Understand Your Body with Functional Diagnostic Testing

Functional diagnostic lab testing refers to specialized laboratory tests used in functional medicine to assess various aspects of an individual's health and well-being. Unlike conventional lab tests, which focus primarily on diagnosing diseases or conditions, functional diagnostic testing aims to identify underlying imbalances or dysfunctions in the body's systems. These tests provide valuable insights into factors such as nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, gastrointestinal health, immune function, and detoxification capacity, among others. 

Functional diagnostic lab testing is used in conjunction with a comprehensive health assessment and medical history to develop personalized treatment plans in functional medicine. These tests help practitioners identify underlying factors contributing to health issues and guide targeted interventions to support optimal health and well-being. 

Some common types of functional diagnostic tests include:

Comprehensive Metabolic Panels: These panels assess various markers of metabolic function, including blood sugar levels, lipid profile, kidney function, and liver function.

Nutritional Analysis: These tests evaluate levels of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and antioxidants in the body. Nutritional analysis can help identify deficiencies or imbalances that may contribute to health issues.

Hormone Testing: Hormone tests assess levels of various hormones, such as cortisol, thyroid hormones, sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), and adrenal hormones. These tests can reveal hormonal imbalances that may affect energy levels, mood, metabolism, and reproductive health.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Testing: GI tests assess the health of the digestive system, including markers of digestion, absorption, inflammation, gut microbiome composition, and intestinal permeability (leaky gut). These tests can help identify digestive disorders, food sensitivities, and imbalances in gut bacteria.

Food Sensitivity Testing: Food sensitivity tests measure the body's immune response to specific foods, identifying potential triggers for inflammation, digestive issues, skin problems, and other symptoms.

Toxicity and Detoxification Testing: These tests evaluate the body's detoxification capacity and assess exposure to environmental toxins, heavy metals, and other harmful substances. This information can help guide detoxification protocols and reduce toxic burden.

Cognitive Health: Did you know that one in nine adults in the United States suffers from cognitive decline? This condition comes along with factors like memory problems, thinking delays, and more. Unfortunately, a significant decline in cognitive health can begin to affect your quality of life. The key to cognitive decline is catching it early. The sooner you catch it, the better your prognosis will be. To catch this condition early, you need to get cognitive lab tests. The results from a cognitive blood test will tell you whether you may be suffering from significant cognitive decline.

Inflammatory Markers: These tests measure markers of inflammation in the body, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, and cytokines. Elevated inflammation levels are associated with various chronic diseases and health conditions.