Advanced Laboratory Testing Mapping The Future Of Your Health
Identify the root cause of your condition
At Sharlin Health & Neurology, a variety of advanced laboratory testing is available to help identify the root cause of your condition. To accomplish this goal, we work with a variety of laboratory companies including Genova Diagnostics, The Great Plains Laboratory, Cyrex Laboratories, ZRT Laboratory, Doctors Data, Precision Analytical, SpectraCell Laboratories, Dynamic DNA, Quest, LabCorp, and others. We offer Springfield food sensitivity and allergy testing, hormone testing, amino acid testing, and more to Ozark and the surrounding communities.
In some cases, health insurance is accepted by the diagnostic laboratory for at least partial reimbursement. Patients may also be able to pay for a test using their flexible spending account for medical expenses. Finally, some laboratories do not accept insurance assignments, but do offer significant discounts for testing performed through the provider’s office.
Here are the descriptions of some of the more commonly ordered tests:
Organic Acid Testing
This is a nutritional test that provides insights into the body’s cellular metabolic processes. It identifies metabolic blocks that can be treated nutritionally, and allows individual tailoring of interventions that maximize patient responses and leads to improved patient outcomes. Using a single urine specimen this test is valuable for determining:
- Functional vitamin status, including B-vitamin need
- Neurotransmitter metabolites
- Mitochondrial energy production
- Methylation sufficiency
- Markers for digestion, and small intestinal bacterial and yeast overgrowth
Amino Acids Testing
Our Springfield amino acid testing uncovers problems in amino acid intake and absorption by measuring levels of essential and nonessential amino acids. Imbalance or insufficient amino acids can affect a wide range of body functions, producing symptoms that negatively affect the quality of life. Amino acid testing helps the practitioner gain insight into dietary protein intake and digestion/absorption. Blood Amino acid profiles assess:
- Essential amino acids
- Limiting amino acids
- Branched chain amino acids
- Other essential amino acids
- Conditionally essential amino acids
- Amino acid functional categories
Fatty Acid Profile
Fatty acid imbalances can be a causative factor in a variety of chronic health conditions, including chronic pain/inflammatory conditions, depression, cardiovascular, aging and neurological diseases. This blood test measures levels of polyunsaturated 3 and 6 fatty acids, trans fats, saturated fats, and fatty-acid ratios. Dietary and nutraceutical intervention can be used to correct imbalances.
Oxidative Stress Analysis
Oxidative Stress Analysis is a nutritional test used to evaluate the body’s oxidative stress status. Normal human metabolism produces highly reactive molecules known as free radicals, typically controlled by antioxidants. When production of free radicals becomes excessive, the antioxidant mechanisms of the cell become overwhelmed, resulting in oxidative damage. The Oxidative Stress Analysis uses urine to evaluate key biomarkers of oxidative stress damage. This test is helpful for patients with chronic pain/inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular disease, aging and neurodegenerative conditions.
Nutrient and Toxic Elements
This test uses whole blood as an indicator of body pools of essential elements as well as toxic elements aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Whole blood generally reflects increased or recent exposure to toxic elements. Nutrient elements are measured in red blood cells and toxic elements are measured in whole blood.
Hormone Testing
Our Springfield hormone testing includes an Adrenocortex Stress Profile which evaluates the key stress hormones, cortisol and DHEA. Four samples collected throughout the day (saliva or urine) allow for circadian rhythm assessment. Adrenal hormone testing may uncover biochemical imbalance, which can adversely affect:
- Mood
- Sleep
- Immune defense
- Thyroid function
- Levels and function of gonadal hormones (progesterone, testosterone, and estrogens)
- Weight control
- Resistance to stress
- Energy
- Cognitive function
- Cardiovascular health
Beyond the adrenals, we look at all aspects of hormone function. This includes comprehensive thyroid and thyroid antibody testing, gonadal hormones, and gonadal hormone metabolites. Evaluation of estrogen metabolism can provide insight into breast and uterine cancer risk.
Comprehensive Stool Profile
This is an advanced stool test that provides immediate, actionable clinical information for the management of gut health. Using the most innovative technologies available, this ground-breaking stool test offers:
- PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), a molecular assay optimized for stool testing which assesses 24 commensal bacteria associated in the scientific literature with health and disease, and provides valuable insight into the human microbiome.
- Calprotectin, a biomarker that effectively differentiates between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis. Additional inflammatory markers measured, Secretory IgA and Eosinophil Protein X.
- Culture of beneficial and potentially pathologic bacteria, along with antibiotic and botanical sensitivities, where indicated.
- Ova & Parasite, the gold standard for parasite detection.
- Markers for digestion of protein and fats.
- Levels of short chain fatty acids shown to exert multiple beneficial effects on energy metabolism.
- Levels of beta glucuronidase which correlate with the risk of colorectal cancer.
- Stool (and serum) Zonulin, a protein modulator of intestinal tight junctions that is used to assess intestinal permeability (“Leaky Gut”).
Intestinal Antigenic Permeability Screen
(Leaky Gut Syndrome): Blood antibody testing for proteins associated with increased gut permeability.
- Actomyosin IgA
- Occludin/Zonulin IgG
- Occludin/Zonulin IgA
- Occludin/Zonulin IgM
- Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgG
- Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgA
- Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgM
- Neuro-inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharides is associated with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), depression/anxiety, and fibromyalgia.
Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Screen
Increases in blood-brain barrier proteins (IgG + IgA combined, and IgM) are associated with a wide variety of neuro-inflammatory conditions.
Plasma Methylation Profile
Normal metabolism of the amino acid methionine is critical for cellular methylation of DNA, proteins, and neurotransmitters. Aberrant methionine metabolism can occur in anyone at any age and can be associated with numerous health consequences, including cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and cancer. The Methylation Profile provides a functional assessment of the phenotypic expression of common SNPs (MTHFR, MS, CBS) by evaluating levels of methionine, cysteine, SAM, SAH, homocysteine and cystathionine, and provides the important “methylation index,” a ratio of SAM to SAH. This test is useful for:
- Autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder
- Birth Defects
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Detoxification Impairment
- Down Syndrome
- General Health and Longevity
- Genetic Disorders
- Immune Dysfunction
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Psychiatric Disorders
Food Sensitivity / Food Allergy Test + Candida
Blood measurement of IgG (immunoglobulin G) directed against specific food proteins is a useful guide for structuring elimination diets in many chronic conditions. Individuals with neurological, gastrointestinal, and movement disorders often suffer from IgG food allergies. These individuals may continue to eat offending foods unaware of their potential effects. Our Springfield food sensitivity testing and allergy examinations can help find these problems. Symptoms related to IgG food sensitivity may appear anywhere from hours to days after eating making identification of the offending foods difficult without testing. Elimination of IgG positive foods can improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, autism, AD(H)D, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and epilepsy, among others.
Candida problems are caused when the benign yeast form of Candida albicans mutates to its fungal form. Candida can take over sections of the intestinal wall causing numerous symptoms. As it grows out of balance it produces toxins that create holes in the intestinal lining, leading to leaky gut syndrome. After entering the blood, Candida albicans causes an inflammatory immune system response. A wide range of disorders have been linked to Candida including autism, multiple sclerosis, depression, and chronic fatigue. Use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, chemotherapy, and anti-inflammatory steroids greatly increases susceptibility to Candida.
APOE Genotype Testing
Lyme Disease Testing
The State University of New York (SUNY) Stony Brook Lyme Disease Laboratory, established in 1984, has gained recognition in the diagnosis of Lyme disease as being one of the select laboratories where accurate laboratory testing for Lyme disease can be obtained. This reputation has resulted in a large number of specimens being received worldwide for testing. Despite this large volume, the laboratory takes pride in providing a high level of technical expertise and personal care to its clients. The laboratory is fully licensed and accredited by the NY State Department of Health, JCAHO, and the College of American Pathologists. We believe that the use of this laboratory provides the highest degree of confidence in the accuracy of the diagnosis of Lyme disease. Testing includes Lyme serology (ELISA/Screening), Lyme Western Blot (Confirmatory), Lyme C-6 peptide (ELISA/Screening), and tick identification. C-6 peptide testing has been reported to have 75, 85, and 100% sensitivity with the acute, convalescent, and late-phase specimens, respectively, and a specificity of 99%.
Mold Illness
The panel of bloodwork used for the diagnosis and management of mold illness (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, CIRS) is available through Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp. These include:
- Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP)
- Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH)
- Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 (TGF Beta-1)
- C3a & C4a
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
- Matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9)
- Antigliadin IgA/IgG
- Antiduretic Hormone (ADH)
- Osmolality
- Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH)
- Cortisol, Leptin, HLA DR, and anticardiolipin antibodies
Additionally, Multiple Antibiotic Resistant (biofilm-forming) Coagulase Negative Staph (MARCoNS) can be assayed swab of the dep nasal cavity.
23 and Me SNP Analysis
Using a practitioner-exclusive platform, PureGenomics, we can identify the common genetic variations known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) that are clinically relevant and nutritionally actionable. This unique platform makes it easy to test, translate, and target SNPs with the right nutritional support.
“As program director of Brain Tune Up! I hope you will consider participating in this exciting personalized medicine treatment program that aims to help you remain healthy, functional, and productive and make sure the number of your years are of the highest quality possible.”