Note that other conditions may be in other sections eg. hormones, adrenal, mental health, thyroid, gut etc so do use the search function if it's not here.

Cardiovascular/Heart Disease Tests

With heart tests, you can look at what risk factors you may have and offset those risks very specifically to prevent problems developing or progressing in future. You can also test to see if you already have active heart disease as plaques formed during atherosclerosis release specific markers which can now be measured. It is so much more sophisticated nowadays than just looking at your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, if you know what to look for!

My advice if you fall into an 'at risk' category (familial history, high LDL cholesterol, blood pressure or diabetes, poor diet/lifestyle, smoke or are obese) is to do the DD CardioMetabolic Profile (serum) which is a really comprehensive look at both cardiovascular and blood sugar/diabetes markers AND the PULS Cardiac Test to look for the specific protein markers released in active heart disease. You can see a PULS sample report here. Check which test gives you what you need to know. Once you have some info to work with, you can get started on reducing those risks and reversing the issue!

Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome Tests

The DD CardioMetabolic Profile (serum) as above is a really good one and has a whole look at metabolic factors including lipids and diabetes markers.

You can do just the sugar/diabetes markers with the DD Metabolomic Profile which is a good assessment and the separate markers for you so you can get done what you need to. The DD Metabolomic Profile is either done via bloodspot or via serum. Both include HBA1c, insulin and leptin, but the serum version includes more markers, specifically Adiponectin and the Adiponectin ratio, which can't be done via bloodspot. The serum one also needs centrifuging. Click the links above to read about each test and see sample reports and collection instructions.

I have also listed separate items via TDL - insulin, fasting insulin resistance, fasting glucose and HBA1c. This is so you can do whatever combination you need. TDL can do some of them via TDL Tinies (blood spot) and will send those or normal blood tests depending on the combo you order. None of those need centrifuging.

Osteoporosis Tests

Mainstream look here for bone density loss usually with a Dexa type scan. However, in other European countries, they do a much earlier diagnostic test to see what the bone markers in urine are up to. Put simply: if you are making too much of these markers, you are breaking down bone too fast. You can then investigate further.

The benefit is earlier diagnosis because you have to have lost a significant amount of density before it will show well on a scan. The bone markers show up much earlier in a bone resorption test. I advise it a lot, especially over 40: prevention is better than too-late density loss! Genova Osteoporosis Risk Assessment.

Detox & Methylation Defect Tests

You can do simple liver function enzyme tests via your doctor, but I can do them if you need me to. I tend to focus on the deeper detox pathways in the liver: are phase 1 and 2 in balance? If not, you hold onto more toxic compounds that can trigger ill health, don't break down hormones or meds as well as you might, hold onto toxic metals and chemicals more etc. Here, the DD Hepatic Detox Profile can be really helpful.

Many people also have genetic weaknesses on certain detox pathways and this can explain a lot. For example, poor acetylators are often multiple-chemical-sensitive, poor methylators or those with absent glutathione genes are just vulnerable to toxic overload generally amongst many other things as those two are really important processes for the body, people with poor CYP450 pathways will make things more toxic and those with poor NAT transport genes will not be able to eliminate toxins as well as they might. Happily, once you are aware of any genetic predisposition or weakness, you can take steps to offset it. You can test all the main detox pathways using the LGx Detoxification Gene Test. This is a simple mouth swab and you can see a sample report here. I chose this one because I like the practical info it gives as well as the results.

Many people wish to check their methylation status specifically. You can test two different ways: genetically and functionally. You need to do both to get an accurate picture, in my view, or do the functional test. The best overall, I think, is the Genova Methylation panel which covers both and the report is nice and clear, which helps with complex tests like this - you can see a sample report here. For functional-only, I like the DD Methylation Profile function test because it includes the SAM:SAH ratio, which is important. For the methylation genes only, the LGx Methylation Gene test can be done separately, or you can add it onto the Lx Detox Test above as an add-on for a discounted £150.

For a really thorough look at your detox ability, I would do the Hepatic Detox Profile, the LGx Detox Genes and the Genova Methylation Panel. For more info on Detox generally, check the Detox Factsheet here.

Mercury and Heavy Metal Tests

For Mercury, the best nowadays is Quicksilver's Mercury Tri-Test. This is because it is the only test I know of that can differentiate between the types of mercury. ie. is it coming from your amalgams (the most damaging type: inorganic mercury) or fish/seafood (methyl mercury)? And it will also measure how effectively you are detoxifying it. A hair test can show mostly methyl levels (fish) but a bit of swallowed amalgam mercury. Challenge tests, which can mobilise mercury before you are ready to detox it are thankfully no longer necessary. Blood tests will also measure mainly methyl/fish again. Urine tests all inorganic (amalgam) mercury. With the Tri-test, you get to measure all of it so much easier! You can see the collection instructions here and a sample report here. There is also a great intro video here. The Tri-Test can also be done on children - obviously bear in mind it needs a blood sample, not fingerprick.

For general heavy metals, it is much easier. You can do a Genova whole blood Toxic Metals test or you can use the Nutrient & Toxic Elements test, which I think is much better value as you get the main beneficial minerals tested too - that's the main one I recommend for nutrient testing generally (see the Nutrient Tests section). I can also do the DD Urine Toxic Metals if needed (note the lab will not supply any challenge substances).

Hair can also be useful and shows you likely levels 3-4 months ago. A good one here is the DD Hair Elements Test. The Mineral Check hair test gives more info on ratios, so can be a better alternative if you are looking for general health indicators such as adrenal or thyroid issues as well as toxic metals. The reporting on the DD one is really good for where the minerals might be coming from, whereas the Mineral Check is good for the ratios and extra info. Here is a useful FAQ on hair testing from Mineral Check and some instructions on how to do a hair test effectively. A tip on the Mineral Check hair test - you can do a graph-only follow up if you wish rather than a full report. However, it costs only £10 less so I would say a full report is always better value. If you are doing a follow-up test, make sure you add the previous test reference number on the sample envelope - the company will include the previous figures on the report so you can make an easy comparison.

The DD Implant Metals test can be useful if you want to check the circulating levels of some of the most common metals used in dentistry eg nickel, cobalt etc. You can see more info and a sample report here.

I can also organise Melisa tests if you wish to test for dental metals and substances such as titanium, aluminium, acrylates etc. Have a read here on the main Melisa site for more info and maybe do their questionnaire. Biolab does these for us but note that these are done by attendance at the lab in Central London only; not available postally. You can see a sample report here and a request form here. Note that the price will vary depending on what you want to test. There is a £25 admin fee plus £30 courier fee and £20 phlebotomy fee on top so the the best way to order is to please us a lab test request and say in comments what you need. I will then work out the total cost with the lab and bill you.

Note: if you have heavy metals showing, see the section above on Detox Tests and this post here: Detox: Crucial in Chronic Illness

Chemical Exposure Tests

Exposure to - and sensitivity to - many toxic chemicals can cause or exacerbate many conditions. One of the major culprits currently suspected is Round Up (glyphosate), the most widely used herbicide in the world, which WHO classifies as a carcinogen, and which studies show affect the microbiome in the gut and much more.

As such, I have listed the glyphosate and GPLTOX tests from Great Plains Labs (GPL) for you. The latter tests an impressive 168 chemicals and you can add on, or do singly, the glyphosate. Both simple urine tests but very important ones.

I would then also be tempted to look at the Cyrex 11 to check if you are producing antibodies to any of the most common ones. That way, you have checked exposure and levels in the system and if you are immunologically reacting to any of them, if you see what I mean. You could then be cross-reacting ie. the body sees a chemical and cross-reacts to tissues and organs known to be linked with that chemical. It's an evolving science in autoimmune world.

Note: if you have chemical issues, see the section above on Detox Tests and this post here: Detox: Crucial in Chronic Illness

Infection Tests

There are lots of different types of infection and you will find most of the bacterial, parasite and yeast/candida infection, plus SIgA tests in the Gut Tests section and the Cyrex 12 antibody pathogens in the Cyrex section.. I would also ask your doctor to test your levels of IgA too, if you're suffering from recurrent infections, and I have listed a Total Immunoglobulins IgA, IgM, IgG Test for you if you need it. It's amazing how many people miss that.

For viruses, use the BCA Advanced Chronic Viral Profile, which looks for Herpes, Epstein Barr and Cytomegalovirus using the most advanced methods. You can see a sample report here. I can do lesser tests or more specific ones if you need those so do ask.

For Lyme Disease, use the BCA Lyme Profile Bundle where we have combined the best tests available into an all-in-one for you to try and pick up the stuff that is usually missed by tests. You can do each element separately, but this combo is really the best way I have of finding it for you. You might also want to look at the Cyrex 12 which includes antibody markers to Lyme and some of the co-infections. See here.

We can also now look for infections in the mouth and the health of the oral microbiome, much like you can in the gut. The Oral Ecologix test looks for levels of several bacteria linked to gum disease and periodontitis. Could your systemic inflammation in the body be caused by or exacerbated by an infection causing a leaky mouth and allowing infective agents or foods to trigger inflammatory or autoimmune disorders elsewhere in the body? Very possibly. It's a missing link I feel in many chronic cases.You can see a sample report and test instructions here. You might also want to read my post about it here: Leaky Mouth - Leaky Gut - Leaky Brain..

The Vaginal Ecologix does a similar job. Again, it looks for dysbiosis in the vaginal microbiome and for any pathogenic 'visitors' that might be causing eg fertility or pregnancy problems, bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disorder, vaginal candida etc. Again, could infection here be causing or exacerbating inflammation elsewhere in the brain or body? Quite possibly. You can see a sample report here and test instructions here. You can also see my post here on it.

Mycotoxins (Mould/Mold toxins) Test

In recent times, quite a few studies have been suggesting that chronic diseases including lupus, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia can be triggered or exacerbated by toxins released and inhaled from indoor moulds (molds). I have listed the GPL Mycotoxins test for you and you can see a sample report here. Collection instructions are here. Note: if you have mould issues, see the section above on Detox Tests and this post here: Detox: Crucial in Chronic Illness

Immunology Tests

I've added a test for TH1:TH2 Balance for you here because many of you are trying to see if your immune system is out of balance and hence why you are more reactive to things than you should be, how the balance is impacting on your autoimmune issues and others need it for explaining fertility problems. This can then also help you choose treatment strategies as some herbs and meds are TH1 or TH2 boosters or suppressors.

This is a really complex field, see this overview for example. For an easier read, try the link above and this one about Hashimoto's thyroid disease. I like this one because Chris Kesser has the same take on it as me - it can be useful to see the balance, but in effect it is all about the regulatory T cells and making sure you've got enough of those. That said, the balance info can be useful, so here it is for you.

You can see a sample report here. Plus, I can do the other cytokines if needed, just ask. Please note that the samples have to be returned within 24 hours to the London lab by Thursday in the week at the latest. It is processed at the Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago.

Inflammation Test

There are several Inflammation tests. Your GP will probably do ESR and CRP and those will give you a general look. However, when we are looking for chronic, rather than acute inflammation, you need to dig a lot deeper. At the very least you do a highly sensitive CRP test (hsCRP) which will pick up far more than the usual standard CRP - your GP can do that for you or I have listed it here as an option. However, the best way is to look at that and certain cytokines so I have listed the L4M Inflammation Cytokine Panel which looks at hsCRP, Tnf-a, IL-10, IL b-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL2 receptor and LPS, which is fantastically comprehensive. You can see a sample report here. This is a blood test, no need to centrifuge.

Oxidative Stress

Many people want to know what their free radical damage levels are - our 'rusting' level, if you like and if they have enough antioxidants to cope. That's what oxidative stress is all about. You can read much more about that here. Note that you can do oxidative stress in blood or urine and they are quite different.

A blood sample measures anti-oxidant reserve and enzyme function including: whole blood glutathione, total anti-oxidant capacity, redox balance, and the enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Additionally, blood markers of damage measure lipid peroxides (oxidative damage to cell membranes).

A urine sample measures free radical damage, including lipid peroxides (oxidative damage to cell membranes) and 8-hydroxy-deoxyGuanosine (oxidative damage to DNA).

Oxidative stress has been linked to several chronic conditions so it's worth checking out if you suspect it:

Rheumatoid arthritis • Arthritis • Asthma • Diabetes mellitus • Cancer • Atherosclerosis • Macular degeneration • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome • Inflammatory Bowel Disease • Environmental sensitivity • Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Read more, see sample reports and collection instructions etc on the blood test here and the urine test here. Note that some of those markers are also included in the metabolic tests so check those out too for whatever you need.

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