab list gets decided

The panel above is the starting point either way. What differs is how the final list is set:

• Self-pay: the $150 annual physical includes the full lab panel — all seven areas — for one flat price, with no separate lab bill. It is the simplest way to get a complete baseline.
• With insurance: your annual physical is often $0 with acceptable insurance, and your clinician orders the labs that fit you — your age, family history, prior results, medications, and risk factors. A healthy 28-year-old and a 58-year-old with a family history of diabetes will not get identical lists, and that tailoring is deliberate: it keeps your testing useful and your coverage straightforward.

Either way, you never have to guess about coverage. Before your visit, we verify your coverage free from your insurance card, photo ID, and date of birth — and we give you the answer before you come in, not after. Our guide to the $0 physical explains how the preventive-versus-diagnostic distinction works if you want the details.

Tests your clinician may add — and why

Some useful tests are not part of the standard panel because they only make sense for certain people. Your clinician may recommend adding:

• Vitamin D — commonly low, and worth checking with fatigue, bone concerns, or limited sun exposure.
• Vitamin B12 — relevant with fatigue, certain diets, or specific medications.
• Ferritin (iron stores) — a closer look at iron when the CBC or your symptoms suggest it.
• Hepatitis C screening — a one-time blood screening recommended for most adults.
• STI screening — confidential testing based on your history and risk; see our labs & screening page for what is available.

The rule for add-ons is simple: a test earns its place when there is a question it can answer for you specifically. And if you are self-pay, any added test is priced and discussed before it is run — you always decide first.

Do you need to fast?

For two parts of the panel — blood sugar and cholesterol — yes: plan on 8 to 12 hours with no food before your blood draw. Water is not just allowed, it helps: being hydrated makes the draw quicker and easier. A morning appointment makes fasting almost effortless, since most of the window is just sleep — and our clinic opens at 7 AM on weekdays, so you can be drawn early and have breakfast right after. If you take morning medications, ask us when you book whether to take them as usual. And if you forget and eat, don't cancel — tell us when you arrive; many tests are unaffected, and we will tell you honestly which ones are worth redoing fasting.

After the draw: making sense of your results

Your blood is drawn right at the clinic during your visit, and most routine results come back within a few business days. Our clinical team reviews every result before you hear from us, and we contact you with what your numbers mean and what — if anything — happens next. When your results land and you are staring at a page of numbers and reference ranges, two of our guides walk through them line by line: Your Numbers, Explained decodes A1C, blood pressure, TSH, and cholesterol in plain language, and Understanding Your Lab Results shows you how to read the result report itself — flags, ranges, and all.

Frequently asked questions

What labs are included in an annual physical at Evolve Health?

The standard panel covers seven areas: a complete blood count (CBC), a cholesterol (lipid) panel, blood sugar testing (glucose and A1C), a thyroid test (TSH), liver function tests, kidney function tests, and a urinalysis. If you are self-pay, the $150 annual physical includes this full panel. If you are using insurance, your physical is often $0 with acceptable insurance, and your clinician orders the labs that fit your age, history, and risk — so your list may be a little shorter or longer.

How much do the labs cost if I don't have insurance?

At Evolve Health, the self-pay annual physical is $150, and that price includes the full lab panel — CBC, cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, liver, kidney, and urine testing. There is no separate bill for those standard labs. If your clinician recommends an additional test, we will tell you the price before it is run, so you can decide first.

Do I need to fast before my annual physical labs?

For the blood sugar and cholesterol tests, yes — plan on 8 to 12 hours with no food before your draw. Water is fine, and staying hydrated actually makes the blood draw easier. If you take morning medications, ask us when you book whether to take them as usual. If you forget and eat breakfast, tell us: many tests can still be run, and we will let you know which ones are worth rescheduling.

What does each test in the panel actually check?

In plain terms: the CBC looks at your red cells, white cells, and platelets — it can flag anemia or signs of infection. The lipid panel measures cholesterol and triglycerides, which relate to heart risk. Glucose and A1C check blood sugar now and over the past two to three months. TSH checks how your thyroid is working. Liver and kidney tests check how well those organs are doing their jobs, and the urinalysis looks at kidney and urinary health. Each result is a screening clue your clinician reads alongside your history — not a diagnosis on its own.

Can I add tests like vitamin D or B12 to my physical?

Often, yes. Tests such as vitamin D, B12, and ferritin — and screenings such as hepatitis C or STI testing — are added when your history, symptoms, or risk factors point that way, because a test is most useful when there is a question it can answer. Your clinician will talk through what makes sense for you, and if you are self-pay, any added test is priced and discussed before it is run.

How do I get my results, and what if a number is out of range?

Your blood is drawn during your visit at the clinic, and most routine results come back within a few business days. Our clinical team reviews every result, and we contact you with what your numbers mean and what happens next — not just a printout. A single number slightly outside the reference range is common and often not a problem; your clinician reads it against your prior results and your overall health before recommending anything.

Sources

• MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — Laboratory Tests: what common blood and urine tests measure and how to prepare for them, including fasting guidance
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — A & B Recommendations: the evidence base for screening by age and risk, including lipid, diabetes, and hepatitis C screening
• HealthCare.gov — Preventive care benefits: how preventive services and screening labs are covered under most health plans

General education only: This article explains how annual physical labs generally work at Evolve Health. Which tests are right for you is a decision you and your clinician make together based on your history and your plan's coverage, and coverage is always confirmed for you individually before your visit.