How it works

Pathology before protocol. Clinical by design.

Five evidence-based steps. From baseline biomarkers to a prescriber-set protocol. No questionnaires. No shortcuts. No grey-market risk.

The process

From curiosity to clinical protocol.

Each step is purpose-built to protect patient safety, satisfy regulatory requirements, and produce a protocol grounded in your actual biology, not a generic template. Tap any step to expand.

    01

    Baseline pathology panel

    "BASELINE"

    Before any clinical conversation begins, you complete a four-domain blood panel. This is the non-negotiable foundation. It establishes where your biology sits today, flags contraindications, and gives the prescribing clinician the evidence base required under AHPRA Competency 4.3 to consider compounded or unapproved medicines.

    Tap a domain to see the markers.

    Hormonal axis
    • IGF-1
    • Total and free testosterone
    • SHBG, LH, FSH
    • Cortisol (diurnal)
    • Thyroid (TSH, T3, T4)
    • DHEA-S, oestradiol
    Metabolic
    • Fasting glucose
    • HbA1c
    • Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR
    • Lipid panel, ApoB
    • hsCRP
    Organ safety
    • LFTs (ALT, AST, GGT)
    • Renal panel, eGFR
    • FBC and differential
    • Electrolytes
    Nutritional
    • Vitamin D (25-OH)
    • B12, folate
    • Ferritin, iron studies
    • Zinc, magnesium
    02

    Synchronous telehealth consultation

    "CONSULT"

    You speak with an AHPRA-registered clinician in real time, by phone (default) or video at your or the clinician's discretion. The Medical Board of Australia's telehealth guidelines (effective 1 September 2023) prohibit asynchronous (questionnaire-only) prescribing. The clinician reviews your pathology, takes a full clinical history, assesses your goals, and determines clinical appropriateness.

    • · Real-time consultation. Phone or video, your choice. Asynchronous (questionnaire-only) prescribing is prohibited under Medical Board guidelines.
    • · Full clinical history. Current medications, contraindications, relevant past and family history.
    • · Pathology reviewed in session. The clinician interprets your results in context, not against reference ranges alone.
    • · Clinical indication documented. AHPRA Competency 4.3 requires documented justification before prescribing compounded or unapproved medicines.
    03

    Personalised protocol issued

    "PROTOCOL"

    If clinically appropriate, the clinician issues a Schedule 4 prescription tailored to your pathology results and clinical picture. Protocols are specific. Class selection, dosing, administration schedule, and monitoring intervals are determined by your biology, not a generic template.

    Class selection Clinician-determined from your pathology
    Dosing Prescriber-set, individualised
    Administration Schedule set by the clinician
    Monitoring Repeat pathology at scheduled interval

    Illustrative protocol structure. Not a representation of any specific therapeutic good.

    04

    Compounded under TGA framework

    "DISPENSE"

    Your prescription is sent to a TGA-licensed Australian compounding pharmacy. Under Section 18 of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, pharmacies may lawfully compound Schedule 4 protocols for individual patients. This is the legal supply pathway for unapproved therapeutic goods. Preparations ship cold-chain with complete labelling and a Certificate of Analysis on every batch.

    Supply pathwayTGA Act 1989, s.18
    StandardTGO 100 microbiological
    Cold chainRefrigerated dispatch
    ScheduleS4. Prescription only.
    LabellingPatient-specific
    Lead time3 to 5 business days
    05

    Monitoring, optimisation, review

    "MONITOR"

    Prescribing without monitoring is poor clinical practice. Your protocol includes scheduled check-ins and repeat pathology to assess response, confirm safety, and refine dosing. Pathology is the source of truth at every review point, not subjective reports.

    Week 6 labsHormonal panel, safety markers
    Protocol reviewDose adjustment based on response
    Cycle planningOn and off scheduling where indicated
    Async check-insClinician messaging between reviews
    12-week recheckFull pathology and goal review
    Biomarker vaultLongitudinal results in your portal

Straight answers

Common questions.

The decisions before, during, and after a consultation. Framed against the regulatory context that shapes them.

Can I access protocols without a blood test?
No. Baseline pathology is a non-negotiable prerequisite at Index Clinic. This is not a bureaucratic hurdle. It is clinical practice. AHPRA Competency 4.3 requires that clinicians have adequate clinical evidence before prescribing compounded or unapproved medicines. A prescription written without pathology review is a compliance failure, not a shortcut.
Are these protocols legal in Australia?
Yes, when prescribed and dispensed through the correct pathway. Index Clinic protocols are Schedule 4, Appendix D under the Poisons Standard. They require a prescription from an AHPRA-registered clinician and must be compounded by a TGA-licensed pharmacy under Section 18 of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Purchasing from overseas, research-chemical suppliers, or anyone without a valid prescription is illegal.
Is the consultation by phone or video?
Either. The Medical Board of Australia's telehealth guidelines require the consultation to be synchronous (real-time and two-way). Both phone and video meet that requirement. Phone is the default at Index Clinic. Video is available on request from either the patient or the clinician. Asynchronous (questionnaire-only) prescribing is prohibited.
What is the difference between a telehealth consultation and a questionnaire?
A telehealth consultation is a live, real-time interaction with a registered clinician, by phone or video. A questionnaire is an asynchronous form submitted without clinician contact. The Medical Board of Australia's telehealth guidelines (effective 1 September 2023) prohibit prescribing based solely on questionnaire responses. Any clinic offering clinical prescriptions via questionnaire alone is operating outside these guidelines.
How do I know if I am a suitable candidate?
Suitability is determined by your clinician based on your pathology results, medical history, and clinical picture. Not by a quiz or self-assessment. The Index Clinic quiz helps you understand which clinical pathway aligns with your goals, but clinical appropriateness is always the clinician's determination. If your pathology flags a contraindication, the clinician will explain why and what alternatives exist.
What is Appendix D and why does it matter?
Appendix D of the Poisons Standard identifies substances with additional controls beyond standard Schedule 4 restrictions. These substances may only be prescribed for therapeutic, not performance, purposes. Your clinician documents therapeutic indication explicitly. This is why clinical evidence (pathology plus documented clinical context) is required before any Appendix D substance is prescribed.
What happens if I compete in sport?
WADA prohibits a wide range of clinical protocols under the Prohibited List. If you compete in any sport governed by a WADA signatory, you must disclose this to your clinician before consultation. A valid therapeutic use exemption (TUE) may be available in limited circumstances, but Index Clinic does not advise on anti-doping compliance. Your sport's national anti-doping authority should be consulted.

Ready to understand your baseline?

The first step is a blood panel. Everything else follows from what your biology actually shows. Not what you assume.