Functional Testing
Laboratory testing can be invaluable in understanding how your body is currently functioning.
Test. Don’t guess.
What is functional testing?
Functional testing is using laboratory tests to explore how your body is currently functioning and investigate any deficiencies or excesses that may be contributing to your symptoms, or increase your risk of developing disease.
What sort of tests can we run?
Tests recommended will vary depending on your health concerns and aims. Samples can be based on stool, saliva, blood or your breath, for example. The majority of tests can be carried out at home and include instructions of how to carry out the test and how to return it to the laboratory.
We will then run through the results together in the context of your overall health and what these tell us on your next session.
Why use functional tests?
Testing can be invaluable in indentifying how your body is functioning & providing insight into your current healths status & symptoms.
It can also help to provide answers to your health concerns quicker than relying on interpretation of your symptoms or health history alone, as well as providing a benchmark to measure your progress against if re-testing post diet and lifestyle interventions.
Normal doesn’t always mean healthy.
What's the difference between normal & optimal result ranges?
Normal reference ranges are based on the reference range that 95% of the population fall into.
Optimal ranges reflect ranges that are most associated with the lowest risk of disease and mortality.
What's the problem with normal ranges?
Normal ranges don't reflect that health is complex and we are not all the same. What is normal for one, may not be optimal for another. Plus, some of the population used to determine "normal" ranges aren't "healthy".
What if your doctor has already run tests?
We can access many of the same laboritories your GP may use, but privately we have a wider choice of tests and markers that you may not be able to order via the NHS. These can be very specific and provide an indepth insight into your health status.
You are always invited to bring any recent test results from your GP to your initial consultation for review & we will always refer you back to your GP should any tests we complete together identify any red flags.