Naturopathic Specialty Testing
Laboratory testing is an important part of a comprehensive evaluation process. In addition to conventional blood tests, Dr. Lee, N.D. offers naturopathic specialty testing such as Food Sensitivity testing, Urinary Hormone testing, Stool testing, Urinary Elements (Heavy metals and Essential minerals) testing, etc. These tests help with diagnosis, and can be used to monitor your progress during the healing process. By combining laboratory testing with a thorough history, and physical exam, we can best determine & treat the root cause of your concerns.
NOTE: Testing typically involves 2 or more visits (the initial visit + a follow-up to review the results and plan). Further follow-up appointments may be recommended to monitor and support your progress.
What kind of specialty testing is offered?
- IgG Food Sensitivity Testing (FST)
- DUTCH Testing – Urinary hormone metabolites
- Digestive/Stool Analysis Tests
- Nutritional Assessment Tests
- Toxin/Heavy Metal & Essential Minerals Tests
- Neurotransmitter Testing
IgG Food Sensitivity Testing (FST)
What – Unlike IgE Food Allergy testing, which assesses for potentially serious, acute reactions to foods (e.g. anaphylaxis from peanuts), IgG Food Sensitivity testing assesses for delayed immune reactions to foods. This type of reaction can take months to develop, and can trigger inflammation that can persist for weeks or months. FST can pinpoint foods that your immune system may be reacting to in this way.
Who – Anyone who is curious about possible food sensitivities, particularly those who have experienced symptoms such as: digestive issues (e.g. IBS, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, etc.), joint pain, skin conditions (e.g. acne, psoriasis, eczema), headaches, general sluggishness, depression, inability to lose weight…. Determining what foods are contributing to these symptoms can greatly impact the sense of overall well-being, and improve function in the affected areas.
How – This test requires a blood sample, which can be collected via finger-prick at home or at Lifelabs via a blood draw. FST results typically take 2 weeks to return.
*Note – Possible trigger foods will not show up as positive on testing if you have not eaten them in the past few weeks or months.
Costs (updated May 2022)
- Enhanced panel (225 foods – all of the foods) – $379
- Basic panel (125 foods) – $275
- Vegetarian panel (160 foods) -$315
- Additional foods – $25 each (e.g. for Basic or Vegetarian panels)
- Candida add-on testing – $59 (Candida alone – $89)
- Lifelabs service fee – $15
View the full list of foods available in each test panel here.
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) Testing
Costs –
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$240 per test kit. Re-testing is often recommended after a duration on the SIBO treatment protocols.
DUTCH Hormone Testing (urine sample)
What – Hormones affect the processes in the body such as mood, sleep, appetite, growth and development, sexual function and reproduction. When an imbalance occurs it can result in sleep disturbances, stress, anxiety, irritability, low libido, weight gain, fertility issues. Women also often experience mood disturbances, headaches, menstrual dysfunction, hot flashes and night sweats, memory lapses, fatigue, acne/oily skin and weight gain. Men often experience apathy, reduced sex drive, grumpiness, loss of sense of humor, aggressiveness, poor exercise tolerance, fatigue, male pattern baldness, erectile dysfunction and excess belly fat when their hormones are not balanced.
- The DUTCH Complete panel provides details on hormone production and metabolism in order to get a complete overview of your hormone health.
- For those interested in cortisol levels pertaining to morning fatigue and insomnia, the Dutch Plus examines salivary samples in addition to the urine metabolites.
- For fertility and hormone tracking, the DUTCH Cycle Mapping examines estrogen & progesterone levels at 3-day intervals, over the course of 1 cycle.
How – A take-home collection kit and detailed instructions are provided to collect your urine samples conveniently at home. Approximately ten days after the lab has received the results they will be available for discussion with Dr. Lee during your follow up appointment. About 2 weeks after the lab has received the results they will be available for discussion with Dr. Lee during your follow up appointment.
Costs –
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Pricing varies depending on the panel chosen. Please contact the office for current pricing.Panels options include: Dutch Complete, Dutch Complete Plus, Dutch Complete + Cycle Mapping, Dutch Cycle Mapping alone
Digestive/Stool Analysis Tests
What – Stool analysis testing may provide a comprehensive assessment of digestive function, including enzyme production, nutrient absorption, and microbial levels (both beneficial and potentially harmful). Tests are run through Doctor’s Data, an American laboratory.
How – This take-home kit involves obtaining samples either over a one-day or three-day period, mixed in the appropriate sample tubes, before scheduling a pick-up.
Costs
- Pricing varies, depending on the panel chosen. GI 360 is the most comprehensive analysis offered, and currently costs $775.
Nutritional Assessment Tests
What – Nutrient deficiencies can arise through imbalanced or restricted diets, impaired digestion/absorption, or a number of other causes. Nutritional assessment testing may help shed light on specific areas of concern, including levels of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and fatty acids.
How – Depending upon the specific test, samples may be obtained using first morning urine, a buccal (cheek) swab, blood draw at Lifelabs, or a finger prick blood sample (or a combination thereof).
Costs
- Pricing varies, depending on the panel chosen.
Toxin/Heavy metal and essential minerals tests
What – Exposure to toxic metals such as lead, arsenic or mercury can arise from numerous sources, including the home and the workplace. Elevated levels of these harmful compounds may affect everything from mood, sleep and energy to immune function. Testing for levels of these compounds, as well as key nutrients like selenium and iron, is an important first step towards addressing a potential issue.
Costs
- Essential and Toxic Elements test (24-hour collection) – $260
Neurotransmitter Testing
What – Neurotransmitters are chemicals produced within nerve cells to deliver a message elsewhere in the body, influencing everything from mood and energy to immune function. By measuring urinary neurotransmitter levels, it may be possible to determine how they’re being produced, as well as broken down (metabolized). Neurohormone testing aims to determine levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and histamine, as well as hormones including cortisol, sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Testing is offered through Doctor’s Data, a private laboratory in America.
How – Depending upon the specific panel, four salivary samples are obtained over a 24-hour period, as well as either a single urine sample or a 24-hour collection.
Costs
- Neurotransmitter & Neurohormone start at $350, but varies depending on the extent of testing. Please contact our office for current pricing.