Routine blood work is available for all of our patients. Many inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases can affect normal body functions such as blood cells, iron stores, blood glucose and liver function. The tests that are commonly run include the following:
- complete blood count (CBC)
- comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
- ferritin (iron stores)
- thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- lipid panel (including total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, VLDL and many more)
- vitamin D
- sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (inflammatory markers)
The above list is only a small subset of the routine testing available. All lab testing is available to order at our clinic. Our facility is equip with an in-house lab and all blood work is drawn at our clinic, usually at the time of the appointment.
All routine lab work is billed to insurance and covered in accordance to your individual health care plan.
Lab testing for autoimmune diseases usually requires laboratory markers called auto-antibodies. Different auto-antibodies can indicate whether or not a particular disease is likely to be present. There are other lab tests that are often used to rule out autoimmunity and we offer those as well.
Specialty autoimmune tests that we offer are as follows:
- Aurora Life Sciences – autoimmune screening panel
- Cyrex Labs – food, environmental, musculoskeletal and neurologic antibody screening
- Exagen – rheumatologic (arthritis) and specifically lupus antibody screening
Food allergies can sometimes be a trigger for autoimmune reactions or chronic inflammation. We use a semi-quantitative allergen-specific ELISA blood test to measure reactions to a number of different foods, spices and inhalants. Once allergens are identified, they can be removed from the diet or environment and symptoms can be reassessed.
Specialty allergy and sensitivity tests that we offer are as follows:
- US Biotek – food and environmental antibody testing.
- Cyrex Labs – food, environmental, musculoskeletal and neurologic antibody screening
- Genova Diagnostics – food and environmental antibody testing
Environmental heavy metals and toxins can build up in our body over time and can cause many different problems, including exacerbating autoimmune diseases. While it can be difficulty to assess past exposure in many people, current testing is able to detect the presence of many metals and toxins in the body from past exposures. Testing depends on the time of exposure, level of exposure and type of exposure.
Our gut plays an important role in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Identifying conditions like leaky gut, intestinal dysbiosis, small intestinal bowel overgrowth (SIBO), and other GI conditions is important to understanding certain autoimmune triggers. Here are some of the common tests that we implement:
SIBO testing:
- Trio Smart Breath Testing – for hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulfide producing bacteria
- Genova Diagnostics – for hydrogen and methane producing bacteria
Stool Testing:
- Diagnostic Solutions – PCR testing for bacteria, viruses, yeast and parasites
- Genova Diagnostics – PCR and culture testing for bacteria, parasites, viruses and yeast
H. Pylori testing:
- Breath testing
- Stool testing
- Blood testing