How to Measure

Every marker on this page can be measured, and most of them can be measured this week. Some need nothing but a tape measure and a calculator; some need a standard blood panel you may already have; a few need a scan. Each guide says which, up front, so you can tell in ten seconds whether it is available to you.

These are companions to our glossary: the glossary tells you what a term means, these tell you how to get your own number and what to do with it. Where a validated calculator exists, we point at one rather than reimplementing the arithmetic.

Disclaimer. These guides are for information only and do not replace medical advice. Reference ranges and cut-offs vary by laboratory, assay, age and sex — always read your own results with a qualified clinician.