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 of 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.

See the menu on the left for some of our most commonly ordered tests.