Bryan Johnson Protocol

Bryan Johnson has become the world's most famous biohacker. His Netflix documentary Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever brought his radical anti-ageing protocol into the mainstream, and suddenly everyone is asking the same question: what blood tests does Bryan Johnson actually do?

The answer is a lot. Johnson tracks over 100 biomarkers through regular blood draws, MRIs, ultrasounds, and more. But here is what most people miss — the blood tests are not the expensive part. The gene therapies, stem cell injections, and hyperbaric oxygen sessions cost tens of thousands. The blood work that forms the foundation of his entire protocol? That is something anyone in the UK can access today.

This guide breaks down every Bryan Johnson blood test, compares his optimal targets to standard NHS ranges, and shows you exactly which tests you can replicate from home — without the $2 million annual budget.

Who Is Bryan Johnson?

Bryan Johnson is a 47-year-old American tech entrepreneur who sold his payments company Braintree (parent of Venmo) to PayPal for $800 million in 2013. Since 2021, he has dedicated his life — and fortune — to a single mission he calls "Don't Die".

His protocol, named Blueprint, is a meticulously data-driven system designed to slow, halt, and reverse biological ageing. Johnson employs a team of more than 30 doctors and health professionals who monitor every organ in his body around the clock. He takes over 100 supplements and pills daily, follows a strict 2,250-calorie plant-heavy diet, and undergoes experimental treatments most people have never heard of.

The results he publishes are remarkable. He claims the bones of a 30-year-old and the heart of a 37-year-old. His biological age tests consistently show him ageing slower than 99% of the population. But at the foundation of everything — before the rapamycin debates, the young blood transfusions, and the Netflix cameras — is one thing: regular, comprehensive blood testing.

As Johnson himself puts it: instead of doing a whole bunch of positive things to address negative things, focus first on stopping the negative things. Blood tests are how you find out what is going wrong before symptoms ever appear.

Bryan Johnson's Blood Test Panel: The Full List

Johnson's Blueprint Advanced Panel tests 108 biomarkers across blood and urine. His personal protocol goes even further, with additional specialised tests. Below is the comprehensive breakdown of his blood biomarkers, grouped by category.

Cardiovascular & Lipid Panel

Biomarker	Why He Tests It
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)	The single best predictor of cardiovascular risk. Johnson calls this "the most important heart marker."
Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]	Genetically determined heart risk factor. Cannot be changed by lifestyle — but crucial to know.
LDL Cholesterol	Traditional cardiovascular marker. Johnson's average: 35 mg/dL (0.9 mmol/L) — extremely low.
HDL Cholesterol	"Good" cholesterol. His average: 55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L).
Total Cholesterol	Broad lipid marker. His average: 101 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L).
Triglycerides	Metabolic and cardiovascular marker. His average: 42 mg/dL (0.47 mmol/L).
LDL Particle Number & Size	Advanced lipid fractionation — small dense LDL particles are more dangerous than large ones.
Omega-3 Index / Omega-6:3 Ratio	Fatty acid balance — linked to inflammation and heart health.

Metabolic Health

Biomarker	Why He Tests It
HbA1c	3-month average blood sugar. His result: 5.0% — excellent glucose control.
Fasting Glucose	Point-in-time blood sugar measurement. His result: 103 mg/dL (5.7 mmol/L).
Fasting Insulin	Insulin sensitivity marker — possibly the most underrated metabolic test. His result: 2.8 uIU/mL.
Homocysteine	Cardiovascular and cognitive risk marker linked to B-vitamin status.
Uric Acid	Metabolic marker linked to gout, kidney function, and cardiovascular risk.

Inflammation

Biomarker	Why He Tests It
High-Sensitivity CRP (hsCRP)	Best general marker of systemic inflammation. His result: 0.18 mg/L — near-zero inflammation.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)	White blood cell differentials reveal immune status, infections, and chronic inflammation.

Hormones

Biomarker	Why He Tests It
Testosterone (Free & Total)	Muscle, mood, energy, and longevity. His average: 703–748 ng/dL (naturally, no TRT).
DHEA-Sulfate	Adrenal health and ageing marker. His result: 353 ug/dL — youthful range.
IGF-1	Growth hormone marker. Too high accelerates ageing; too low impairs repair. His result: 106 ng/mL.
Cortisol	Stress hormone — chronic elevation drives inflammation and metabolic damage.
SHBG, Estradiol, FSH, LH, Prolactin	Full hormonal picture for understanding testosterone metabolism and pituitary function.
Thyroid (TSH, Free T3, Free T4)	Metabolism, energy, and weight regulation. Even subclinical thyroid issues accelerate ageing.

Liver Function

Biomarker	Why He Tests It
ALT, AST, GGT	Liver enzymes reveal damage before symptoms appear. His GGT: 7.5 U/L (exceptionally low).
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)	Liver and bone health marker.
Albumin, Total Protein, Globulin	Liver synthetic function and nutritional status.
Bilirubin	Liver processing marker. Mildly elevated bilirubin may actually be protective (antioxidant).

Kidney Function

Biomarker	Why He Tests It
Creatinine & eGFR	Core kidney filtration markers. Especially important when taking metformin and other medications.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)	Protein metabolism and kidney health indicator.
Microalbumin (Urine)	Detects early kidney damage years before symptoms appear.

Vitamins & Minerals

Biomarker	Why He Tests It
Vitamin D	Immune function, bone health, mood. His result: 134 ng/mL (elevated from hyperbaric O2 therapy).
Vitamin B12	Nervous system and DNA function. His result: 1,815 pg/mL — well above average.
Folate	DNA repair and methylation. Critical alongside B12 for homocysteine management.
Ferritin & Iron Panel	Iron storage and transport. His ferritin: 20 ng/mL — deliberately kept low (excess iron accelerates ageing).
Magnesium, Zinc, Calcium	Essential minerals for hundreds of enzymatic processes, sleep, and muscle function.

Bryan Johnson's Target Ranges vs NHS "Normal" Ranges

One of the most important lessons from Johnson's protocol is that "normal" is not the same as "optimal". NHS reference ranges represent the middle 95% of the tested population. That includes people who are overweight, sedentary, and pre-diabetic. Johnson aims for the top 1%.

Biomarker	NHS "Normal" Range	Bryan Johnson Target	His Actual Result
ApoB	< 1.2 g/L (120 mg/dL)	< 60 mg/dL	52 mg/dL
LDL Cholesterol	< 3.0 mmol/L	< 1.4 mmol/L (54 mg/dL)	0.9 mmol/L (35 mg/dL)
HbA1c	< 42 mmol/mol (6.0%)	< 5.2% (33 mmol/mol)	5.0% (31 mmol/mol)
Fasting Insulin	2–25 uIU/mL	< 5 uIU/mL	2.8 uIU/mL
hsCRP	< 5 mg/L	< 0.5 mg/L	0.18 mg/L
Triglycerides	< 1.7 mmol/L	< 0.7 mmol/L	0.47 mmol/L (42 mg/dL)
Testosterone	8.6–29 nmol/L	> 20 nmol/L (600+ ng/dL)	25.9 nmol/L (748 ng/dL)
Vitamin D	> 25 nmol/L (10 ng/mL)	100–150 nmol/L (40–60 ng/mL)	335 nmol/L (134 ng/mL)*
Ferritin	30–400 ug/L (men)	30–60 ug/L	20 ug/L
GGT	< 50 U/L	< 15 U/L	7.5 U/L

*Johnson's Vitamin D is unusually high due to 60+ hyperbaric oxygen sessions. Most longevity physicians recommend 100–150 nmol/L (40–60 ng/mL) for optimal health.

The gap between NHS "normal" and Johnson's optimal is striking. An HbA1c of 41 mmol/mol (5.9%) would not even be flagged by your GP — but Johnson would consider it a metabolic red flag requiring immediate intervention. The same applies to an ApoB of 100 mg/dL — perfectly "normal" on the NHS, but double Johnson's target.

Which Bryan Johnson Tests Can You Do in the UK?

The good news: the vast majority of Johnson's core blood biomarkers are available through home blood testing in the UK. You do not need to visit a clinic, wait for a GP referral, or fly to a US lab.

Peak Insights 70 from Lola Health covers 70 biomarkers in a single home finger-prick test, including the key markers from Johnson's protocol:

Bryan Johnson Category	Key Markers Covered	Peak Insights 70
Cardiovascular / Lipids	ApoB, Total Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides	✓
Metabolic	HbA1c, Fasting Glucose, Fasting Insulin	✓
Inflammation	hsCRP	✓
Hormones	Testosterone, DHEA-S, Cortisol, Thyroid (TSH, T3, T4)	✓
Liver Function	ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, Albumin, Bilirubin	✓
Kidney Function	Creatinine, eGFR, Urea	✓
Vitamins & Minerals	Vitamin D, B12, Folate, Ferritin, Iron	✓
Blood Count	Full CBC with differentials	✓

For a more focused starting point, Core Health 45 covers 45 biomarkers including the essentials: full lipid panel, HbA1c, liver and kidney function, thyroid, vitamins, and iron studies.

The 10 Most Important Tests from Bryan Johnson's Protocol

Johnson tests everything. You do not have to. If you are starting from scratch, these are the 10 biomarkers that deliver the most actionable health insight per pound spent, ranked by impact.

1. ApoB — The single best predictor of heart attack and stroke risk. Far more accurate than total cholesterol or LDL alone. Johnson's cardiologist confirmed ApoB at 52 mg/dL, which represents exceptional cardiovascular protection. If you test one thing, test this.
2. HbA1c — Your 3-month blood sugar average. Detects insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk years before a fasting glucose test would. Johnson maintains 5.0% — aim for below 5.5%.
3. Fasting Insulin — Possibly the most underrated blood test in existence. NHS does not routinely test it, but elevated insulin is one of the earliest markers of metabolic dysfunction. Johnson's 2.8 uIU/mL indicates exceptional insulin sensitivity.
4. hsCRP — Systemic inflammation marker. Chronic low-grade inflammation drives heart disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Johnson's 0.18 mg/L represents near-zero inflammation. Aim for below 1.0 mg/L.
5. Liver Function (ALT, GGT) — Your liver processes everything you consume. Elevated ALT and GGT are early warning signs for fatty liver disease, which affects 1 in 3 UK adults. Johnson's GGT of 7.5 U/L is remarkably low.
6. Vitamin D — Over 40% of UK adults are deficient, especially in winter. Linked to immunity, bone density, mood, and cancer risk. Aim for 75–150 nmol/L (30–60 ng/mL).
7. Testosterone (Total & Free) — Not just a "male hormone." Affects muscle mass, bone density, mood, and metabolic health in both men and women. Johnson maintains naturally high levels at 748 ng/dL without TRT.
8. Ferritin — Johnson deliberately keeps his ferritin low at 20 ng/mL because excess stored iron generates free radicals that accelerate ageing. The NHS "normal" range goes up to 400 — longevity researchers consider anything above 100 as worth investigating.
9. Thyroid (TSH, Free T3, Free T4) — Even subclinical thyroid dysfunction causes fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and accelerated ageing. The NHS only tests TSH — Johnson tests the full panel for a complete picture.
10. Homocysteine — Elevated homocysteine is linked to cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and B-vitamin deficiency. Easy to fix with B12 and folate supplementation once you know your level.

How Often Should You Test?

Bryan Johnson gets comprehensive blood draws every 3 to 6 months, with some markers tested monthly when he is running experiments. His team of 30+ doctors reviews every result in real time.

For the rest of us, here is a practical testing schedule:

Frequency	Who It Is For	What to Test
Every 3 months	Active optimisers making lifestyle or supplement changes	Full panel (70 biomarkers) to track response to interventions
Every 6 months	Health-conscious individuals wanting to stay ahead of problems	Comprehensive panel with trend tracking
Annually	Minimum recommended for all adults over 30	Core panel (45 biomarkers) as a health baseline

The key insight from Johnson's approach is that a single blood test is a snapshot, but regular testing reveals trends. A fasting glucose of 5.4 mmol/L is fine in isolation. But if it was 4.8 six months ago and 5.1 three months ago, you have a clear upward trend worth addressing now — long before a diabetes diagnosis.

What You Can Replicate Without $2 Million Per Year

Let us be honest about what you need and what you do not.

What You Do NOT Need

• A team of 30 doctors — Johnson's clinical team costs hundreds of thousands annually. A comprehensive blood panel with clear results and reference ranges gives you 80% of the insight.
• Gene therapy and stem cell injections — experimental, expensive, and evidence is still emerging.
• Off-label prescription drugs — Johnson takes metformin (2,000mg) and acarbose (400mg) daily for anti-ageing purposes. These are prescription medications with side effects and should only be considered under medical supervision. He stopped rapamycin in 2024 after side effects including infections and elevated heart rate.
• Hyperbaric oxygen chambers — Johnson has done 60+ sessions. Promising but not practical for most people.
• 100+ daily supplements — Johnson takes over 100 pills per day. Evidence-based longevity physicians typically recommend 5–10 targeted supplements based on your blood work.

What You CAN and SHOULD Replicate

• Regular comprehensive blood testing — this is the foundation of everything Johnson does, and it is accessible to everyone. A 70-biomarker panel costs a fraction of a GP visit and gives you far more data.
• Tracking trends, not just snapshots — test every 3–6 months and watch how your markers change over time.
• Aiming for optimal, not just "normal" — do not settle for a GP saying "everything looks fine." An ApoB of 100 mg/dL is "normal" but associated with significant cardiovascular risk.
• Evidence-based lifestyle changes — Johnson's diet (2,250 calories, 130g protein, plant-heavy), exercise (150+ minutes moderate cardio plus strength training), and sleep (7–8 hours, consistent schedule) are all free.
• Targeted supplementation based on data — instead of taking 100 pills, test your levels first. Low vitamin D? Supplement vitamin D. Normal B12? Save your money. Let your blood work guide you.

The core principle of Johnson's protocol is not spending $2 million — it is making decisions based on data, not guesswork. A comprehensive blood test is the most cost-effective health intervention available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Bryan Johnson's protocol includes prescription medications and experimental treatments that should only be undertaken with medical supervision. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine. Blood test results should be interpreted by a healthcare provider.