LAB TESTS
We can draw the blood and obtain other specimens in our offices, or in a lab or hospital close to you. The samples are processed the same day, and the results are available within 48 hours as a rule. We use the largest clinical labs in the world, to offer practically any laboratory test known, from the routine to the exotic. These laboratories are government inspected and approved, and their tests are generally covered by insurance.
- Gastrointestinal Assessments. Assessments of gastrointestinal function include the renowned Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis and several other tests and panels yielding important information about the ecology of the GI tract, including intestinal wall integrity, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, yeast presence, immune function, parasite activity, specific intolerances, Helicobacter infection, and vaginal health.
- Immunology Assessments. Assessments of immune function include the revolutionary Comprehensive Antibody Assessment, with its unique reporting of IgG antibodies for delayed reactions as well as IgE for immediate reactions to foods and other allergens.
- Nutritional Assessments. Nutritional assessments range from Elemental Analysis (toxic and nutritional element levels), Amino Acids Analysis (of 40+ amino acids critical to healthy metabolism and detoxification), and Essential & Metabolic Fatty Acids Analysis (addressing the most widespread nutritional deficit in modern life).
- Endocrinology Assessments. Assessments of endocrine function evaluate the body's ability to regulate itself through hormone action. Tests include evaluations of sex and regulatory hormones (including human growth hormone mediator IGF-1), the Bone Resorption Assessment, and a Glucose/Insulin Tolerance Test.
- Metabolic Assessments. Metabolic assessments measure the body's detoxification processes, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense capabilities, cell energy, and cardiovascular health (with a comprehensive array of independent markers). There is also a Cotinine Assay to identify the nicotine metaboline and pinpoint a cause of recurrent infections or allergy in children of smokers.
What are some other types of tests?
Using a small sample of your blood, the laboratory can perform the following tests:
- Bone Tests. These tests check for healthy bones as well as bone diseases. Tests for alkaline phosphatase, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous are some examples of bone tests.
- Iron Balance Tests. The proper amount of iron in your body is required for good health. These tests include iron and total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and ferritin. Iron tests screen for iron deficiency that can lead to anemia, or for iron overload (hemochromatosis), a potentially serious genetic disease.
- Kidney Function Tests. These tests indicate normal or abnormal function of the kidney, the organ which filters your blood, preserving useful elements while discarding unwanted waste into the urine. Kidney function tests include albumin, creatinine, total protein and blood urea nitrogen.
- Lipid (Fat) Tests. These provide information about the fat in your blood which is very important in assessing your risk for heart disease. Lipid tests include cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good cholesterol"), low density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad cholesterol") and triglycerides.
- Liver Function Tests. These tests indicate normal or abnormal condition of the liver, a vital organ with many functions including the removal of toxic substances from your blood. Liver function tests include albumin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, direct and total bilirubin, gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), globulin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LD).
- Other Important Tests. These tests include but are not limited to: glucose, which is useful in the detection of diabetes and hypoglycemia; and uric acid, which is useful in the detection of gout.
Are blood tests ever grouped together?
Blood tests are often grouped together in panels. These panels may be general in nature to help assess the overall state of your health, or they may be targeted to check for a specific disease or organ function. Although these panels include several tests, the analysis most often can be performed using a small sample of blood. Here are some examples of different groupings:
- Chem-Screen Panel. The Chem-Screen Panel can screen for a wide variety of disorders. It contains tests useful in detecting bone, liver and kidney diseases. It may also assist in the diagnosis of diabetes, iron disorders and gout, and in assessing your risk for heart disease. When used for screening purposes, it provides the best value, as it reports a significant amount of information regarding your health to your physician. Chem-Screen Panels are often used as a tool by your doctor to establish your baseline (normal) and to monitor changes over time.
- Electrolyte Panel. Maintaining water and salt balance is critical to life and good health. The electrolyte panel contains tests which are important indicators of the amount of water and salt in your body. Tests included are sodium, potassium, chloride and carbon dioxide.Some of the disorders that lead to imbalances of the electrolytes include dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea, and kidney disease. Certain drugs, especially diuretics used in treatment of heart disease, may also affect your electrolytes.
- Basic Metabolic Panel. This group of tests extends the electrolyte panel to include measures of kidney function and glucose metabolism, associated with diabetes. The additional tests are creatinine, glucose and BUN.
- Hepatic Function Panel. This panel focuses on liver function. Conditions such as hepatitis (an inflammation of the liver) may be diagnosed and monitored. Gallstones may also be detected. These tests may be used to check for liver disease while you are being treated with certain drugs.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. This group of tests combines most (but not all) of the tests included in the Basic Metabolic and Hepatic Panels. Bone health is also checked by evaluating calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase.