Laboratory Testing

Laboratory testing is an indispensable tool for understanding imbalances in your body. Until we know what is wrong and why, it is impossible to treat successfully. There are three major types of useful laboratory testing:

1. Tests that detect diseases
2. Tests that measure function or metabolic reserve
3. Tests that measure genetic predisposition or weakness

Identifying disease is of course the first duty of medicine, but before a disease fully manifests, there will be significant changes in your body’s function that, if left untreated, will lead to serious disease. If we can discover these functional imbalances early, we can treat so that the disease never fully manifests itself.

While we use dozens of tests, when appropriate, a few tests are extremely useful for their ability to detect common imbalances related to toxicity, stress, digestion, and nutritional status. Some of these tests we are happy to order for a patient without an appointment, and then if abnormalities are present we are happy to set up an appointment to discuss therapeutic strategies (these tests are marked with a §§ symbol). Some tests are more complex and expensive or require a blood draw and would be unwise outside the context of a complete medical history and examination.

Some of Our Most Commonly Ordered Tests:

High Resolution Blood Microscopy (2 drops of blood, in-office)

          Two samples: the first examines live blood cells while the second looks at clotting patterns of blood. HRB microscopy is an effective screening tool for cellular oxidative stress and nutritional status, heavy metal toxicity, thyroid and other hormone imbalances, leaky gut syndrome, immune dysfunctions, extracellular and intracellular parasites, bacterial imbalances, and yeast overgrowth. ( additional £90 as part of initial consultation  or £150 on it's own with 30-minute consultation and a full microscopy report with photos)

Adrenal Stress Profile §§ (saliva samples):
          Stress is everywhere, but how your body responds to stress is a major determinant of your health. This test measures the body’s stress hormones, Cortisol and DHEA, as they change throughout the day to identify imbalances that may contribute to stress, fatigue, anxiety, obesity, and thyroid irregularities. (£80, includes full colour report).

Hair Mineral Analysis §§ (hair sample):
          Measures both nutrient and toxic minerals in the hair shaft. Hair is the best medium to detect low-level toxicity from heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and is an excellent way to measure nutritional reserves of calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium, selenium, and others. Heavy metal toxicity and nutrient mineral deficiencies can contribute to fatigue, mood changes, depression, aggression, and other conditions. Easy to collect and inexpensive (£59, includes full colour report).

MELISA® Testing for Metal Allergy (blood sample):
          Heavy metals can be directly toxic or they can cause an allergic hypersensitivity in susceptible individuals. The Melisa test measures your immune system’s (lymphocyte) activation when exposed to specific heavy metals. Dental amalgam fillings are a major source of metal allergy. Mercury, silver, and at least 10 other metals are commonly used in dental alloys and can contribute serious health problems like autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, inflammatory bowel disease, MS, and others. The Melisa test quantifies metal allergies and informs you whether your dental amalgams are contributing to you health problems. (£200 for 10 metals)

The most comprehensive Toxic Metal Evaluation would include

1. High Resolution Blood Microscopy Consultation
2. Hair Mineral Analysis
3. MELISA® Test

Serum Pyruvate and Lactate (blood sample):
          All of your energy is produced inside your mitochondria, inside your cells. Serum Pyruvate and Lactate measures how much energy is being produced or blocked in aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Energy production blocks can be overcome with targeted supplement therapy. Chronic viral infection, oxidative stress, and heavy metal toxicity can all impair the mitochondria’s ability to produce adequate energy. (£55)

Thyroid Profile (blood sample):
          Thyroid hormones regulate energy production. Most doctors only measure thyroid stimulating hormone to assess thyroid function. While this measures the central regulation in the brain, it does nothing to assess the thyroid gland itself (T4), or the peripheral conversion of the most active thyroid hormone (T3). Comprehensive thyroid hormone evaluation measures TSH, free T4, and free T3. (£45) Sometimes, if auto-immune involvement is suspected, we also need to check for anti-thyroid antibodies. (£40)

Bone Resorption Profile §§ (urine sample)
          Osteoporosis is a major problem for all women and many men as they age. Measuring bone density is inadequate for predicting who will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture. Bone resorption (the RATE at which you are losing bone) is a much better predictor of fracture risk. This test measures how fast you are losing bone. If there’s a problem, we can treat and re-measure within a month to make sure your bones are as healthy as they can be. (£70)

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