Functional Lab Testing, What is best for me? and Why?
You can spend thousands of dollars on labs and may not necessarily even know why you're doing it. Insurance won't cover most of the things we want to investigate for preventative health. This is a guide to help you get a better understanding of what we mean by functional lab testing, what to test, and why?
I hope this helps you feel more informed about making decisions on lab testing to get what you need. Click links to look at sample test results and detailed info.
In health and healing,
~Naturopathic Women's Wellness
P.S. Are there labs you are considering that we haven't mentioned? Please let us know and we can help you out!
FUNCTIONAL LABS are specialized diagnostic tests that evaluate how your body's key systems function, focusing on optimal health ranges rather than just disease detection.
How Functional Labs Differ From Standard Labs
• Standard Labs: Designed to diagnose a specific disease or acute condition once a marker falls outside a broad "normal" population average. Diagnosis Based.
• Functional Labs: Look at narrow, optimal ranges to spot early imbalances, subclinical dysfunctions, or root causes long before symptoms turn into a formal diagnosis. Prevention Based:
Highlight! This is the #1 test to consider if you are on GLP's or are considering starting. Learn the inner workings of your gut microbiome and we can help you stay regular. If you are suffering from unexplained gastrointestinal upset, chronic immune issues, or mood instability this is the best place to start. If all else fails heal the gut. Did you know over 80% of your serotonin is made in your gut! Read more!
GASTROINTESTINAL PANEL: The GI-MAP (Microbial Assay Plus) is unique in the field of comprehensive stool testing. It relies exclusively on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology to detect parasites, bacteria, fungi, and more, by targeting the specific DNA of the organisms tested.(Comprehensive and Basic): Stool and saliva testing to diagnose candida, parasites, fungal, bacterial and viral infections in the system, H.Pylori, gut enzymes, four food reactions and evaluate gut health and inflammation associated with IBS/UC. This type of testing targeting DNA sequencing is much more specific in uncovering dysbiosis in the gut microbiota. Standard Stool Ova and Parasite testing can miss detecting gut bugs due to their variability on shedding and replication patterns.
This is my favorite new test! This is especially important information for people on GLP-1’s or considering starting use of these medications. By mechanism of action GLP's will slow down your digestion and transit time as well as decrease appetite creating GI imbalances. This data will help us keep your digestion, moving with comfort and ease, target best mechanisms to restore your gut flora to keep gut immunity strong, as well as prevent chronic long-term G.I. deficiencies.
StoolOMX is a specialized, functional-medicine stool test add-on (used alongside the GI-MAP® microbiome test) that measures gut metabolism rather than just identifying microbes. It measures:
Bile Acids: Evaluates 25 primary and secondary bile acids (totals, percentages, ratios, and conversion efficiency) to assess fat digestion, colon motility, mucosal inflammation, and potential bile acid malabsorption or diarrhea.
Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs): Analyzes nine SCFAs and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) to measure fiber fermentation (like butyrate, acetate, and propionate) versus protein putrefaction, giving insight into gut barrier integrity and inflammation.
Highlight! This is the #1 test to consider if you are on HRT or are considering starting hormones for peri-menopause. Assess hormone metabolism and how you can use it to prevent estrogen based risk factors. We can help you stay safe and sound in mind and body as hormones transition. Read more!
Urine Hormone testing takes hormone testing to a whole new level. In addition to sex hormones and their metabolites, the DUTCH Complete looks at the overall diurnal pattern of free cortisol, and the total and distribution of cortisol metabolites. Urine testing to evaluate cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue, progesterone blood sugars and hormones backbones via cholesterol pathways are analyzed. The adrenals are intricately linked to the sex and thyroid hormones, blood sugar and skin/bowel changes.
Highlight! This is the #1 test to consider if you have unmanaged bloating and gastrointestinal distress. Naturopathic Medicine is important to integrate for SIBO sufferers especially if prescription medication has failed or symptoms have recurred. Read more!
A SIBO test (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth test) is a non-invasive diagnostic breath test that measures hydrogen, methane, or hydrogen sulfide gases in your breath after you drink a sugar solution.
Consider SIBO Testing if you are experiencing:
• Abdominal Bloating and Distension: A feeling of excessive fullness or a visibly swollen belly, often worsening by the end of the day.
• Excessive Gas and Flatulence: Frequent burping, belching, or passing gas caused by bacteria fermenting carbohydrates.
• Abdominal Pain and Cramping: Discomfort that frequently flares up after eating.
• Altered Constipation or Diarrhea, Mixed Bowel Habits:
• Fatigue and Brain Fog: General exhaustion or difficulty concentrating.
• Loss of Appetite and Nausea: A reduced desire to eat or feeling sick to your stomach.
• Unintentional Weight Loss: Resulting from poor nutrient absorption.
• Unexplained Nutritional and Vitamin Deficiencies: Low levels of vitamin B12, iron, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) because bacteria consume these nutrients.
MOLD URINE MYCOTOXIN TESTING $300
Highlight! This is the #1 test to consider if you have chronic fatigue, relentless sinus issues and brain fog. Colorado has a surprising amount of mold in its environment due to the highly fluctuating temperatures in a 24 hour period. Mold affects everyone differently. You can have a group of people all living in the same house and one person is severely ill and the rest are a picture of health. If you suspect mold at all, it's best to test the person, the place. Read more!
10 Common Signs of Mold Toxicity
Chronic Nasal Congestion: Persistent stuffiness, sinus pressure, or post-nasal drip that mimics a long-term cold or sinus infection.
Persistent Cough: A dry or irritated cough that often worsens when you are indoors.
Shortness of Breath: Chest tightness or difficulty breathing, which can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms.
Frequent Headaches or Migraines: Recurring head pain that may increase in intensity after spending time in a damp or contaminated room.
Brain Fog and Cognitive Issues: Trouble concentrating, slowed thinking, confusion, or short-term memory lapses.
Chronic Fatigue: Deep, overwhelming exhaustion that does not get better with sleep or rest.
Watery or Itchy Eyes: Red, bloodshot, irritated, or burning eyes caused by airborne spore inflammation.
Skin Rashes and Itching: Unexplained skin irritation, hives, eczema flare-ups, or general itching.
Muscle and Joint Aches: Diffuse, unexplained pain or stiffness in the body without a clear physical injury.
Mood Changes: Sudden shifts such as increased anxiety, irritability, or feelings of depression linked to neurotoxic inflammatory responses.
URINE NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING $277
Highlight! This is the #1 test to consider for people who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression, seasonal effective disorder or mood fluctuations that do not seem to be correlated with situational stress. The results can help us understand how to best support you for mood stabilization, and provide information on necessary cofactors for neurotransmitter balance. Read more!
Urinary neurotransmitter levels provide an overall assessment of the body's ability to make and break down neurotransmitters and are representative of whole body levels. Neurotransmitters are secreted all through the body, in neurons of both the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as the gastrointestinal microbiome. The enzymes, cofactors and precursors in neurotransmitter metabolism in general are the same in the periphery and in the central nervous system. Therefore abnormal levels of neurotransmitters in urine may provide important clinical information, and may be associated with many symptoms including cognitive and mood concerns, diminished drive, fatigue and sleep difficulties, cravings, addictions and pain, and abnormal abundance and diversity within the gastrointestinal microbiome. This is a very valuable test for people who are experiencing anxiety and or depression, seasonal effective disorder or mood fluctuation that does not seem to be correlated with situational stress. The results can help us understand how to best support you for mood stabilization, and provide information on necessary cofactors for neurotransmitter balance.
Highlight! This is the #1 test to consider for people who do all the right things but weight, and mood or energy won’t budge! It's not about patching symptoms. It's about understanding the root cause. Read more!
The essence of genetics centers around our DNA code, which serves as a fundamental blueprint. Epigenetics, on the other hand, pertains to the life choices influencing the DNA code and gene expression. It is essential to integrate both elements, as isolating one undermines our ability to impact patient outcomes effectively. Our genes operate within pathways and engage in both metabolic and biochemical processes. By looking at our genes in a pathway-focused way, it enhances the precision of our recommendations.
A challenge facing Western medicine and nutrition is the emphasis on diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. This attitude overlooks the gradual development of these conditions over time. These diseases are influenced by complex interactions with our environment, encompassing our genetics, diet, and lifestyle choices.
Consider the strategy of redirecting attention from the disease to its origins. By examining your cells, understanding suboptimal conditions, and taking corrective measures, you can prevent the progression of certain diseases and improve your longevity. With everything that’s available to patients, they are often overwhelmed by recommendations, supplements, and diets that are not personalized to them. Through the use of 3X4, we can condense this information into clear, concise, and actionable steps to enable meaningful changes in your life that yield the most significant positive impact on your health.
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) $54-109
Highlight! This is a great biosensor to get minute by minute glucose readings to learn how your body responds to food, exercise and stress. Reactive hypoglycemia can also be detected and we can help support you to balance your nervous system to stay calm and carry on! Read more!
Prediabetes impacts more than 1 in 3 adults in the US. Yet more than 80% of adults with prediabetes don’t know if they have it. Globally, more than 760 million adults have early signs of abnormal blood sugar. Prediabetes contributes to elevated long-term health risks even without progressing to type 2 diabetes; 85% of the increased risk of complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, heart failure remains even among those who never develop diabetes.
• Benefits: Dramatically reduces the need for finger pricking, alerts you to dangerous spikes or drops, and helps track how food, stress, sleep, and exercise impact your body.
• Limitations: Readings can lag behind actual blood sugar by 5 to 15 minutes, and certain medications or supplements (like Vitamin C or acetaminophen) can temporarily affect accuracy.
BLOOD WORK:
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS LABS: $150/$250
Highlight! These are great tests to consider for annual check-ins to get solid data points to compare and contrast over time. They include cholesterol markers, metabolics, vitamins, minerals, organ functions tests and optional hormones. Read more!
We can send you to Quest diagnostics anywhere in the country for our negotiated lab practitioner prices. We do not up-charge our labs. These are the best pricing options we can offer you from our office.
Comprehensive Annual Labs: $150
Heart & Cardiovascular: Total Cholesterol: lipoprotein particle size, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides.
Thyroid Function: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and reflex to Free T4.
Metabolic & Blood Sugar: Fasting glucose, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
Immune & Blood Cells: Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differentials, white and red blood cells, platelets.
Nutrients & Minerals: Iron panel (iron, ferritin, TIBC, saturation), Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folate.
Organs & Electrolytes: Comprehensive liver and kidney function panels.
Autoimmunity & Inflammation: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA screen/pattern/titer).
Comprehensive Annual Labs as listed above INCLUDING Hormones: $250
Hormones: Female and male hormone panels including testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, DHEA-S, FSH, LH, and prolactin.
MTHFR $120
FUNCTION HEALTH: $365 https://www.functionhealth.com/
Go to the website listed above and sign up. They will handle the rest. This is by far the best bank for your buck as far as getting super duper uber complex annual labs done. It's unlikely you need all of these tests on a regular basis. The mid-year retest is only a partial set of labs, not the complete set, so be aware of that. Progesterone is not tested in the hormone pane. MTHFR, AMH and other specific add-ons are at an additional price. This is a great option to consider once every few years and you can bring your lab results to our office or have them forwarded to our clinic and we can review them in your follow up sessions.
Function Health includes over 160+ annual lab tests split across two testing cycles per year (an initial annual test and a mid-year check).
The tests cover these major health categories through Function Health:Heart & Cardiovascular: Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), Lipoprotein(a), lipoprotein particle size, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
Thyroid Function: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free and total T3 and T4, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO), and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb).
Hormones: Female and male hormone panels including testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, DHEA-S, FSH, LH, and prolactin.
Metabolic & Blood Sugar: Fasting glucose, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting insulin, leptin, and uric acid.
Immune & Blood Cells: Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differentials, white and red blood cells, platelets, and blood type (ABO/Rh factor).
Nutrients & Minerals: Iron panel (iron, ferritin, TIBC, saturation), Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folate, magnesium, zinc, and detailed Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid ratios (EPA, DHA, DPA).
Organs & Electrolytes: Comprehensive liver and kidney function panels, pancreatic markers, full electrolytes, and a 20-marker urine analysis.
Toxins & Heavy Metals: Lead and mercury levels.
Autoimmunity & Inflammation: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA screen/pattern/titer) and rheumatoid factor.
Stress & Aging: Salivary or blood cortisol markers and biological age tracking.