Functional Lab Testing

Understanding Root Causes Is the First Step to Healing​

What’s your health worth? While functional lab testing usually is not covered by insurance, it can provide solid information needed to help identify the root causes.

Both conventional medicine and functional medicine doctors rely on laboratory test results to better understand what is going on inside the body. There are limits, of course, to what these tests reveal. Functional medicine digs deeper than many traditional tests.

At Revelation Wellness, we run several types of specialty lab testing to isolate the root cause of many chronic symptoms and conditions. The companies that perform these tests are nationwide; many test kits can be drop-shipped directly to your home. Below are some of the common lab tests we use, although more specific advanced testing is available.

Once we receive the results, we’ll work together to develop a health optimization plan that’s wholly personalized to your goals and lifestyle, not just what’s trending or conventional.

Available Testing

Click below to view more information about many of the tests you are able to order through Revelation Wellness.

Schedule a consultation to discuss which test(s) might be right for you.  Or, if you already know which you’d like to book, you can order them now.

All test pricing includes a consultation to go over the results.

HTMA is a hair mineral analysis test that measures minerals and heavy metal levels using a small sample of hair.

We can obtain a great amount of information that gives insight into the status of your health. The amount of metals or minerals are irreversibly incorporated into the growing hair and its proportional to the level of the mineral or element in other tissues. The patient’s symptoms , diet, lifestyle, and occupation can all play a role into the results and should be considered by the practitioner carefully.

The HTMA analyzes 30 different minerals and metals. We are able to see important ratios within the hair such as calcium to magnesium ratios that can give us great details into what it happening within the body. This test helps to give us clues to deficiencies and toxicities which can contribute to brain fog. fatigue, hormone imbalances, sleep issues, digestive issues, etc.

We are all subjected to environmental and occupational toxins every day. How we handle these daily stressors is affected by our mental health, our digestive tract, our first lines of immune defenses and the state of our detoxification mechanisms. When toxic element levels are above normal limits. chronic health problems can begin. This can range from dementia, psychosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, cancer and many more. Here are two articles that lists a few of the chronic diseases seen with environmental toxin exposure.

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/assets/docs_a_e/environmental_diseases_environmental_diseases_from_a_to_z_english_508.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4841276/

Who should get a HTMA?

Everyone should consider a HTMA yearly as a screening tool- it can indicate where problems may be brewing before symptoms pop up.

  • General fatigue
  • Chronic infections
  • Nausea
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Thyroid disorder
  • ADHD/Autism
  • Migraines
  • High blood pressure and/or cholesterol

How can HTMA help get to root causes of ADHD symptoms?

The hair gives us good information regarding Magnesium, Copper, Lead and Lithium. Magnesium is an essential mineral and most children with ADHD symptoms have been found to be deficient in magnesium and easily treated with a magnesium supplement. Magnesium deficiency can show up as insomnia, hyperactivity, anxiousness, inattention, impulsivity, and more.

Copper is most thought of for its beautiful color. Copper in tiny doses is essential for good health. However, too much copper can cause headaches, hair loss, nausea, hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggressiveness and can trigger depression and anxiety in individuals. Too much copper can also be the cause of having side effects from stimulant medications.

Lead is a toxic metal in which there is no safe level in the body. It is a neurotoxin and causes serious problems in our children’s brains. There is plenty of research linking a correlation between high lead levels and ADHD. If high lead is found, it is important to work with a practitioner to help remove the lead from the body and determine the source.

The mineral lithium plays an important role in our mental health. Non-detectable or low levels of lithium have been linked to addiction, suicide attempts, bullying, outbursts, and aggression. If you or your child have any of these symptoms, it is important to check lithium levels.

How much hair do you need? The test only requires 0.25grams or a tablespoon of hair. It needs to come from the scalp, not the pubic area or armpits.

Laboratory: DoctorsData

Test Type: Hair

View a sample report here

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The Organic Acids Test (OATS) offers a comprehensive metabolic snapshot of a patient’s overall health with 76 markers.  

Our Organic Acids Test includes markers for yeast and bacteria, vitamin and mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, and is the only OAT to include markers for oxalates, which are highly correlated with many chronic illnesses.

An OATS test can be helpful for people with: 

  • Attention Problems/ADHD
  • Autism
  • Autoimmune Disorders
  • Digestive Issues
  • Depression/Anxiety
  • Poor Sleep
  • Chronic Disorders
  • Neurological Disorders
  • Suspect Mold Toxicity
  • Suspect Detox issues

OATS for ADHD

The OATS is great for individuals with ADHD symptoms. It helps to find a metabolic imbalance with Clostridia (bacteria) or Candida (yeast). About 10-20% of children with ADHD have elevated levels of HPHPA, a by product of Candida. It is equally important to rule out Clostridia, especially if you or your child became more agitated and anxious on a stimulant, is hyperactive, aggressive, agitated or have any digestive symptoms. Candida can also be suspected if the individual has a high sugar diet or multiple rounds of antibiotics have been used.

View a sample report here

Source: Great Plains Laboratory

Type: Urine

A well-known practice in the functional medicine world, is that everyone should have in-depth stool testing, even if the person is not having any stomach issues. Our gut has such amazing importance it is often referred to as our second brain.

Overwhelmingly, research indicates that gut health impacts overall health. The gut microbiome, in particular, plays a critical role in mediating the effects of diet and other factors on health, including digestive, immune, metabolic and neuroendocrine functions. Assessing GI health with the proper tools can help practitioners get to the root cause of chronic illness.

Stool tests are commonly used in infants and children, and can provide insight into conditions related to Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, and digestive complaints. 

What information does the stool test tell us:

  • Status of Bacterial, parasitic and viral pathogens 
  • H. Pylori presence 
  • Normal/commensal bacteria– is there a diversity to our gut bacteria? A good diversity helps to keep the opportunistic bacteria at bay. 
  • Opportunistic/Overgrowth microbes- Many bacteria measured on the stool tests are considered opportunistic pathogen. Symptoms they cause may include diarrhea, loose stools, abdominal pain, or even constipation.
  • Parasites– A parasite is an organism that lives and feeds on a host organism at the expense of the host.
  • Intestinal Health Markers- This gives us insight into Digestion, Immune Response, Inflammation, and GI Markers
  • Antibiotic Resistance Genes-  includes results for detection of antibiotic resistance genes in the microbiome. 

 

Stool Testing Sample Reports

GI Map

Gut Zoomer

Click here to schedule a 15 minute consult to discuss which stool test is right for you?

Research has revealed a relationship between health of the gastrointestinal tract and overall well-being. Imbalance between good and bad bacteria (dysbiosis) has been shown to worsen behavior disorders, hyperactivity, aggression, and cause fatigue. Evidence is mounting that dysbiosis impairs the immune system and contributes to food allergies, digestive disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and cognitive dysfunction.

Using the Food MAP (which will include a separate report for Candida and brewer’s yeast) will help identify food allergies and Candida sensitivity that may be creating a variety of problems for patients. Practitioners may then recommend an elimination trial of the identified foods.

People with the following symptoms may benefit from an IgG Food Map:

  • Asthma
  • Coughing
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Gas
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Skin rash
  • Itching
  • Nasal congestion

 

 

IgG food test results are often used to develop food antibody-guided exclusion/ elimination diets. The implementation of such diets has been shown to alleviate symptoms associated with nonceliac gluten sensitivity and food sensitivity-induced atopic conditions.

 

IgG Food Map for ADHD

The IgG test can be particularly useful in children under 12 years of age. Symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, excitable, agitation, temper tantrums and more. Bed wetting can sometimes be linked to food an IgG food allergy. Adolescents with a known allergy to pollen or other substances or with a family history or allergies, and related disease like asthma and eczema, may benefit from an IgG food map.  Food elimination diets developed with results from a Food Map also hold promise for the improvement of behaviors associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

View sample report here

Source: Great Plains

Test Type: Blood (Finger Prick)

DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones)

Fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, acne, lack of interest, and depression can all be signs of hormonal and/or adrenal imbalance.  DUTCH offers a variety of panels designed to address your specific symptoms. 

Schedule a connect call today to discuss which one is right for you.