The DUTCH Test
by Precision Analytical
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The Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones is unparalleled in the field of hormone testing. Most hormone tests, be they by saliva or blood sample, only test sum quantities of free hormones, which typically represent a very small percentage of the total. This is like looking in one room of a house to get a sense of the overall structure. The DUTCH test in comparison tests hormones and their various metabolites, filling out a comprehensive picture of how these hormones are moving and getting metabolized through the body. The result is a deep look into adrenal health, cortisol production and clearance throughout the day, DHEA (the ‘fountain of youth’ hormone that opposes cortisol) and its metabolites, all sex hormones, phase 1 and 2 liver detoxification, methylation, melatonin production, and even thyroid health. The DUTCH Complete test gives even more insight into B vitamin deficiencies, detoxification, neurotransmitter function, oxidative stress, and much more. You can see how this test goes into hormones like no other, and beyond into an overall snapshot of different bodily systems. In terms of ‘bang for your buck,’ this test is a phenomenal value with unmatched depth of scope.

GI-MAP
by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory
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This test is unrivaled for comprehensive insight into the health of the gastrointestinal tract. If you walk into a doctor’s office complaining of stomach ulcer symptoms, as just one example, they will likely run a test for a single pathogen- helicobacter pylori (h.pylori) which usually causes stomach ulcers and can even lead to stomach cancer in extreme cases. The test will come back ‘positive’ or ‘negative.’ The GI MAP test, in contrast, shows 7 different virulence factors of h.pylori- no other test does this. It will also show clostridia, various e.coli, giardia, salmonella, cryptosporidium, various viruses including cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr, autoimmune triggers like klebsiella and citrobacter, fungi/yeast like candida albicans, protozoa like blastocystis hominis, worms, and even healthy probiotic bacteria… and so much more!! The test also shows intestinal immune function, digestive function, intestinal inflammation, and can be upgraded to show zonulin, a quantitative marker of leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability). Suffice to say, there is a TON of information in the result of a GI MAP test… Good thing you have me to make sense of it all! Better yet, we will devise a precise and strategic plan for what to do about it! You can see how running this test alongside the DUTCH would provide an incredibly detailed, comprehensive snapshot of overall health.

IgG + Candida Dried Blood Spot
by Great Plains Laboratory

This easy finger-prick test can be done at home in minutes and evaluates IgG reactions to 93 common foods as well as candida albicans. It is estimated that upwards of 80% of food reactions are not immediate or life-threatening (think throat closing up or anaphylaxis- these are caused by IgE reactions and commonly tested at hospitals with prick tests) , but rather delayed by up to several days. This means that you might be reacting to something, but have a very difficult time pinning down exactly what it was because the reaction doesn’t immediately follow eating the offending food. Note that the test doesn’t look for the presence of candida, but rather antibodies to candida- meaning that it will show if your immune system is reacting to the fungi/yeast. You could have a moderate amount of candida and no reaction, or a small amount of candida and a significant immune reaction! Food reaction testing like this IgG test can be a very useful step in honing in on a truly personalized ideal diet.

Organic Acids Test (OAT)
by Great Plains Laboratory
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This simple pee test is more general than the other two, but nevertheless provides a tremendous amount of information and a great general snapshot of overall health, as well as a great value if money is an issue. From the OAT we can get great insight into small intestine activity, including candida and clostridia infection, as well as neurotransmitter function, vitamin deficiencies, detoxification, oxalate and amino acid status, and mitochondrial health. For mental health cases, this test is ideal, as both clostridia and candida are often implicated in depression, autism, anxiety, schizophrenia and more. Amino acid profiles and neurotransmitter activity are also directly relevant to mental health, and getting insight into their function can only be helpful information.