Functional Lab Testing
Gut Health Test / Functional Medicine Testing / Functional Lab Testing
A gut health test like the GI MAP helps to identify contributing factors to why you may be experiencing obvious GI symptoms as well as seemingly unrelated symptoms. Read more about GI Map test results here (or see a potion of my personal results here). Additional functional medicine testing like the DUTCH test, Vibrant Wellness Zoomer testing and the OATS test can expose other triggers or imbalances that might be contributing to unpleasant or debilitating symptoms as well. The reason we use functional lab testing when appropriate, is to help us get an overall picture of what’s going on inside the body that’s contributing to your specific imbalances so we have a starting place to work from without guessing. See below for a list of the most common tests used.
DSL-GI-MAP
The Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory GI Microbial Assay Plus (“GI-MAP”) a 1-day stool test includes markers for gluten sensitivity (anti-gliadin IgA), inflammation in the gut (calprotectin), immunity in the gut (SIgA), pancreatic enzyme sufficiency (elastase), and occult blood. It also looks for the presence of pathogens – including H Pylori and other bacteria, parasites, worms and viruses – in the gastrointestinal tract. To detect pathogens, the lab uses Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), or quantitative PCR (qPCR), which combines amplification and detection into one step. qPCR “is one of the most powerful and sensitive gene analysis techniques available to detect the DNA of microorganisms.
MARKERS INCLUDED ON THIS TEST:
- Bacterial Pathogens (Campylobacter, C difficile Toxin A & B, EHEC, E coli 0157, EIEC/Shigella, ETEC LT/ST, Salmonella, Shiga-like Toxins, Shigella, etc.)
- Parasitic Pathogens (Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia)
- Viral Pathogens (Adenovirus, Norovirus, Rotavirus)
- H pylori (H Pylori, with 7 virulence factors)
- Normal Bacterial Flora (Bacteroides Fragilis, Bifidobacter, Enterococcus, E. coli, Lactobacillus, Clostridium Spp., Enterobacter Spp.)
- Phyla Microbiota (Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Bateroidetes/Firmicutes ratio)
- Opportunistic Bacteria (Bacillus, Enterococcus, Morganella, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, etc)
- Autoimmune Triggers (Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Prevotella Copri, Proteus Spp etc)
- Parasites (Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Chilomastix mesnelli, Cyclospora, Pentatrichomonas)
- Fungi/Yeast (Candida albicans, Candida spp., Geotricum spp., Microsporidia spp., Rodotorula spp.)
- Viruses (Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr Virus)
- Worms (Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Trichuris trichiura, Taenia spp)
- Additional Tests (Elastase, Steatocrit, SIgA, Anti-Gliadin, Calprotectin, b-Glucuronidase, Occult Blood)
- Antibiotic Resistance Genes
DUTCH Complete Hormone Test—DUTCH Adrenals + DUTCH Hormone Metabolites Profiles + Melatonin
This test provides you with detailed information on how adrenal and sex hormones are being produced AND metabolized in the body. DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones.
The DUTCH Complete now includes the following additional markers:
- Homovanillate (HVA) – the primary dopamine metabolite
- Vanilmandelate (VMA) – the primary norepinephrine and epinephrine metabolite
- 5-hydroxyindoleacetate (5HIAA) – the primary serotonin metabolite
- Methylmalonate (MMA) – elevated if patients are vitamin B12 deficient
- Xanthurenate – elevated if patients are vitamin B6 deficient
- Pyroglutamate – elevated if patients are glutathione deficient
OAT—Urine Organic Acids Testing:
This urine test provides insight into the body’s cellular metabolic processes. Organic acids are metabolic intermediates that are produced in pathways of central energy production, detoxification, neurotransmitter breakdown, or intestinal microbial activity. Marked accumulation of specific organic acids detected in urine often signals a metabolic inhibition or block. The metabolic block may be due to a nutrient deficiency, an inherited enzyme deficit, toxic build-up or drug effect. Several of the biomarkers are markers of intestinal bacterial or yeast overgrowth.
Vibrant Wellness Wheat Zoomer:
The Vibrant Wellness Wheat Zoomer Test is designed to be the most exhaustive coverage of the wheat proteome.
MARKERS INCLUDED ON THIS TEST:
- Celiac HLA Genetics (DQ2, DQ8)
- Celiac Panel – Total IgG, Total IgA, Transglutaminase 2 IgG, Transglutaminase 2 IgA, DGP IgG, DGP IgA
- Intestinal Permeability Panel – Zonulin, Anti-zonulin IgG, Anti-zonulin IgA, Anti-Actin IgG, Anti-Actin IgA, Anti-LPS IgA, Anti-LPS IgG + IgM
- tTg/DGP Complex – tTG/DGP Fusion Peptide IgG, tTG/DGP Fusion Peptide IgA
- Transglutaminase Panel – Transglutaminase 3 IgG/IgA, Transglutaminase 6 IgG/IgA
- Wheat Germ Panel – Wheat Germ Agglutinin IgG/IgA
- Gliadin Panel – Alpha Gliadin IgG/IgA, Alpha-Beta Gliadin IgG/IgA, Gamma Gliadin IgG/IgA, Omega Gliadin IgG/IgA, Gluteomorphin IgG/IgA, Prodynorphin IgG/IgA
- Wheat Allergy Panel – Wheat Allergen IgE
- Glutenin Panel – HMW Glutenin IgG/IgA, LMW Glutenin IgG/IgA
- Non-Gluten Wheat Panel – Serpin IgG/IgA, Farinins IgG/IgA, Amaylase/Protease Inhibitors IgG/IgA, Globulins IgG/IgA, Purinin IgG/IgA
The SpectraCell Laboratories Micronutrient Test:
The SpectraCell Laboratories Micronutrient Test assesses the function of over 30 different vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants within white blood cells.
MARKERS INCLUDED ON THIS TEST:
Find Blood Draw Locations HERE
- B Complex Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, Folate, Biotin)
- Amino Acids & Metabolites (Serine, Glutamine, Asparagine, Choline, Inositol, Carnitine, Oleic Acid
- Other Vitamins & Minerals (Vit D3, Vit A, Vit K2, Manganese, Calcium, Zinc, Copper, Magnesium)
- Individual Antioxidants (Glutathione, Cysteine, CoQ10, Selenium, Vit E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vit C)
- Carbohydrate Metabolism (Fructose Sensitivity, Glucose-Insulin Interaction, Chromium)
- Spectrox (Total Antioxidant Function)
- Immunidex (Immune System Function)
Find Blood Draw Locations HERE.
ELISA/LRA:
The Lymphocyte Response Assay analyzes lymphocytes, the body’s long lived, memory-carrying white blood cells. This test simultaneously measures all three types of delayed sensitivity reactions through lymphocyte activation:
- Reactive antibody (IgA, IgM, and IgG)
- Immune complexes
- T cell direct activation
LRA tests can be used to measure delayed immune reactions to over 504 common substances in the following general categories:
- Foods
- Additives and preservatives
- Food colorings
- Molds
- Environmental chemicals
- Toxic minerals and metals
- Medications
- Therapeutic herbs
- Danders, hairs, and feathers
Oxford Biomedical MRT Leap—Food Sensitivities Testing:
Through a blood draw this tests for hidden inflammatory responses to 150 different foods and food-chemicals. This test provides insight into inflammation provoking foods and food chemicals and identifies the best foods for the individual. It is not dependent on antibody reactions (IgG, IgA, etc). (This test has be done outside of NY.)
SpectraCell Thyroid Comprehensive Testing:
Through a blood draw this test includes the following markers:
MARKERS INCLUDED ON THIS TEST:
Find Blood Draw Locations HERE
- TSH
- Free T3
- Free T4
- T4 Total
- Thyroglobulin
- Thyroxine-Binding Globulin
- Anti-Thyroglobulin Ab
- Anti-TPO Ab
Find Blood Draw Locations HERE.