Functional & Integrative Laboratory Testing
Sometimes symptoms don’t tell the whole story.
Fatigue. Anxiety. Poor sleep. Hormonal changes. Digestive issues. Brain fog. Inflammation. Mood shifts.
These experiences rarely come from a single cause. More often, they reflect longer-term patterns in stress physiology, immune signalling, gut health, nutrient status, metabolism, and nervous system load.
In our practice, laboratory testing isn’t something we use automatically. Many people improve through hands-on care, nervous system support, nutritional guidance, and lifestyle changes alone.
But when symptoms feel persistent, complex, or confusing - or when progress stalls - testing gives us another way to listen more closely to your body.
Not to label you.
Not to chase numbers.
But to understand patterns of adaptation and strain, so care can be more precise and supportive.
Below is an overview of the different areas we may explore, depending on your presentation.
Stress Physiology & Nervous System Load
Your stress system influences energy, sleep, digestion, mood, immunity, and hormonal balance.
Long-term emotional pressure, overwork, unresolved stress, or chronic vigilance can quietly reshape how your body produces and responds to cortisol.
We may explore this area when people experience:
ongoing fatigue or burnout
anxiety or emotional reactivity
sleep disruption
afternoon crashes
feeling “wired but tired”
difficulty recovering from stress
These tests help us understand your cortisol rhythm and stress response patterns.
Examples of tests we may use (saliva):
Adrenocortex Stress Profile Basic [1001]
Adrenocortex Stress Profile Extensive [1002]
Cortisol Awakening Response - CAR [1012]
Neurotransmitter & Brain Chemistry
Brain chemistry is closely linked to stress, sleep, digestion, hormones, and emotional resilience.
We may look here when there is:
persistent anxiety or low mood
motivation or focus difficulties
emotional flattening
more complex nervous system presentations
These urine tests look at neurotransmitter output and metabolites.
Examples of tests we may use (urine):
Extensive Neurotransmitter Profile [4026]
Intermediate Neurotransmitter (Complex presentations) [4035]
Sleep Regulation
Sleep problems are rarely “just sleep problems.”
They often reflect cortisol timing, nervous system activation, or metabolic stress.
We may explore this area when sleep feels:
light or fragmented
difficult to initiate
disrupted by early waking
non-restorative despite enough hours in bed
Example test (saliva):
Sleep Profile [1009]
Hormones & Metabolic Health
Hormones don’t operate in isolation. They’re influenced by stress physiology, blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and nervous system signalling.
We may explore this area when people present with:
perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms
irregular or heavy cycles
mood changes tied to hormonal shifts
weight that feels resistant to effort
low libido
fluctuating energy
Examples of tests we may use (saliva unless stated):
Female Hormone Profile Basic [1005]
Female Hormone + Adrenocortex Basic [1010]
Male Hormone Profile Extensive [1008]
To assess metabolic load:
Insulin Resistance Index (blood) [1109]
Cardiovascular Profile Comprehensive (blood) [4001]
Thyroid Function
The thyroid influences metabolism, temperature regulation, energy, cognition, and mood.
We may assess this system when people experience:
persistent fatigue
cold sensitivity
brain fog
unexplained weight changes
low drive
Results are always interpreted alongside stress physiology and nutrient status.
Example test (blood):
Thyroid Profile Extensive [1114]
Immune Activation & Inflammation
Sometimes the body is quietly dealing with chronic immune activation.
This may show up as:
unexplained pain or inflammation
autoimmune tendencies
fatigue that doesn’t resolve with rest
recurrent illness
skin or allergy patterns
These tests help us understand inflammatory signalling.
Example test (blood):
Cytokine Panel [4004]
Nutrient Status & Biochemical Foundations
Even with a good diet, long-term stress or absorption issues can affect nutrient availability.
We may assess this area when people experience:
low energy
poor stress tolerance
mood changes
slow recovery
cognitive fog
These tests look at minerals, metals, amino acids, organic acids, and metabolic markers.
Examples of tests we may use:
Hair Mineral Analysis Level 2 (hair) [5014]
NutriSTAT Comprehensive Profile (blood + urine) [5005]
Brain Chemistry & Methylation Patterns
Some people benefit from deeper insight into biochemical pathways related to mood, focus, fatigue, and cognition.
We may explore this when there is:
chronic fatigue
anxiety or low mood
learning or attention difficulties
persistent brain fog
Examples of tests we may use (blood):
Pfeiffer Profile Basic [3415]
Pfeiffer Profile Extensive [3416]
Gut Health, Microbiome, & Digestive Function
Your gut is a major meeting point for the nervous system, immune system, and hormones.
Disruptions here can contribute to anxiety, inflammation, hormonal resistance, fatigue, and food reactivity - even when digestion itself doesn’t feel dramatically impaired.
We may explore this area when people report:
bloating, IBS, reflux, or abdominal discomfort
food sensitivities
skin flare-ups
immune issues
persistent inflammation
anxiety linked to digestion
Examples of tests we may use:
Microbiome mapping (stool)
Complete Microbiome Mapping [2206]
Advanced Microbiome Mapping [2211]
Comprehensive digestive stool analysis (stool)
CDSA Level 1 [2003]
CDSA Level 2 [2004]
CDSA Level 3+ [2005]
CDSA Level 4+ [2006]
Gut inflammation & barrier integrity
Calprotectin (stool) [2001]
Secretory IgA (stool) [2024]
Intestinal Permeability (urine) [2011]
Targeted pathogens
Helicobacter pylori (stool) [2010]
Liver Function
The liver plays a central role in detoxification, hormone processing, digestion, and energy metabolism.
We may look here when people experience:
abdominal discomfort or nausea
fatigue
digestive changes
difficulty tolerating supplements or medications
Example test (blood):
Liver Function Test [6004]
Advanced Metabolic & Functional Mapping
These tests are used when symptoms persist or when foundational testing doesn’t fully explain what the body is struggling with.
They help us look more deeply at cellular energy production, microbial metabolites, detox pathways, and fatty acid balance.
We may consider these when there is:
chronic fatigue that doesn’t resolve
ongoing brain fog
mood symptoms that don’t match neurotransmitter results
gut work that plateaus
strong reactions to detox support
Examples of tests we may use (blood):
OMX (Organic Metabolomics / Organic Acids) (urine)
GI Mapping (stool)
Omega Balance Test (finger-prick blood)
How we decide what testing is appropriate
Not everyone needs laboratory testing.
We always start with listening - to your story, your symptoms, your history, and how your body responds to care.
If testing feels appropriate, it’s chosen carefully and collaboratively. We don’t run large panels “just because.” Each test has a purpose.
Results are always interpreted in context - alongside your clinical picture - and used to guide supportive care, not to reduce you to numbers on a page.
Our goal is simple:
To better understand what your body has been adapting to, and to help create the conditions for it to recover and rebalance.