Over the past few years, I’ve overhauled my health. How I feel day to day has been my biggest indicator — but comprehensive lab testing has been a close second.

Typically, I get blood work through an annual physical with a nurse practitioner. Separately, I work with a functional medicine doctor for hormone testing.

In the past, annual lab tests have totaled about $2,500, and even with insurance, my out-of-pocket cost has been roughly $600.

So when I heard about a new direct-to-consumer lab test membership called Superpower, I was intrigued.

The promise: 100+ lab markers, personalized analysis, and recommendations for $200 a year.

What I Learned About My Health

Direct-to-consumer lab test: A Superpower reviewAfter signing up, I went to the nearest Quest Diagnostics lab for my blood draw. The process was simple, and within three days, my results were ready.

What followed was a comprehensive look at my health.

Starting with the big picture, Superpower’s high-level assessment was cause for celebration.

  • Biological age: 46! — seven years younger than my actual age of 53
  • Overall Superpower health score: 89 — a solid B+
  • Most biomarkers: In the normal or optimal range

Seeing nearly everything on track was reassuring and confirmed that the work I’ve been doing is paying off.

What Superpower Tests

Superpower analyzed 105 biomarkers, including:

  • Iron and mineral levels
  • Thyroid markers
  • Sex hormones
  • Heart health and cholesterol markers
  • Diabetes risk indicators such as glucose and A1C
  • Cortisol and inflammation markers
  • Red and white blood cell counts
  • And many more

I happened to have an appointment with my nurse practitioner a few days after receiving the results. She remarked how comprehensive the panel was and said she would only add two tests that weren’t included: progesterone and B12. Both are available tests through Superpower for additional cost.

The Good News

The results confirmed that many key areas of my health are trending in a positive direction:

  • Iron levels
  • Thyroid markers
  • Sex hormones, including estradiol, DHEA, and testosterone
  • HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides
  • Glucose and A1C
  • Vitamin markers
  • Inflammation markers

There were also many markers I don’t fully understand — but Superpower’s AI chat feature made it easy to ask questions and learn more.

What Could Improve

Not everything was peachy. Superpower flagged my top health priority.

Cholesterol Markers

  • LDL and non-HDL cholesterol came in slightly above optimal.

Superpower suggested a few changes:

  • Reduce saturated fat from sources like coconut oil, butter, and fatty red meat (which I rarely eat)
  • Increase fiber through diet or supplements
  • Bump up aerobic exercise
  • Consider red yeast rice and/or CoQ10 supplements

The results left me wondering about my source of saturated fat. I do consume ghee and pork, which could be contributing factors. That said, my nurse practitioner noted that my elevated LDL may be more genetic than diet-related.

Superpower AI Chat

Other Areas to Watch

  • eGFR: 74 — uSggesting slightly reduced kidney filtration compared to the optimal range
  • Estradiol: 53 pg/mL — Lower than the therapeutic window for symptom control
  • Free testosterone: Low, though I hadn’t taken testosterone for three days prior to testing

I’m currently on an estradiol patch and had been taking DIM to support estrogen metabolism, as recommended by my functional medicine doctor. Based on these results, it appears DIM may be pushing my estrogen levels too low.

Health Steps Going Forward

Based on these findings, I plan to:

  • Pay closer attention to sources of saturated fat and increase fiber intake
  • Stop taking DIM so estradiol and testosterone levels are not further reduced

My nurse practitioner also noticed something Superpower didn’t emphasize — my cortisol level.

  • Cortisol: 14.7 — higher than her preferred range of under 13

I typically take adrenal cortex and an adaptogen to support cortisol but didn’t take them leading up to the test, which may explain the elevated result.

What’s Cool About Superpower

Superpower gave me a pretty complete look at my health for lower cost:

  • I received 105 biomarkers for significantly less than I usually pay
  • The results uncovered a few things I wasn’t aware of regarding cholesterol and hormone health
  • The AI chat feature allowed me to ask detailed “why” and “what” questions
  • Results were compared against a detailed health questionnaire and my long-term goals
  • Superpower could serve as an affordable mid-year health check-in, especially since I only see my practitioners once a year

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for affordable, comprehensive blood work without high lab fees, Superpower offers a robust view of your health. It doesn’t replace working with a practitioner — but it can be a powerful tool for staying informed and proactive between visits.

For me, it confirmed progress, highlighted a few blind spots, and provided clear next steps, all at a fraction of what I typically spend.

Disclosure: As a health writer, I received a free membership, but my review is an honest reflection of my experience.