Basic Labs

In order to help diagnose and treat you effectively, the doctors at Blossom will want to order recent blood work on most of their patients. Traditional laboratory as well as alternative testing, if necessary, can be ordered. We will run standard lab testing through your insurance. Traditional lab testing will be covered by your insurance depending on what type of coverage you have for lab work, with the exception of government and state funded insurance. Standard lab testing may include:

  • Allergy Markers 

  • Autoimmune markers

  • Blood sugar panels 

  • Complete blood counts

  • Comprehensive metabolic panels

  • Cholesterol panels 

  • Cardiovascular risk factors

  • Hormones

  • Infection antibodies (current and past) 

  • Inflammatory markers

  • Pregnancy tests

  • Throat culture (Strep tests)

  • Thyroid panels

  • Urinalysis (UTI test)

  • Vitamin deficiencies (such as vitamin D, B12, Folate)

Alternative Labs

Organic Acid Test

The OAT (Organic Acids Test) provides a metabolic “snapshot” based on those products the body discarded during urination. These small organic acid molecules are byproducts of human cellular activity, the digestion of foods, and the life cycles of gastrointestinal flora.  The OAT reliably detects the overgrowth of yeast and bacteria species commonly missed by conventional culture methods. These organisms can produce or exacerbate symptoms in many conditions and often affect other metabolic processes assessed in the OAT.

Additional pathways of interest include products of carbohydrate digestion, mitochondrial function which produces energy at a cellular level, many vitamin levels, neurotransmitter metabolites as well as an assessment of potential environmental toxicities affecting antioxidant levels. This test may be recommended by your physician if you are suffering with extreme PMS, digestive issues, fatigue, poor memory or focus, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, mood disorders, autism and/or living with ADHD.

IgG Food Intolerance Testing

The IgG (Immunoglobulin G) lab testing is a useful guide for structuring elimination diets in many chronic conditions. Individuals with neurological, gastrointestinal, and movement disorders often suffer from IgG food intolerances. These people may continue to eat offending foods unaware of their potential effects. IgG antibodies provide long term resistance to infections and have a much longer half life than the traditional IgE allergy. Symptoms may occur hours or days after the offending food has been eaten. The IgG Food Intolerance Test can identify food intolerances, so that they can be eliminated from the patient’s diet. This elimination of IgG positive foods can improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, constipation, autism, AD(H)D, cystic fibrosis, migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, and epilepsy.

MTHFR

Methyltetrahydrofolate reductase or MTHFR is an enzyme that is needed to metabolize both folic acid and homocysteine.  A deficiency in this enzyme leads to a buildup of homocysteine which is potentially toxic.  Increased levels of homocysteine can result in cardiovascular disease, fatigue, miscarriages, infertility, mood disorders, anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, insomnia, restless leg syndrome and neurological disorders to name a few.  We can check to see if a contributing factor to your disease may be due to an issue with your genes by running this blood test.  If you happen to test positive for this enzyme deficiency the treatment is simply to take a methylated and highly absorbable form of folate.  

Salivary Hormones

Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that are essential for maintaining physical and mental health.  However, they change with age and stress levels.  Hormone imbalance can lead to a variety of symptoms including:  PMS/PMDD, painful cycles, infertility, immunity problems, thyroid disorders, stress, blood sugar issues and Peri- and post-menopausal symptoms such as hair loss, brain fog, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, weight gain, food cravings, insomnia, low libido and mood changes.  Although we can also test hormones in the blood, sometimes that does not give us the whole picture.  By testing hormones in the saliva, the most active/bioavailable portions of hormones are measured.  Additionally, if you are currently using a topical hormone cream, saliva testing is the most accurate tool to measure and monitor hormone status.

Iodine

Iodine deficiency is commonly seen in a variety of diseases such as thyroid disorders, ovarian cysts, infertility, postpartum depression, weight gain, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, low immunity, anxiety, fibrocystic breast disease and a variety of cancers, including breast cancers.  The best way to test for iodine in your system is to do an iodine loading test.  A baseline urine test is run for your levels of iodine.  Then you ingest an iodine supplement and your urine is collected over 24 hours to see how much iodine that you hold onto and how much is retained in your system.  The more the iodine you hold onto is correlated with how deficient you are.  We can determine if you are iodine deficient and the correct dosage of iodine you should be taking to correct the problem based on this test.  

Comprehensive Stool Analysis

The Comprehensive Stool Analysis detects the presence of pathogenic microorganisms such as yeast, parasites, and bacteria that contribute to chronic illness and neurological dysfunction. It provides helpful information about prescription and natural products effective against specific strains of microorganisms detected in the sample. The test also evaluates beneficial bacteria levels, intestinal immune function, overall intestinal health, and inflammation markers.

Many chronic disorders come from digestive problems and inadequate nutrient absorption. Proper gastrointestinal function is needed to eliminate toxic substances, pathogenic microbes, and undigested food particles from the body to prevent health problems. Nutrients require a specific internal environment to be properly digested and transported throughout the body.

Abnormal intestinal microorganisms in the GI tract are widely known to cause disease. Research shows a relationship between the GI tract and the neurological, hepatic, and immune systems. For example, excessive yeast produces toxic substances that can pass through the blood-brain barrier and alter neurological functioning causing “brain fog,” behavior problems, and learning difficulties.