Source comparison
TB-500 Research Bloodwork to Track — Comparison of Testing Approaches
IGF-1 115–300 ng/mL Growth factor signaling, angiogenesis proxy 10–25% increase from baseline by week 8 in responders Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 $50–$80 Most accessible angiogenesis marker. Prioritize this if budget is limited CRP (high-sensitivity) <3.
This comparison does not assign a generated winner or score.
- IGF-1
- 115–300 ng/mL
- Growth factor signaling, angiogenesis proxy
- 10–25% increase from baseline by week 8 in responders
- Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12
- $50–$80
- Most accessible angiogenesis marker. Prioritize this if budget is limited
- CRP (high-sensitivity)
- <3.0 mg/L
- Systemic inflammation
- Slight decrease if elevated at baseline; stable if normal
- Baseline, Week 8, Week 12
- $25–$40
- Tracks inflammation modulation; sharp spikes indicate unrelated pathology
- Creatine Kinase (CK)
- 30–200 U/L
- Muscle damage and recovery rate
- Faster return to baseline post-exercise at mid-protocol
- Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
- $20–$35
- Useful for training-concurrent protocols; separates peptide effect from exercise damage
- VEGF (plasma)
- 40–650 pg/mL
- Direct angiogenesis signaling
- 20–40% increase in responders (extrapolated from animal data)
- Baseline, Week 8
- $150–$300
- Gold standard but expensive. Reserve for well-funded studies
- MMP-9
- 300–600 ng/mL
- Extracellular matrix turnover
- Moderate elevation (600–800 ng/mL) indicates active remodeling
- $100–$180
- Confirms tissue remodeling phase; sustained elevation above 800 ng/mL may indicate over-activation