The labs that guide peptide therapy
IGF-1, hs-CRP, HbA1c and friends — what a Peptide Readiness Panel reads and why each marker earns its place.
Peptide science6 min read
“Your labs decide your protocol” only means something if you know what the labs are. A peptide-focused panel isn’t a random blood draw — each marker maps to a system peptides act on, or a safety gate that can rule a protocol out.
The growth-hormone axis: IGF-1
IGF-1 is the durable readout of growth-hormone activity. A value below the optimal range for your age is the kind of signal that points toward growth-hormone-axis support — and the marker your clinician re-checks (often around week 12) to see whether a protocol is working.
Inflammation + metabolism
hs-CRP flags systemic inflammation, which shapes recovery and gut-focused decisions. HbA1c, fasting glucose and fasting insulin describe metabolic health — relevant both to what’s appropriate and to safety, since some protocols interact with glucose control.
The safety gates
Liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and thyroid markers can change the plan. An elevated ALT, for instance, can put growth-hormone-axis peptides on hold until it’s worked up. These markers aren’t there to pad the panel — they’re the difference between a protocol that’s appropriate and one that isn’t.