Sometimes Standard Testing Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
Standard laboratory testing is an important part of healthcare. But when symptoms persist or the pieces don’t seem to fit together, additional information may help us look more deeply.
At Naturopathic Health Center, we use advanced laboratory testing when it can help answer a specific question, identify patterns, or provide information that may guide an individualized treatment plan.
More testing isn’t necessarily better testing.
The right test is the one that helps us better understand you.
Request an AppointmentTesting With a Purpose
Your history and symptoms guide the investigation.
Depending upon your individual needs, advanced testing may allow us to look more closely at:
Digestive Health & the Microbiome
Digestive symptoms can sometimes provide important clues about overall health.
Specialized stool testing can evaluate areas such as the gastrointestinal microbiome, digestive function, inflammation, intestinal immune function, and the presence of certain organisms.
Testing may be considered for concerns such as bloating, reflux, constipation, diarrhea, food reactions, abdominal discomfort, or other persistent digestive symptoms.
Testing available through:
- GI-MAP
- Genova GI Effects
The health of your gastrointestinal system can influence far more than digestion.
Nutritional & Cellular Health
Even a good diet does not always tell us whether nutrients are being adequately absorbed, utilized, or metabolized.
Advanced nutritional testing can provide information about vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, oxidative stress, and other markers related to cellular and metabolic function.
Testing available through:
- Genova NutriEval
- SpectraCell
- Doctor’s Data
Hormonal & Adrenal Health
Hormones influence far more than reproductive health. They can affect energy, sleep, mood, metabolism, weight, cognition, bone health, and overall well-being.
Depending upon the individual, testing may evaluate sex hormones, hormone metabolites, cortisol patterns, and other aspects of hormonal function.
Testing available through:
- DUTCH
- DiagnosTechs
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
A standard cholesterol panel provides useful information, but sometimes a more detailed assessment is appropriate.
Advanced cardiovascular and metabolic testing can provide additional information about lipoproteins, inflammation, blood sugar regulation, insulin resistance, and other factors associated with cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Testing available through:
- Boston Heart Diagnostics
Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease
Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections can be complex, particularly when symptoms have been present for a long time or previous testing has not provided clear answers.
When the history suggests that tick-borne illness should be investigated, specialized testing may help evaluate Lyme disease and relevant co-infections.
Testing available through:
- IGeneX
- Galaxy Diagnostics
Mold, Mycotoxins & Environmental Exposures
Our environment can sometimes play an important role in health.
When a patient’s history suggests possible exposure to a water-damaged building or other environmental concerns, specialized testing may be considered as part of a broader evaluation.
Testing may include assessment of mycotoxins, heavy metals, or other environmental exposures when clinically appropriate.
Testing available through:
- RealTime Laboratories
- Mosaic Diagnostics
- Vibrant Wellness
- Doctor’s Data
Food & Immune Reactivity
In selected cases, testing may provide additional information about immune responses to foods or other factors that could be contributing to symptoms.
These results are interpreted in the context of the patient’s history rather than being used as a stand-alone diagnosis.
Testing available through:
- KBMO Diagnostics
- ImmunoSciences
Cortisol & Stress Physiology
The body’s stress-response system can influence energy, sleep, blood sugar regulation, mood, and resilience.
When appropriate, testing can evaluate cortisol patterns throughout the day and provide additional information about stress physiology.
Testing available through:
- DiagnosTechs
Your Test Results Are Only Part of the Picture
A laboratory report should never be interpreted in isolation.
We consider your test results alongside your:
- Health history
- Symptoms
- Medications and supplements
- Nutrition
- Lifestyle
- Environment
- Previous testing
- Individual goals
The purpose of advanced testing is not simply to find an abnormal number.
It is to help us ask better questions, make better-informed decisions, and develop a plan that makes sense for you.
Multi-Cancer Early Detection
For appropriate patients interested in proactive health screening, we also offer access to the Galleri® multi-cancer early detection blood test.
Galleri is designed to look for a signal associated with multiple types of cancer and is intended to complement—not replace—recommended cancer screening.
Do You Need Advanced Testing?
Not everyone does.
Your doctor will discuss whether additional testing is appropriate based upon your history, symptoms, previous laboratory work, and health goals.
Whenever possible, we want testing to answer a meaningful question:
What will we learn from this test—and could the answer change what we do?
Ready to Look Deeper?
If you have persistent symptoms, unexplained health concerns, or want a more comprehensive evaluation of your health, the first step is a conversation.
Finding the Cause. Restoring Health. Empowering You for Life.
One thing I particularly like here is “Do You Need Advanced Testing? Not everyone does.” It makes the page much more credible. You’re presenting sophisticated testing as a clinical tool rather than implying that every new patient needs thousands of dollars of specialty laboratories.
I would also keep the laboratory names visually secondary on the actual website. The patient’s first concern is what can you investigate?, not which laboratory performs it?