Understand what your blood test is telling you.
Explore what biomarkers measure, why they matter, and how they fit into your long-term health.
Popular biomarkers
A measurable window into your body
A biomarker is a measurable indicator of what is happening inside the body. Individually, biomarkers provide useful information; together, they create a fuller picture.
Every biomarker is part of a bigger story. Testing is not about collecting numbers. It is about understanding your health.
That is why a licensed clinician reviews your results together and turns them into your personalised 90-day plan.
12 groups of markers across your body's systems
Pick a group to jump to the biomarkers in it.
Every biomarker we test
All 81 biomarkers across our programmes. Your programme, and your sex for some markers, decides which are in your test. Compare the programmes.
Tap a biomarker with an arrow to see what it measures. Explanations approved by MHCA's clinical team.
Full blood count
15
Haemoglobin
Measures the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells and helps identify anaemia or unusually high red blood cell levels.
Haematocrit
Shows what percentage of your blood is made up of red blood cells.
Red blood cell count
Measures the number of red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body.
White blood cell count
Measures cells involved in your immune system and response to infection and inflammation.
Platelet count
Blood cells that help your blood clot and stop bleeding.
MCV
Shows the average size of your red blood cells and can help distinguish different patterns of anaemia.
MCH
Shows the average amount of haemoglobin contained in each red blood cell.
MCHC
Shows how concentrated haemoglobin is inside your red blood cells.
RDW
Shows how much your red blood cells vary in size, which can provide clues about anaemia and nutrient deficiencies.
Neutrophils
White blood cells that play an important role in fighting infections, particularly bacterial infections.
Lymphocytes
White blood cells involved in immune defence, including responses to viruses and the production of antibodies.
Monocytes
Immune cells that help remove damaged cells and take part in the body's response to infection and inflammation.
Eosinophils
White blood cells that can increase with allergies, certain inflammatory conditions and some parasitic infections.
Basophils
A small group of white blood cells involved in allergic and inflammatory responses.
ESR
A general marker that can rise when inflammation is present somewhere in the body.
Blood sugar
3
Fasting glucose
Measures your blood sugar after fasting and helps assess how well your body is regulating glucose.
HbA1c
Shows your average blood sugar level over approximately the previous 2 to 3 months.
Fasting insulin
Measures how much insulin your body is producing while fasting and can help assess insulin resistance and metabolic health.
Thyroid
3
TSH
Measures the hormone that signals the thyroid gland and is commonly used as a first-line assessment of thyroid function.
Free T3
Measures the available form of T3, an active thyroid hormone involved in metabolism, energy and many body functions.
Free T4
Measures the available form of T4, the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland.
Heart
9
Total cholesterol
Measures the overall amount of cholesterol circulating in your blood.
HDL cholesterol
Measures cholesterol carried by HDL particles, which are involved in transporting cholesterol away from tissues.
LDL cholesterol
Measures cholesterol carried in LDL particles; higher levels can contribute to cholesterol buildup in artery walls.
- VLDL
Triglycerides
Measures a type of fat circulating in the blood that is influenced by diet, metabolism, alcohol use and insulin sensitivity.
- ApoB
- Lipoprotein(a)
- Homocysteine
hs-CRP
Measures low levels of inflammation and can also provide information used in assessing cardiovascular risk.
Liver
7
AST
An enzyme found in the liver and other tissues; raised levels can indicate cellular or tissue injury and are interpreted alongside other tests.
ALT
An enzyme found mainly in the liver that can rise when liver cells are irritated or damaged.
Total bilirubin
Measures a substance produced when red blood cells are broken down and provides information about liver, bile and red blood cell processing.
- Direct bilirubin
- Indirect bilirubin
- GGT
- ALP
Protein
4
Total protein
Measures protein in the blood and can provide information about nutritional status, liver function and other aspects of health.
- Albumin
- Globulin
- Albumin/globulin ratio
Kidneys
3
Creatinine
Measures a waste product filtered by the kidneys and is commonly used to assess kidney function.
Urea (BUN)
Measures a waste product produced when the body breaks down protein and helps provide information about kidney function and hydration.
Uric acid
Measures a waste product from purine metabolism; high levels can be associated with gout, kidney problems and metabolic health issues.
Electrolytes and minerals
7
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
Calcium
Measures calcium in the blood, which is important for bones, muscles, nerves and many cellular processes.
Phosphorus
Measures a mineral important for bones, energy production and normal cell function.
Magnesium
Measures a mineral involved in hundreds of processes including muscle, nerve, heart and energy function.
Zinc
Measures an essential mineral involved in immune function, wound healing, growth and many enzyme reactions.
Hormones and stress
10
- Total testosterone
- Free testosterone
- SHBG
- Oestradiol
- Progesterone
- FSH
- LH
- Prolactin
- DHEA-S
- Morning cortisol
Vitamins and iron
7
Vitamin D
Measures vitamin D status, which is important for bone health, muscle function, immune function and other body processes.
Vitamin B12
Measures a vitamin needed for healthy nerves, DNA production and normal red blood cell formation.
Folate
Measures vitamin B9 status, which is important for DNA production, cell division and healthy red blood cell formation.
- Ferritin
- Serum iron
- TIBC
- Transferrin saturation
Cancer markers
5
- PSA (men)
- CA 125 (women)
- CEA
- AFP
- CA 19-9
Urinalysis
8
Urine protein
Checks whether excess protein is passing into the urine, which can sometimes indicate kidney problems.
Urine glucose
Checks whether glucose is appearing in the urine.
Ketones
Shows whether the body is using significant amounts of fat rather than glucose for energy.
Blood
Detects blood or blood-related compounds in the urine and requires interpretation in context.
Leukocytes
Detects white blood cells that may appear with urinary inflammation or infection.
Nitrites
Can suggest the presence of certain bacteria associated with urinary tract infections.
Specific gravity
Shows how concentrated or dilute the urine is and provides information about hydration and kidney concentrating ability.
Urine pH
Measures how acidic or alkaline the urine is.
What your numbers can and cannot tell you
A blood test is most useful when you know how to read it. Four things to keep in mind when your report arrives.
Each result has a reference range
Your result is compared with a reference range: the values the laboratory expects for most healthy adults. Ranges can differ between laboratories and testing methods, so always read a result against the range it was reported with.
One result is a snapshot
A single result shows your body on the day of your test. A result outside the range is not a diagnosis on its own. It is a prompt to look closer, together with your other results and your Health Assessment.
Patterns tell the story
Biomarkers are most useful together. Your report explains each result in plain English and highlights the areas that need attention, so you are not left with a list of numbers.
Change over time matters most
Testing again shows how your biomarkers have changed. At day 90 you and our team review your progress, and you can book a repeat test to see the difference your 90-day plan has made.
A licensed clinician checks every report before you receive it. This page is educational and does not replace personalised medical advice.
Getting ready for your blood test
Fasting
Some packages require fasting. If your package includes fasting glucose or fasting insulin, fast for 8 to 12 hours and drink plain water only. We will confirm your preparation instructions before your appointment.
Your medicines
Please do not stop or change prescribed medication unless your own clinician has told you to. If you have a question about a medicine and your test, our clinical team can help.
Where we collect
Our testing service is for adults aged 18 and over. In Dar es Salaam, you can visit our collection location at 24B Uporoto Street, or arrange home or office collection. In Arusha, we currently offer home and office collection only.
Common questions about your biomarkers
Which biomarkers are in my package?
How soon will I get my results?
Will I get help understanding my results?
What if a result needs prompt attention?
Can I share my report with my own doctor?
Can I add extra tests?
Does AI replace a doctor?
More answers on our FAQ page.
Find out which of these you need.
The free Health Assessment takes 3 to 5 minutes and recommends the package that fits your goals, so you test what matters for you. Our team will then call you to talk it through.