LAB Tests

Adrenal Stress Test a stressful lifestyle can lead to consistently high levels of cortisol, and low levels of the hormone DHEA (dehydoepiandosterone), which can be damaging to the brain and other tissues. The Adrenal Stress Profiles use a non-invasive salivary procedure to monitor the activity of the adrenal cortex and its ability to react to stress.
Diseases and conditions associated with chronic stress:
• Anxiety
• Back pain
• Cardiovascular disease
• Celiac disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Depression
• Hypoglycemia
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Migraine headaches
• Obesity
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Ulcers
• Weak immune system
From a simple finger stick this bloodspot test measures 30 common foods for IgG4 reactions





Comprehensive Female Health Profile
Hormones tested in Female Profile:

1) Estradiol and Progesterone
Relative to progesterone, can explain many symptoms in reproductive age women including endometrial hyperplasia, pre-menstrual syndrome, dethighs, are also seen in some women approaching menopause, whose estrogen levels swing wildly from high to low without the balancing effects of progesterone. If estrogen dominance is not corrected, it can lead to cancers of the uterus and breasts, and insulin resistance new subset of symptoms can result from low estradiol levels, including hot disturbances, foggy thinking, more rapid skin aging, and bone loss. Maintaining appropriate levels of estradiol, adequately balanced with progesterone, at any age is essential for optimal health.
Conditions such as excessive facial and body hair, acne, and oily skin and hair. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is thought to be caused, in part, by insulin resistance. On the other hand, too little testosterone is often caused by excessive stress, medications, contraceptives, and surgical removal of the ovaries loss of libido, thinning skin, vaginal dryness, loss of bone and muscle mass, depression, and memory lapses.

2)Testosterone
levels can also be either too high or too low. Testosterone in excess, often caused by ovarian cysts, leads to conditions such as excessive facial and body hair, acne, and oily skin and hair. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is thought to be caused, in part, by insulin resistance. On the other hand, too little testosterone is often caused by excessive stress, medications, contraceptives, and surgical removal of the ovaries6. This leads to symptoms of androgen

deficiency including loss of libido, thinning skin, vaginal dryness, loss of bone and muscle mass, depression, and memory lapses.

3) SHBG
is a protein produced by the liver in response to exposure to any type of estrogen, whether produced naturally by7.mostly found in the circulation in its conjugated form, DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S), is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland function. It is a precursor for the production of estrogens and testosterone, 8.is an indicator of adrenal function and exposure to stressors. Under normal circumstances, adrenal cortisol9.fi le (free T4, free T3, TSH, and TPO) can indicate the presence of an imbalance in thyroid function; deficiency can also be a cause of infertility.
the body, consumed as a synthetic oral contraceptive estrogen, estrogen therapy, or as foods or herbs (phyto estrogens).Released from the liver into the bloodstream, SHBG binds tightly to circulating estradiol and testosterone, preventing their rapid metabolism and clearance and limiting their bioavailability to tissues. SHBG gives a good index of the extent of the body’s overall exposure to estrogens. The SHBG level is also used to calculate free (unbound) testosterone levels when bloodspot is used instead of saliva to measure sex hormones

4)DHEA
glands, and levels generally read is therefore normally present in greater quantities than all the other steroid hormones. Its production is highest in the late teens to early 20s, and declines gradually with age. Like cortisol, it is involved with immune function and a balance between the two is essential. Low DHEA can result in reduced libido and general malaise, while high DHEA can have masculine effect on women because it metabolizes to androgens, including testosterone. Because of its conversion to estrogens andndrogens, it is important to monitor levels of these hormones, as well as levels of DHEA, during supplementation

5)Cortisol
production shows a diurnal variation and is highest early in the morning, soon after waking, falling to lower levels in the evening. Normal cortisol production shows a healthy ability to respond to stress. Low cortisol levels can indicate adrenal fatigue (a reduced ability to respond to stressors), and can leave the body more vulnerable to our blood sugar regulation and immune system dysfunction. Chronically high cortisol is a consequence of high, constant exposure to stressors, and this has serious implications for long-term health, including an increased risk of cancer, osteoporosis, and possibly alzheimer’sdisease



6)The Thyroid Profile
Which can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including feeling cold all the time, low stamina, fatigue (particularly in the evening), depression, low sex drive, weight gain, and high cholesterol? Thyroid is why these tests are included in the Female Fertility Pro LH and FSH related to ovarian insufficiency
This panel is done through bloodspot and Saliva testing







Amino AcidsTesting Known as the “building blocks” of proteins, amino acids have many important functions in the body including the regulation of muscle and hormone activity and the formation and maintenance of every tissue in the body. Eleven amino acids are considered essential. Our bodies cannot make them; therefore we must receive them from our diet. When amino acid supply is inadequate to meet tissue demand, important body functions suffer. This results in the appearance of signs and symptoms ranging from immune system effects to cardiovascular disease to emotional disorders and more.

Comprehensive Male Hormone Profile

1)Estradiol
is tested because too much of it, relative to testosterone levels, suppresses testosterone receptors in target tissues and
eventually leads to feminizing effects in men, such as breast enlargement. In healthy young men, testosterone is at its highest level
and estradiol is very low. However, as men age, this shifts to a higher estradiol/testosterone ratio. Even if testosterone levels are
normal, symptoms can indicate a functional testosterone deficiency because of the effects of higher than normal estradiol levels.
There are several mechanisms by which relative levels of estradiol and testosterone can change. Weight gain, whether or not this
results from low testosterone, results in increased production of aromatase in fat cells, which converts testosterone to estradiol.
Rising estradiol levels also cause the liver to produce more SHBG, which has a greater affinity for testosterone than estradiol. These acts to suppress further the amount of circulating free testosterone.

2)Progesterone
is present in men but at a much lower level than found in premenopausal women. Some men supplement with topical progesterone to help with sleep, to support adrenal cortisol production (progesterone is a cortisol precursor), and to counterbalance the effects of estrogens on the prostate. It has also been used as a mild antiandrogen in patients with BPH and to reduce male pattern baldness, because of its competition with testosterone and DHT for androgen receptors. Salivary progesterone levels can, therefore, be useful to monitor supplementation.

3)Testosterone
is the primary indicator of male hypogonadism and andropause. Many things can contribute to low testosterone levels, including high cortisol levels and high estrogen levels, as described above. Testosterone production in the testes is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, and so dysfunctions of the hypothalamus or pituitary can affect levels, as well as the negative feedback effect of estradiol on LH levels to suppress testosterone production.

4)SHBG
binds and transports both testosterone and estrogens in the bloodstream, and it therefore regulates the relative amounts of free and bound hormone and consequently their bioavailability to target tissues. SHBG is a protein produced by the liver in response to exposure to any type of estrogen. Testosterone binds about three times more tightly to SHBG than does estradiol, so this increase in SHBG as a result of estrogen exposure causes the relative proportion of bioavailable testosterone to estradiol to decrease even further, exacerbating the symptoms of testosterone deficiency.
Many factors, in addition to estrogen exposure, can affect SHBG levels. Thyroid hormone increases SHBG production, whereas insulin, on the other hand, decreases SHBG levels.
In young men, testosterone levels are usually high and SHBG low, making most of the testosterone bioavailable. However, as men age, gain weight, and their estrogen levels increase, SHBG also raises, decreasing bioavailable testosterone. Measuring SHBG in blood provides an indication of the overall exposure to estrogens, as well as the bioavailable (free) fraction of testosterone (calculated from the ratio of testosterone to SHBG).

5)PSA
is a measure of prostate health and high levels can indicate the presence of BPH or advancing prostate cancer. As prostate cells start to become crowded, they produce PSA, which acts to suppress angiogenesis and therefore reduce the blood supply to the surrounding tissue to prevent it from further growth. High levels are therefore seen only as a result of growth that is fairly rapid. It is important to test PSA levels prior to starting testosterone therapy, as a sharp increase in PSA can indicate prostate problems.

6)DHEA
is a precursor for the production of estrogens and testosterone, and is therefore normally present in greater quantities than all the other steroid hormones. It is mostly found in the circulation in its conjugated form, DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S). Its production, which occurs in the adrenal glands, declines gradually with age. Like cortisol, it is involved with immune function and a balance between the two is essential. Low DHEA can result in reduced libido and general malaise.

7)Cortisol
is an indicator of adrenal function and exposure to stressors. Under normal circumstances, adrenal cortisol production shows a diurnal variation and is highest early in the morning, soon after waking, falling to lower levels in the evening. Normal cortisol production shows a healthy ability to respond to stress. Low cortisol levels can indicate adrenal fatigue (a reduced ability to respond to stressors), and can leave the body more vulnerable to poor blood sugar regulation and immune system dysfunction. Chronically high cortisol is a consequence of high, constant exposure to stressors, and this has serious implications for long-term health, including an increased risk of cancer, osteoporosis, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.

8)The Thyroid Profile (free T4, free T3, TSH, and TPO)
can indicate the presence of an imbalance in thyroid function, which can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including feeling cold all the time, low stamina, fatigue (particularly in the evening), depression, low sex drive, weight gain, and high cholesterol.
This comprehensive profile is bloodspot and Saliva testing 


Bone Resorption Accelerated bone loss affects more than 44 million Americans 50 years of age and older. 80% of them are women. But men, younger women, and otherwise healthy, active individuals can also experience the dangerous thinning and weakening of bones known as osteoporosis.
A series of bone scans can be expensive and can only indicate changes in your bones over a six to twelve month period. They do not show your current bone activity. Bone Resorption Assay detects biochemical markers which reflect present remodeling activity. This test is simple and cost-effective, allowing you to routinely monitor bone resorption rates and the effectiveness of therapy.
People at risk for and conditions associated with rapid bone loss:
People at risk for and conditions associated
with rapid bone loss:
• Men and women over 50
• Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women
• Women recently pregnant or nursing
• Slender, small-framed women
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Tobacco users
• Heavy alcohol consumers (particularly men)
• Men and women with lactose intolerance or dairy allergy
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Race, particularly Caucasian or southeast Asian descent
• Overactive thyroid
• Depression
• Selected medications
• Hysterectomy
• Stress
• Low vitamin D and calcium
• Weak digestion
• History of dieting
• Irregular periods
• Weak adrenals




Vitamin D Testing Most people are familiar with vitamin D’s role in preventing rickets in children from the diet. Recently, research has shown that vitamin D is important in protecting the body from a wide range of diseases.
Disorders linked with vitamin D- stroke, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, several forms of cancer, some autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes, type II diabetes, depression and even schizophrenia.
Vitamin D is actually a prohormone and not technically a vitamin: a vitamin is naturally by the body but must be supplied in the diet to maintain life processes. But in fact, we make most of our vitamin D by the action of ultraviolet light (sunlight) on the vitamin D originator that is found in our skin. We only get very small amounts of vitamin D from our diet, although increasingly it is added to foods eaten by children, in an attempt to prevent rickets in the population. A major cause of deficiency is very common in northern climates here people don’t spend much time outdoors, but even in countries near the equator, women in particular often have much of their skin area covered for cultural reasons, and the use of sunscreen also blocks the formation of vitamin D in the skin.
Vitamin D is metabolized by the liver to a storage form of the vitamin, which circulates in the blood until needed. Enzymes in the kidneys metabolize it further to form the highly active hormone that is involved in essential biochemical processes throughout the body.



Estronex-Every Woman should know Her Risk for Breast Cancer- the test measures estrogen ratios; 2/16 profile is a measurement of two important forms of estrogen: 2-OHE1 (the "good "estrogen) and 16-a-OHE1 (the "bad "estrogen).
The ratio of “good to bad estrogen” is determined from a single urine specimen. Studies have shown that women with low Estronex 2/16 ratios have much higher rates of breast cancer. Low Estronex 2/16 ratios also indicate increased long-term risk for other estrogen-sensitive cancers, including uterine, ovarian, cervical, and even head and neck cancers.
The following may contribute to your risk of developing estrogen-sensitive cancers, including breast, cervical, head and neck cancers:
• Prolonged use of oral contraceptives (5+ years)
• Synthetic hormone replacement therapy
• Family history or personal history of breast cancer
• Obesity or sedentary lifestyle
• Consumption of 2 or more alcoholic drinks per day
• Getting older
• Never having children, or having your first after 35
• Having high break density on a mammogram
• Being exposed to large amounts of radiation


Food Sensitivity Testing
Measures levels if IgG antibodies specific to 30 commonly offending foods. It clearly identifies those foods that may be causing health problems. Food sensitivities can occur at any age, triggering many different symptoms and contributing to a variety of disorders, including:

Recurrent ear infections, watery/itchy eyes, constant runny or stuffed up nose, chronic sinus problems, headaches, migraines, sore throat, mood swings, anxiety, depression, food cravings, poor concentration, fatigue, and hyperactivity, asthma, irregular heartbeats, muscle and joint pain, arthritis. Inadequate digestion may cause diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, ulcers, water retention, weight gain, hives rashes and sweating. 





Fatty Acid Profile If you are confused about the conflicting opinions and myths about dietary fat, you are not alone. One thing is clear: the type and amount of dietary fat that you eat can affect your health. This profile shows the ratios between omega 3 and omega 6 fats; balanced fatty acids levels are essential for optimum health. This is a prick of the finger bloodspot test.

Signs/Symptoms of Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency:
• Thick or cracked calluses
• Dandruff
• Dry, dull, brittle hair
• Brittle fingernails
• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth/throat
• Inadequate vaginal lubrication
• Depression
• Menstrual cramps
• Premenstrual breast pain/tenderness
• Excessive ear wax
• Excessive thirst
• Allergies
• Crave fats/fatty foods
• Stiff or painful joints
• Dry skin/discoloration

Heavy Metal Toxicity Some elements can accumulate in tissues causing toxic effects. Metal toxicity is a significant environmental health concern. A toxic load of lead, cadmium, mercury, aluminum, or arsenic is capable of rendering considerable damage to the brain and nervous system, particularly in
Children. Toxic elements produce their many negative effects through various mechanisms.

Conditions and symptoms related to abnormal element levels in urine:
• Chronic pain in muscles
• Fatigue
• Brain fog (state of forgetfulness and confusion)
• Chronic infections such as Candida
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Food allergies
• Dizziness
• Migraines/headaches
• Visual disturbances
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Nervous system sensitivities





Organic Acid Testingis a way to measure whether your body is getting and using nutrients to drive optimal health. Organic acids can alert you to potential problems and help you make diet and lifestyle changes that may both extend and enhance your quality of life.

From a single urine specimen, this profile can provide important information for treating the following conditions and more:
• Anxiety
• Attention and memory disorders
• Autoimmune disorders
• Bloating and gas
• Blood sugar deregulation
• Constipation
• Depression
• Dermatitis
• Ear, nose, and throat symptoms
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Hypertension
• Liver Disease
• Mood changes
• Multiple chemical sensitivity
• Muscle and joint pain
• Nausea
• Reflux
• Sleep abnormalities
• Weight gain

Oxidative Stress Testing Oxidative damage is done by too much toxic exposure; your body constantly reacts with oxygen as you breathe and your cells produce energy. As a consequence of this activity, highly reactive molecules are produced known as free radicals.
Free radicals interact with other molecules within cells. This can cause oxidative damage to proteins, membranes and genes. Oxidative damage has been implicated in the cause of many diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's and has an impact on the body's aging process. External factors such as pollution, sunlight and smoking also trigger the production of free radicals. This is a simple urine test.

Call to make an appointment for an initial consultation

at our office in Agoura Hills, CA 91301

818.849.2004