Annual wellness blood panel

What this test is

An 'annual bloodwork' panel means many blood tests at once. This is often done once a year, even with no symptoms. Testing many things at once raises the odds that one result looks off. This can happen even when nothing is wrong. That can lead to more tests. It can also cause worry and cost, without helping you. This does not mean yearly bloodwork is never useful. Some tests, like cholesterol or blood sugar, are worth checking on a schedule. This is true if you have risk factors. Examples are high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease. The better plan is to pick tests based on your own risk. It is better than ordering everything every year by default.