Laboratory Testing
The following is a list of Functional Medicine laboratory testing routinely done in our office. There are many more tests, not listed here, that Dr. Blum uses in certain situations.
For a comprehensive list of all Functional Medicine testing available, click on the web links to the several labs referred to below.
Bowel Function: Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis
- Evaluates ability to digest and absorb food. Includes special cultures to assess dysbiosis: the presence and quantity of both beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria, and yeast.
- Dysbiosis can be the underlying cause for many clinical symptoms and is involved in conditions such as immune dysfunction, irritable bowel, fibromyalgia, migraines and more.
- Optimal bowel health is key for a healthy immune system and general vitality and well being. Recommended for everyone.
- For more information, visit www.gsdl.com
Assessing Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
- Spectracell Intracellular testing
- Blood test that directly measures intracellular vitamin and mineral levels
- Most accurate way to determine deficiencies
- Important basic screening for both prevention and treatment of all medical conditions
- www.spectracell.com
- Organix: Urine organic acids
- Urine test that measures a breadth of biochemical processes in the body: Ability to metabolize fats and carbohydrates, mitochondria function, dysbiosis markers and neurotransmitter metabolites.
- Indirectly measures vitamin and mineral deficiencies by assessing function of enzymes
- Excellent comprehensive screening for everyone
- www.metametrix.com
Hormone Evaluation
- Adrenal Testing
- Saliva test to evaluate adrenal fatigue by measuring cortisol levels during the course of the day, also measures DHEA
- Especially helpful for those with excessive fatigue, inflammatory conditions, and weight issues.
- www.gsdl.com
- Estronex
- Urine test to measure estrogen metabolites indicating how well your body is detoxifying and eliminating estrogen.
- “Good” elimination will result in improved hormone balance and a lower risk of breast cancer.
- “Bad” elimination can be positively influenced with targeted supplementation and diet
- Important for all women with a history of breast cancer, at risk of breast cancer or interested in prevention.
- www.metametrix.com
- All further hormone testing, including basic male and female hormone levels, as well as thyroid evaluation is done through Quest labs, and would be covered by insurance.
Immune System Evaluation
- Food allergy IgG testing
- Blood test that measures IgG levels to 90 different foods, also mold
- Goes beyond traditional IgE testing; not the same test done by allergy specialists.
- Especially useful to identify food triggers for many health conditions
- www.metametrix.com and www.immunotek.com
- Immunoscience Testing
- Specialty lab that directly measures the function of different components of the immune system
- Costly, but very useful for those with medical conditions involving the immune system
- www.immunoscience.com
Heavy metal testing
- Urine test to assess the accumulated body stores of mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium
- Especially useful for those with autoimmune conditions, severe fatigue or neurological symptoms, unexplained symptoms, or environmental exposure.
- Treatment available to safely remove elevated heavy metals.
- www.doctorsdata.com
Anti-oxidant status
- Urine lipid peroxides: Urine test to measure your level of anti-oxidants.
- Important for anyone with neurological illness or symptoms, and also as a basic screening for those with inflammation.
- www.gsdl.com
Liver function: Detoxification pathways
- Standard Detoxification Profile: Saliva testing to assess your detoxification enzymes
- Impaired detoxification is an underlying issue for many health conditions, including migraines, fibromyalgia, allergies and chemical sensitivities.
- Is especially important for those on multiple medications as these use up detox enzymes and can cause deficiencies in the pathways.
- www.gsdl.com
Neurotransmitter testing
- Urine test that measures neurotransmitter metabolites
- Important for those with sleep problems, depression or other mood disorders
- Can use to direct treatment with amino acid supplementation to balance neurotransmitters instead of using anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication
- www.neuroscience.com
Recommended Basic screening package:
- CDSA
- Organix
- Spectracell vitamin and mineral levels
- Food Allergy
- Lipid peroxides