Advanced Lab Testing
Our extensive blood work panels are drastically different than routine blood work performed at other medical offices. It involves out-of-state laboratories that perform specialized testing to count the microscopic biomarkers floating in your blood stream. These biomarkers give you a comprehensive summary of your potential health hazards. Moreover, these advanced labs create colorful reports that enable you to understand your results.
Detailed Cholesterol and Cholesterol Proteins Panel
The detailed cholesterol panel performs an in-depth investigation of your cholesterol markers. It evaluates your exact numbers of Total Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides. Then, it dives deeper into the individual proteins that carry the cholesterol particles (lipoproteins). The lipoprotein analysis gives you and your physician a more detailed picture of your risks and hidden cholesterols that is usually missed with a basic cholesterol panel.
Inflammation and Plaque Scoring (hs-CRP, Lp-PLAC2, Endothelin, Interleukin)
Inflammation is critical to wellbeing and health. Inflammation causes damage to all tissues of the body. It has been established that 30% of patients that have heart attacks have normal cholesterol panels. These patients most likely have underlying inflammation that causes blood vessel damage and plaque build-up. The more inflammation in the blood vessel, the more likely the blood vessel is to rupture and cause a sudden heart attack. If you have inflammation, it is of utmost importance to reduce it as quickly as possible.
Cholesterol Over-Production versus Over-Absorption
This area of your laboratory data will explain how much cholesterol the liver is producing compared to how much is being absorbed from your bowels. You have undoubtedly heard the phrase high cholesterol for years, but you may not know that there are three basic ways to have high cholesterol.
First, your liver can produce more cholesterol than your body needs on a daily basis. The excess cholesterol that is produced stays in the bloodstream, which serves as a buffer for times of starvation. Inherited genes can cause excess cholesterol production. The production of cholesterol can be slowed with proper nutrition and frequent exercise.
Second, your bowels over-absorb cholesterol. The bowels are usually over-absorbing because you are eating too many saturated fats or carbohydrates. However, some people are genetically geared to absorb more than others.
Third, your tissue (muscles, organs, skin) may not absorb cholesterol from the circulating blood very well. People with this problem usually have an inherited mutation that causes extremely high cholesterol levels. These people will have a very difficult time keeping their cholesterol numbers down without medications.
This test will help us determine which type (or combination of types) you are struggling with and how we should attack it.
Targeted Genetic Testing for MTHFR, Cholesterol Protein Mutation, and Blood Clotting
Genetic testing is important when performed in the right manner. The entire human genome has been unraveled, but humanity’s knowledge regarding how to interact with our DNA is still limited. Currently, we test for specific mutations that affect you and that we know how to treat. There is no reason to test if we have nothing to gain. The MTHFR gene is extremely important in detoxification, weight loss, and psychological functioning. The Apolipoprotein E mutation is a mutation in the production of cholesterol proteins. This mutation increases your risk for Alzheimer’s, heightens ability to create inflammation, and helps us determine which type of foods to eat and which to avoid. The blood clotting mutations raise your risk for dangerous blood clots that can be asymptomatic yet have devastating consequences if missed.
Heart Function Markers
These markers show the heart’s ability to pump blood through its chambers. The BNP level shows if the body’s blood volume is too high causing excess stretch on the heart tissue. The Galectin-3 marker shows how much fibrosis or scarring is occurring in the heart tissue. Scarring of the heart can lead to heart failure, shortness of breath, and swelling in your legs.
Metabolic Profile (Vitamin, Homocysteine, Uric acid levels)
This section is quite possibly the most important area as it assesses several vital metabolic components, including Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Homocysteine, Uric acid levels. Without these tests, you could be predisposed to early heart disease and strokes. Most of these components do not cause symptoms until abnormal for years. Books could be written about each of those components, so we will not go into detail about each one in this area.
Kidney Function
This test evaluates the creatinine, cystatin, and blood urea nitrogen levels, which gives an accurate picture of your hydration levels and kidney filtration rate.
Complete Blood Sugar Analysis
This panel investigates your blood sugar levels in three ways. It reports the fasting blood sugar level, the average blood sugar over the previous two weeks, and the average blood sugar level over the previous three months. Moreover, it gives a detailed panel of the body’s ability to respond to your insulin levels. It also reviews your pancreas’ production of insulin and proinsulin. Lastly, we evaluate your anti-GAD levels, which are associated with beta cell destruction and Type 1 Diabetes.
Detailed Thyroid Analysis (Hashimoto antibodies, Reverse T3)
The thyroid is responsible for controlling your metabolic rate and nearly all metabolic processes; therefore, we investigate all aspects of the thyroid, including TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, Thyroglobulin antibodies, and Thyroid peroxidase antibodies. We will order Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibodies if you have or if we suspect Grave’s Disease.
Omega-3 Levels (Fish Oil)
The Omega-3 level is detected by evaluating how much Omega-3 oils are in the surface of your red blood cells. It is important that your body has ample amounts of Omega-3 fats ready to be utilized. These oils are anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating to the skin. They also may reduce your likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke by making platelets less “sticky” and your blood thinner.
Assessment for Silent Heart Attacks
30% of heart attacks are silent and undetected. This analysis detects microscopic amounts of heart tissue damage by direct counting of troponin molecules, which are only found in the cells of the heart. If any amount of troponin is detected, then it means that heart tissue is being damaged and leaking into the bloodstream. This means that a larger heart attack may be imminent.
Exhaustive Nutrient Analysis (NutrEval)
This extensive nutrient analysis gives you a detailed understanding of your nutritional deficiencies. There are 100 individual biomarkers that are organized into 5 key areas of core nutrients. These biomarkers are organized into one, easy-to-interpret overview, as well as a personalized patient supplementation schedule.
Metabolic Analysis Profile: Metabolic Analysis assessment provides information on 45 key organic acids. This provides details on malabsorption, cellular energy production; neurotransmitter metabolism, vitamin deficiencies, toxin exposure, and detoxification need.
Amino Acids Analysis:This assesses essential and non-essential amino acids, as well as intermediary metabolites that augment an understanding of B vitamin demand and proteins needed to support digestion and absorption.
Essential and Metabolic Fatty Acids Analysis: This provides data on the balance of fatty acids in relation to each other: Omega 3, 6, and 9 Fatty Acids; Saturated Fatty Acids; and Monounsaturated Omega 7, and Trans Fats. It also provides key ratios for understanding cardiovascular risk, including the Omega 3 Index.
Elemental Analysis, Packed Erythrocytes: This section provides information on intracellular nutrient status and toxic elements.
Oxidative Stress:These biomarkers highlight the body’s current state of oxidative stress and reserve capacity. It directly measures glutathione and CoQ10. These nutrients provide the body’s antioxidant reserve, which combats inflammation on an ongoing basis.
Stool Testing (IBS, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, yeast overgrowth, gut bacteria balance)
Stool testing is used to identify multiple problems in your bowels. It identifies parasitic infections, bacterial overgrowth, bacterial diversity, gut inflammation, protein breakdown, and fat breakdown. This test is utilized to help guide your practitioner to the areas that need the most attention. This test is recommended for anyone with bowel disturbances, including heartburn, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or fatigue.
Allergy Testing (seasonal allergies, sneezing, rashes, food allergies)
There are multiple types of allergy testing. We recommend doing blood testing first since it is easy and accurate. We can test for inhaled allergens if you have sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, Cedar fever, or any other respiratory allergies. Foods can cause respiratory symptoms, so we recommend performed food allergy testing also, especially if you have respiratory symptoms year round. Food allergy testing is recommended for anyone with nausea, heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or any other abdominal complaints. Many skin conditions are caused by food allergies, so if you have psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis or any other skin rashes, you should get this tested at least once. It is recommended to repeat your allergy testing every 3 years if you have having symptoms.