Functional Testing

The functional testing realm is vast. It often includes things like comprehensive hormone testing, cortisol testing, comprehensive stool analyses, and mycotoxin testing, to name a few. If you are interested in functional testing, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a naturopathic doctor.  We can help determine which tests are truly necessary to get the most accurate information without spending more than necessary.

When you sit down with a naturopathic doctor:

They will take a thorough history, discuss your current symptoms, past experiences, and health history. This is to help you make a more informed decision about which route may be best for you. You may have had your group of friends recommend a certain functional test. However, after consulting with a naturopathic doctor, you may find that a different testing option is more appropriate for you.

Other Tests To Consider

In addition to the functional tests mentioned above, there are new options on the market that offer a wide range of laboratory tests at a low price. These testing options include basic labs like checking liver, kidneys, thyroid, blood counts, etc. They also include labs that check for vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, autoimmune markers, hormone markers, and markers of inflammation. If NDs have access to these results, we can craft a more targeted support plan tailored to your individual needs. While we keep your symptoms in mind, we can fine-tune vitamin and nutrient dosages to help you achieve optimal levels.

Some of the functional lab companies that exist will provide you with a one-time assessment of your lab results. They will also typically provide you with a comprehensive list of supplements needed to improve your lab values. While this can be helpful, it can also be unnecessary and overwhelming at times. When you work with a naturopathic doctor, we help determine what support is truly necessary. Then we determine the best timing for each phase of your care plan during your healing process. Working with a naturopathic doctor allows us to develop a personalized plan suited to your specific needs. These plans address both your symptoms and lab results.

How We Can Help

The following is an example of how naturopathic doctors can use functional testing and lab results to personalize your plan. Say you bring in a stool analysis showing imbalances in your gut microbiome. In this example, you have an overgrowth of Klebsiella pneumoniae in your stool sample, with no growth of Lactobacillus spp With this information, we know that we need to help support the gut microbiome by working to reduce the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae while introducing targeted probiotics to help increase the growth of Lactobacillus spp. We will work to calm gut inflammation and restore the mucosal lining to improve overall digestion and absorption, using a combination of supplements, herbal teas, and diet / nutrient recommendations. Our goal is to support long-term digestive harmony and health because, after all, the gut is responsible for so much more than just digesting food and eliminating waste!

What to Expect

If you are a patient planning to bring in outside labs, we recommend sending them to your provider ahead of time so they have ample time to review the data. Many of the functional lab testing options that are available can be very comprehensive and need to be reviewed thoroughly and completely before providing any support or recommendations, and we also need to be able to take this data and combine it alongside your health history and current symptoms to ensure we are supporting the whole person, and not just looking at lab values.

An Important Note

We can still work with you even if you have not completed or do not plan to complete any function testing. As naturopathic doctors, we work to identify underlying causes of concerns and use functional testing as an additional investigative tool or to confirm our suspicions. If you have been considering functional testing but do not know what tests to order, schedule an appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors for guidance! And if you know someone who has completed functional testing but is unsure what to do with the results, send them this blog so they can be encouraged to find a provider to collaborate with on their healing journey!