Creatine Kinase
Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme found in skeletal muscle, heart, and brain that leaks into blood when these tissues are damaged. Elevations commonly follow strenuous exercise, trauma, or intramuscular injections, and can be seen with statin-related muscle injury, inflammatory myopathies, or rhabdomyolysis. Very high levels can cause kidney injury if untreated.
Optimal range: who says what
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for Creatine Kinase. How we verify ranges.
- General guidance, no named sourceWithin referenceNo separate optimal established. Hard training raises CK for days; interpret against your own baseline, not a universal target
- Lab reference intervalMen: 52-336 U/L, Women: 29-168 U/LWhat a lab report flags against. A lab interval is not an optimal target.
8 of 21 itemized panels
Advanced / Specialty Markers
Why Creatine Kinase matters
Elevated after intense exercise or muscle injury. Very high levels indicate rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) or heart attack. Useful for athletes.
Which Providers Test Creatine Kinase?
Cheapest: Mito Health at $297/year. Most comprehensive: Function Health, 160+ biomarkers for $365/year.
8 panels that include it, cheapest first
| Provider | Annual Cost | Total Biomarkers | $/Biomarker |
|---|---|---|---|
| $297 | 100+ | $2.97 | |
 Superpower | $349 | 100+ | $3.49 |
| $349 | 75+ | $4.65 | |
 Function Health | $365 | 160+ | $2.28 |
| $700 | 138 | $5.07 | |
| $829 | 54 | $15.35 | |
| $895 | 100+ | $8.95 | |
| $1950 | 130+ | $15.00 |
$/Biomarker is annual cost divided by the panel's advertised biomarker count, not the price of this one test. We track 23 blood test providers (32 plans); 21 of those plans are itemized marker by marker. Compare all of them.
13 itemized panels do not include Creatine Kinase
WHOOP Advanced Labs · Labcorp OnDemand · Life Extension Elite · Everlywell · Marek Health Base · Marek Health Comprehensive · Blueprint · Empirical Health · Oura Health Panels · SiPhox Health · Healthspan · Vitality Blueprint Standard · Ultrahuman Blood Vision Annual
11 providers not itemized in our matrix
We have not itemized these marker by marker (some sell tests one at a time), so this page cannot say whether they offer Creatine Kinase. Check with them directly.
Life Extension Standard · Quest Health · Ultrahuman Blood Vision · Lifeforce · Hundred Health · Personalabs · Walk-In Lab · HealthLabs · WHOOP Specialized Panels · Marek Health Essential · Vitality Blueprint Upload
Experts discussing Creatine Kinase
Podcast episodes where clinicians and researchers cover this marker in depth. Curated by hand; an episode is listed only when the marker is a substantial topic, not a passing mention.
- Dr. Andy Galpin: Maximize Recovery To Achieve Fitness & Performance GoalsDisclosure: Huberman Lab has been sponsored by Function Health, which appears in our blood-test comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal range for Creatine Kinase?
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for Creatine Kinase. General guidance without a named source: Within reference (No separate optimal established). Lab reference interval: Men: 52-336 U/L, Women: 29-168 U/L. That is what a lab report flags against, not an optimal target.
Which blood test providers include Creatine Kinase?
8 of the 21 blood testing panels we itemize marker by marker include Creatine Kinase in their panels. This biomarker is widely available across major providers.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Last reviewed Aug 26, 2026 · First published Sep 30, 2025