// THE VERGE — LINUX & OPEN SOURCE
They want your blood
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Health tech companies want data from your blood in return for a vague promise of a longer life.
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This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they’re going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here.
It’s an overcast Saturday morning when I give my 12th vial of blood for testing in six weeks. It’s my 24th this year. At this point, I feel like a pro. I schedule these blood draws first thing in the morning so I don’t get hangry, download the requisition papers ahead of time, avoid strenuous exercise for the 24 hours prior, and make sure to drink a glass of water beforehand so my teeny veins are easier for the phlebotomist to find.
In fairness, 12 of the 24 vials were ordered by my doctor to monitor ongoing treatment for a few metabolic issues. Eight were to feed my experimental digital twin. The last four are to test an app called Death Clock, which estimates when you’ll die based on your current health. Currently, the app says I’m going to die at 97 years old on Friday, October 5th, 2085.
For greatest accuracy, and to calculate my biological age, Death Clock offers a “free” blood panel with its $69 annual subscription. The app also offers various other optional, upsell panels recommended based on the health history you upload during onboarding. It suggested that I add on tests for thyroid function, heart and artery health, and liver function. On top of the blood panels, the app also recommended I try a continuous glucose monitor, buy a smart scale, buy a blood pressure monitor, get a professional VO2 max evaluation, schedule a liver ultrasound, screen for cervical cancer, start taking daily creatine monohydrate, schedule an annual full-body skin cancer exam, get a baseline coronary CT angiography, consider getting APOE testing for Alzheimer’s risk, and get a colonoscopy.