Functional Lab Testing in Hertfordshire

Frequently used Functional Lab Tests

Hormone Testing

• 1. Comprehensive Thyroid Screen (Blood)

  This test includes a complete profile of your thyroid hormones including TSH, T4, T3, reverseT3 and thyroid anti-bodies. Conventional tests offered by GPs typically test only TSH and T4 but a complete breakdown is required in order to understand and clinically help your subclinical thyroid symptoms. Symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, constipation, headaches, PMS, joint and muscle pain, coldness.

• 2. Cortisol Awakening & Adrenal Stress Profile (Saliva)

  This test measures your Cortisol and DHEA levels and ratio between the 2 which are indicators of your metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, your blood sugar levels, and any inflammation. DHEA regulates body weight, blood pressure and immune function and is used to make testosterone and estradiol. Too much or too little of cortisol or DHEA can lead to many symptoms such as weight gain, insomnia and fatigue and it is important that they are balanced in order to resolve these symptoms.

• 3. Essential Oestogens (Urine)

  Oestrogen imbalance can cause challenging symptoms during the transitional periods of perimenopause/menopause including weight gain, anxiety, fatigue, hair loss, sleep disturbances and mood instability. This test is a convenient at-home collection of a first morning urine sample and provides a comprehensive look at your hormone metabolism in order to provide clinical tools to help you manage the transition more easily as well as assess oestrogen related disease risks.

• 4. One Day Hormone Check (Saliva)

  This test measures your cortisol and DHEA hormone levels (as in the Adrenal stress profile above) but in addition provides an overview and insight into your sex hormone levels of oestrogen, testosterone, progesterone and their respective ratios. This test whilst not as comprehensive as the Essential Oestrogens (which is used more frequently where there is a need to assess oestrogen related disease risk) but can be used at pre/ post-menopause to help with symptoms such as weight gain, sleep disturbances, hot flushes, anxiety, brain fog.

Gut Health Testing

• 1. Comprehensive Stool Analysis (Stool)

  The Comprehensive Stool Analysis test provides information on the compete health of the gastro intestinal (GI) tract and can reveal important clinical information about many common symptoms such as gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation and other GI complaints. It aids in the identification of root cause(s) of digestive discomfort and supports identification of targeted treatments.

• 2. GI Effects (Stool)

  This test is an advanced stool test for the management of gut health and overall health. It uses advanced technologies to assess digestive function, gut inflammation and the gut microbiome, including testing for the presence of parasites and other pathogenic organisms.

Nutritional status tests including food sensitivity

• 1. Vitamin D Test (Blood prick)

  This is a convenient inexpensive at home blood prick test to determine your Vitamin D levels and to assess the need for supplementation. Vitamin D deficiency is common especially in people who are overweight and/or who have leaky gut and is linked with a number of common conditions I see in clinic including autoimmune hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, cognitive disorders, immunity and blood sugar control.

• 2. NutrEval Test (Stool Test)

  This test offers a comprehensive nutritional evaluation to help inform protocols for chronic diseases as well as promoting optimal health and wellness. It is a bit like an MOT evaluation of your whole body and processes including GI function, energy production, neurotransmitter processing, Vitamin and mineral status, amino and fatty acid analysis, anti-oxidant status and homocysteine levels which are linked with cardiovascular health.

• 3. Food Sensitivity Tests (Blood prick)

  Food sensitivity tests can sometimes be a useful adjunct in clinic to determine sensitivities to an array of foods including the gluten family (wheat, barley and rye), dairy including cow, sheep and goat. These tests can be helpful in restoring gut health(including leaky gut) by removing/restricting foods for 12 weeks before gradually reintroducing them to test whether they are now more easily tolerated. I use a number of different labs for food sensitivity testing which are all convenient at home blood prick tests.