Not all lab tests are created equal. Understanding which tests provide the most actionable information for your health situation can help you make the most of your healthcare and avoid paying for tests that won't change your care.
Basic Foundation Testing
These tests provide a baseline snapshot of overall health and should be part of any annual evaluation:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): Assesses red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets — revealing anemia, infection, and immune function.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Evaluates kidney function, liver function, blood sugar, and electrolytes.
- Lipid Panel: Cholesterol and triglycerides — with functional interpretation going beyond standard ratios.
- Thyroid Panel: TSH minimum; a full thyroid panel adds Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and antibodies.
Functional Medicine Testing
These go beyond standard panels to assess optimal function:
- Advanced Hormone Panel: Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol for comprehensive hormonal assessment.
- Micronutrient Testing: Identifies deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
- Inflammatory Markers: CRP (high-sensitivity), homocysteine, fibrinogen, and ferritin.
- Gut Microbiome Analysis: Comprehensive stool testing assessing bacterial composition, pathogens, and digestive markers.
- Food Sensitivity Testing: IgG-based testing identifies delayed food reactions contributing to inflammation.
Specialty Testing Based on Symptoms
For specific concerns, targeted tests add valuable information: heavy metal testing for toxin exposure, MTHFR genetic testing for methylation issues, SIBO breath testing for gut bacterial overgrowth, and organic acids testing for metabolic function.
Working with Your Provider
At Alive and Well, our providers design comprehensive testing panels matched to your symptoms, history, and goals. We don't run tests for the sake of running tests — every panel is chosen to answer specific clinical questions that guide your personalized protocol.
