The Science
Why your blood results
mean more than you think.
Standard blood tests were designed to detect disease in hospital settings. InnerMe uses functional medicine principles to evaluate your biology for optimal health — a meaningfully different question.
01
Optimal is not the same as Normal.
NHS reference ranges are calculated from the middle 95% of the general population — which includes people who are tired, overweight, sedentary, and mildly unwell. A result within this range means you're not in the bottom 2.5%. That's a low bar.
Functional optimal ranges are calibrated to the values associated with peak physiological performance — the levels at which your thyroid, liver, cardiovascular system, and immune function operate at their best. They're narrower, more demanding, and more informative.
A result can be within NHS range and simultaneously outside the functional optimal range — and that gap often explains symptoms that have no conventional diagnosis.
TSH (Thyroid)
NHS Range
0.27–4.2 mIU/L
Functional Optimal
1.0–2.0 mIU/L
Upper NHS range includes compensated thyroid dysfunction
Vitamin D
NHS Range
>50 nmol/L
Functional Optimal
100–150 nmol/L
Sufficiency vs optimality: a 2× difference
Ferritin
NHS Range
15–300 ug/L
Functional Optimal
50–233 ug/L
15 ug/L may cause fatigue; functional lower limit is 50
02
How composite risk scores are calculated.
A single out-of-range biomarker is a flag. A pattern across multiple biomarkers is a risk signal. Our engine evaluates combinations — not individual values — because that's how physiology actually works.
Biomarkers are translated
Your Acculabs biomarker codes are translated to canonical names and matched against functional optimal ranges. Each value receives a status: Low, Below Optimal, Optimal, Above Optimal, or High.
Pattern matching
Each risk domain defines a specific combination of biomarkers and weighted scoring rules. A score is only calculated when sufficient markers are available — preventing spurious results from incomplete panels.
Score & tier assignment
Scores run 0–100. Each maps to a tier: Low (0–19), Moderate (20–39), Elevated (40–59), or High (60–100). Insufficient data is shown explicitly rather than hidden or estimated.
Low
0–19 / 100
Within functional optimal range. No action required.
Moderate
20–39 / 100
Mild patterns. Monitor and consider lifestyle adjustments.
Elevated
40–59 / 100
Notable patterns. Supplement or lifestyle intervention recommended.
High
60–100 / 100
Significant patterns. Clinical review and targeted intervention advised.
03
Clinical oversight is built in.
When results meet clinical escalation thresholds, they are flagged before anything else in the report — with specific guidance, the relevant clinical context, and emergency contact information where appropriate.
CRITICAL results trigger an immediate clinical alert notification. The patient-facing report and the clinician-facing version use different language — patient language is supportive and clear; clinician language is technically precise and report-ready.
Results requiring immediate clinical attention. Surfaced first in your report with specific emergency guidance. Clinical alert email sent.
Results requiring prompt review. Highlighted as a dismissible banner. Recommend GP consultation within 48–72 hours.
Results outside optimal ranges that warrant monitoring. Shown as an informational notice. No immediate action required.
04
All 32 risk domains.
Each domain is scored independently. Not every domain is included in every panel — coverage depends on the biomarkers measured.
| Risk Domain | Body System | Markers | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiometabolic Longevity Risk | Longevity / Cardio | 5 | Complex |
| Cardiovascular Function Risk | Cardiovascular | 5 | Complex |
| Inflammation Risk | Immune | 2 | Simple |
| Gut Inflammation Risk | Digestive / Immune | 2 | Simple |
| Thyroid Dysfunction Risk | Endocrine | 3 | Simple |
| Liver Function Risk | Hepatic | 7 | Moderate |
| Kidney Function Risk | Renal | 3 | Moderate |
| Fatigue & Burnout Risk | Performance / Recovery | 6 | Moderate |
| Adrenal Stress Risk | Endocrine | 2 | Moderate |
| Mood & Stress Vulnerability Risk | Neuroendocrine | 3 | Moderate |
| Neurological Function Risk | Neurological | 4 | Moderate |
| Cognitive Nutrient Deficiency | Cognitive | 3 | Moderate |
| Gastrointestinal Function Risk | Digestive | 4 | Moderate |
| Bone Metabolism Risk | Skeletal | 3 | Moderate |
| Bone Nutrient Deficiency | Structural | 3 | Moderate |
| Immune Balance Risk | Immune | 3 | Moderate |
| Immune Suppression Risk (Athlete) | Performance / Immune | 3 | Moderate |
| Autoimmune Tendency Risk | Immune / Endocrine | 4 | Moderate |
| Haematological Function Risk | Haematology | 3 | Moderate |
| Global Micronutrient Deficiency | General | 4 | Moderate |
| RED-S Risk | Performance / Endocrine | 4 | Complex |
| Sex Hormone Balance Risk | Endocrine | 2 | Moderate |
| Mitochondrial Efficiency Risk | Metabolic / Cellular | 5 | Moderate |
| Oxidative Stress Risk | Cellular / Ageing | 4 | Moderate |
| Connective Tissue Integrity Risk | Structural | 4 | Moderate |
| Longevity Risk | Longevity | 9 | Complex |
| Overreaching / Overtraining Risk | Performance | 3 | Moderate |
| Recovery Inefficiency Risk | Performance / Recovery | 4 | Moderate |
| Heat & Hydration Stress Risk | Performance / Hydration | 2 | Simple |
| Electrolyte Depletion | Hydration | 1 | Simple |
| Iron Deficiency | Energy / Oxygen | 3 | Simple |
| Gallbladder & Biliary Function Risk | Hepatic / Digestive | 4 | Moderate |
Ready to see your risk scores?
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