Functional Testing

Kate offers functional testing to give you answers to what is causing your health problems.

Functional Testing for Fatigue

In fatigue there is often gut dysbiosis, so testing for the presence of infections including Candida overgrowth, bad bacteria, SIBO, viruses and parasites often yields positive results.

Also it is common for people with fatigue to have food intolerances so doing this test often leads to positive results. It is also a useful test to determine if you have leaky gut.

How It Works

To order a test, you must be on one of my 1-to-1 Coaching Programmes

How it works:

• Firstly, we would go through your medical history in detail in the initial consultation. Then I would give you my recommendations for tests that would help you get to the root cause of your health problems and give you answers.
• Next you would transfer payment for the test to me online.
• Then I would order your test and arrange for the test kit to be delivered to your house.
• You would follow the instructions in the test kit and post the sample in the envelope provided to the laboratory on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
• Finally, when I have received your test results, I will contact you via email to send you the test results and arrange an appointment to explain your results and the next steps to take.

GI Ecologix Basic

£189

Turn around time: 15 working days

The GI EcologiX Basic is the most comprehensive stool test that uses cutting edge DNA testing PCR technology to test for:

• • Good bacteria
  • Bacteroides sub-group
  • Clostridium sub-group
  • Opportunistic bacteria
  • Methane & Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO bacteria
  • Sulfidogenic bacteria
  • LPS forming bacteria
  • Mycology e.g. yeast infections such as candida overgrowth
  • Parasitology including Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia

Undertaking this test can give us an overall picture of the imbalances in the gut that cause symptoms which can then be rectified including:

• bloating
• IBS
• stomach pains
• burping
• gas
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• fatigue

Note: 3 days before taking your sample, consider stopping anti-inflammatories and steroids.

24 hours before taking your sample, consider stopping anti-inflammatories, steroids, Vitamin C >250mg/d, NSAIDs and IBS medication.

Also if using steroid cream, shower before & ensure all washed off.

Long term antibiotics and probiotics can be continued.

GI Ecologix Advanced

£379

Turn around time: 15 working days

The GI EcologiX Advanced is the most comprehensive stool test that uses cutting edge DNA testing PCR technology to test for:

• • Beta defensin 2 – anti-microbial peptides that play a large role in the innate immune response to potential
    pathogenic microorganisms. Beta-defensins display antibiotic activity toward gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and enveloped viruses and fungi. Human Beta-defensin 2 is an inducible peptide produced by intestinal cells. They are antibiotic and have abilities to recruit dendritic and T-Cells to the site of microbial invasion.
  • Calprotectin – a protein expressed mainly by myeloid cells. It recruits monocytes to the site of inflammation and is thus believed to be a mediator of chronic inflammation. It is used as a clinical marker for IBD.
  • Pancreatic elastase – a proteolytic enzyme excreted by the pancreas. Faecal concentrations reflect the secretory capacity of the pancreas since it does not breakdown in the intestinal tract. There are good correlations between faecal elastase levels and pancreatic enzyme output including amylase, trypsin and lipase. When elastase PE-1 is low, the best symptom to check for are a floating, difficult to flush stool, and weight loss. Protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
  • Secretory IgA – is the most abundant secreted antibody and it has a fundamental role in preventing pathogen colonisation in the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Zonulin – is a human protein that causes increased intestinal permeability through tight junction disassembly. An increased intestinal permeability status is known to increase inflammation and has been
    associated to several diseases.
  • Bile acids (primary + secondary) – Fat malabsorption and metabolic diseases. Low bile acids may result in reduction of fat absorption, including fat soluble vitamins, poor cleaning of the absorptive surface in the small intestine, increasing the risk of SIBO, and lack of stimulation of intestinal motility.
  • Occult blood (FIT) – blood in stool
  • Good bacteria
  • Bacteroides sub-group
• • Clostridium sub-group
  • Opportunistic bacteria
  • Sulfidogenic bacteria associated with hydrogen sulfide SIBO
  • LPS forming bacteria
  • Methanogen archaea associated with methane SIBO
  • Mycology e.g. yeast infections such as candida overgrowth
  • Parasitology including Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia
  • H Pylori + stool antigen

Undertaking this test can give us an overall picture of the imbalances in the gut that cause symptoms which can then be rectified including:

• bloating
• IBS
• stomach pains
• burping
• gas
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• fatigue

Note: 7 days before taking your sample, consider stopping anti-inflammatories, steroids and probiotics.

24 hours before taking your sample, consider stopping anti-inflammatories, steroids, Vitamin C >250mg/d, NSAIDs and IBS medication.

Also if using steroid cream, shower before & ensure all washed off.

Long term antibiotics and probiotics can be continued.

Vaginal EcologiX

Organic Acids Profile

£247

Turn around time: 2.5 weeks

This organic acids urine test is an accurate way to confirm if you have a Candida overgrowth in your small or large intestines.

• Reports D-arabinitol, a specific marker for Candida sp., which can cause disease in patients, especially if they are immunocompromised.
• Reports D-lactate, an indicator of L. acidophilus overgrowth and carbohydrate malabsorption.
• Also reports 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylpropionate, a marker for clostridium pathogenic bacteria.
• An economical follow-up test for practitioners to monitor targeted therapy.

Lyme Disease Test

£349

Turn around time: 5-7 working days

A combination of the Elispot test and CD3-/CD57+ Cells test is the most accurate way to test for Lyme disease.

The Elispot test detects Borrelia IgG and IgM antibodies, markers for Lyme disease.

The CD3-/CD57+ Cells test measures your levels of Natural Killer (NK) Cells which are low in chronic Lyme disease.

The Lyme Disease Test can eliminate some problems:

• The test reflects the current Borrelia burgdorferi activity of chronic and recent infections.
• The EliSpot is highly sensitive and can detect even one single Borrelia burgdorferi-reactive T-cell. With detection levels that can be as low as one cell in 100,000, the EliSpot is one of the most sensitive cellular assays available.
• The EliSpot is between 20 and 200 times more sensitive than a conventional ELISA.
• The EliSpot displays a similar sensitivity as a RT-PCR (Real Time PCR) analysis, but detects the secreted protein instead of the mRNA (messanger RNA).
• The EliSpot can be helpful when monitoring therapies. The EliSpot should usually become negative about 4 to 8 weeks after the completion of an effective therapy.

Food Intolerance Test 44

£120

Turn around time: 3-5 working days

By doing this simple and accurate IgG finger prick blood test you can learn what food intolerances you have and what next steps to take. It tests for 44 commonly consumed foods including wheat and cow’s milk.

It’s also a useful to test to determine if you have leaky gut.

How It Works

• After you have made the online payment for the test, Kate would order the test kit and have it delivered to your house.
• You would follow the instructions in the pack and prick your finger. Then you would collect your blood sample.
• Next you would post the sample to the laboratory.
• When Kate has received your results, she would contact you to arrange an appointment to explain the results and the next steps to take.

Food Intolerance Test 282

£199

Turn around time: 3 full working days

By doing this simple and accurate IgG finger prick blood test you can learn what food intolerances you have and what next steps to take. It tests for 282 commonly consumed foods and herbs including wheat, gluten, and cow’s milk.

It’s also a useful to test to determine if you have leaky gut.

How It Works

• After you have made the online payment for the test, Kate would order the test kit and have it delivered to your house.
• You would follow the instructions in the pack and prick your finger. Then you would place your finger over the capillary blood collection tube to collect your blood sample.
• Next you would post the sample to the laboratory.
• When Kate has received your results, she would contact you to arrange an appointment to explain the results and the next steps to take.

SIBO Breath Test

£165

Turn around time: 7 working days

The SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth) profile is a non-invasive breath test which capture exhaled hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) gases following patient ingestion of a lactulose solution to evaluate bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine. Levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) are also measured in every sample for quality control purposes.

This test confirms the presence of hydrogen- or methane-producing SIBO bacteria which can then be treated accordingly.

Note: -15 ml 3.3g/5ml of lactulose (will need to be purchased from your local pharmacy)

-This test uses lactulose; since lactulose contains galactose and lactose, it is not recommended for individuals who have had allergic reactions to lactulose, or who are on a galactose/ lactose-restricted diet. It should be used with caution in diabetics.

Before doing the SIBO breath test, please wait 4 weeks from your last dose of antibiotics, colonoscopy or barium enema. Also wait at least 2-4 weeks from your last dose of antifungals, Bismuth Subsalicylate, or herbal/natural antimicrobial products.

Thyroid Complete Blood Test

£89

Turn around time: 7 working days

This finger prick blood test required approximately 15-16 drops of blood into a microtainer. 

Symptoms of underactive thyroid include:

• Tiredness
• Weight gain
• Feeling too cold or too hot
• Depression

You can get your GP to test for thyroid hormone levels for free. They normally test for TSH and sometimes also inactive prohormone T4.

However if you want more comprehensive thyroid hormone testing to determine your level of active thyroid hormone T3 and thyroid antibodies, I can provide private testing. This test determines your levels of:

• Anti-thyroglobulin Abs
• Anti-thyroidperoxidase Abs
• Cholesterol – Total
• Free T3
• Free T4
• HDL/LDL
• LDL Cholesterol
• T4
• TG antibodies
• Triglycerides
• TSH
• Vitamin D

Dutch Complete (Adrenal and Sex Hormone) Test

£249

Turn around time: 12 working days

An extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones plus melatonin, 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and nine organic acids to help identify the root causes of hormone imbalances in women.

DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) Complete can help identify the root causes of hormone imbalances. It can provide insights into conditions such as menopause, weight gain, fatigue, low libido, sleep issues, mood swings, and premenstrual syndrome.

Additionally, the test can be used to gather baseline measurements for the administration and monitoring of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

The profile analyses 35 different sex and adrenal hormones including:

• oestrogen
• progesterone
• testosterone
• DHEA-S and cortisol along with their metabolites
• daily free cortisol
• the oxidative stress marker 8OHdG
• melatonin

It also measures nine organic acids including markers for:

• vitamin B12 (methylmalonate),
• vitamin B6 (kynurenate and xanthurenate),
• biotin (β-hydroxyisovalerate),
• glutathione (pyroglutamate),
• dopamine (homovanillate),
• norepinephrine/epinephrine (vanilmandelate),
• neuroinflammation (quinolinate)
• tryptophan putrefaction (indican)

The DUTCH test is simple and easy to use. Urine samples are taken using filter paper collection strips without the need for a blood draw or 24-hour urine collection.

Cycling Premenopausal Women Begin collection between days 19 and 22 of a 28-day cycle.
For longer cycles, add the number of days you usually go beyond 28 days. In a similar manner, subtract if your cycles are shorter (example: collect days 17-20 for a 26 day cycle).

For irregular cycles or non-cycling (ablation or uterus removed), watch the irregular cycle collection video in the video library at dutchtest.com/videos for suggestions on collecting.

Non-Cycling or Postmenopausal Women Collect any day.

HOW TO COLLECT
• Complete all information on each collection device.
• Saturate the filter paper by urinating directly on it OR use a clean cup and dip the filter paper.
Leave the collection device open to dry for at least 24 hours.
• Once dry, close each collection device. Place all devices in the resealable plastic bag and return
in the provided envelope. Be sure to include the completed requisition form (required).

No Alcohol, Caffeine or Large Fluid Intake after lunch before collecting the dinner sample. No more than one cup of fluids between Samples

WHAT TO AVOID
Foods: Avoid avocado, bananas and fava beans for 48 hours before collecting as they may elevate the HVA organic acid result; if you do consume, please make a note on your requisition form.
Supplements: Some supplements may impact the HVA organic acid result. Avoid taking Tyrosine, L-Dopa, D,L-Phenylalanine (DLPA), Mucuna and Quercetin before doing the test.

FAQ
If you miss a collection, simply collect the sample as instructed the following day. All samples do not need to be collected in one 24-hour period.

The samples can be collected in a different order.

While hormone levels are very stable in dried samples, they should be sent back as soon as possible. If you have to wait to send them in, place in freezer (in plastic bag) after drying.

This test is built to test patients “on” their hormones so please keep taking them.

If your sleep schedule is abnormal e.g. night workers, collect the bedtime sample before your longest stretch of sleep, the waking sample (#3) after this sleeping period, and sample #4 two hours later. The dinnertime sample (#1) should be collected 4-7 hours before bed.

Hair Mineral Analysis

£87

Turn around time: 10 to 12 working days

Hair testing gives us a more accurate picture of body tissue levels of minerals and heavy metals than blood testing, as hair is a tissue. Furthermore hair is used by the body to dump excess minerals and heavy metals.

This tests for your cell levels of 35 different mineral and toxic heavy metals including Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Mn, Se, Ni, Co, Pb, Hg, Cd, As & Al. After this test you can follow a mineral balancing and heavy metal detoxification protocol.

Furthermore the mineral ratios can tell you if you have blood sugar imbalance, underactive thyroid and adrenal fatigue.

Contact

Furthermore if you would like to order a test or find out more information about which tests are suitable for you, please click here to book a free 30 minute call.