At Hawthorne, we provide laboratory and in house assessments, as needed, to obtain the information necessary for a comprehensive understanding of your current health status. It assists us in directing your care and measuring efficacy of our treatments.
Our Naturopathic Doctors requisition conventional blood, stool and urine tests through Life Labs as well as using a number of functional laboratory tests.
You can view your results from Life Labs online through ehealth. To sign up click here http://www.myehealth.ca
The following is a list of our most commonly used lab tests:
Hormonal Tests
- Adrenal function testing
- Full thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, ReverseT3 and Thyroglobulin)
- Blood sugar/insulin testing
- Male hormone testing
- Female hormone testing
Mental/Emotional and Neurological Testing
- Organic Acid Testing
- Blood Markers for mental health and neurological assessments
- Functional Neurological Testing (comprehensive physical exam and screening tests)
Digestive and Nutritional Testing
- Organic Acid Testing
- Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
- Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis
- Candida Testing
- H. Pylori testing
Metabolic and Cardiovascular Testing
- Cardiovascular and Pre-Diabetes Test
- Blood Coagulation Testing to identify clotting risk
Food Allergy and Intolerance testing:
- ALCAT
- Food Intolerance Testing using Biomeridian Testing (in house)
- Skin Prick Testing for Environmental Allergies (in house)
- IgG Food Sensitivity Testing
In Office Testing:
- Pap and Breast Exams
- Heart Rate Variability Testing
- Body Composition Testing
- Urinalysis
- Blood Type Testing
- Organic Acids Testing (OAT)
- Comprehensive Stool Analysis
- SIBO Testing
- Food Sensitivity IGG Blood Test
- Male Panel
- Female Panel
- Adrenal Panel
- Advanced Cardiovascular Panel
- Pap and Breast Exam
- Bio-impedance Analysis
- Biomeridian Testing for Food Sensitivities
- Skin Prick Testing For Environmental Allergies
Organic Acids Testing (OAT)
The OAT is a comprehensive test that is used to assess yeast and bacterial overgrowth, oxidative stress, nutritional deficiency, and neurotransmitter imbalances. It measures over 70 organic acid markers in the urine which are often excreted in abnormal amounts in people with chronic illness and neurological disorders. Abnormally high levels of bacteria and yeast can cause or worsen behavior disorders, hyperactivity, movement disorders, fatigue and immune function.
The OAT test informs your clinician on the severity of overgrowth or if there is an imbalance in nutritional, detoxification, or neurotransmitter levels, helping to guide specific treatment and aid recovery.
Comprehensive Stool Analysis
319 us , zonulin 51.20 us (about 599 with zonulin, 499 without)
Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAPTM)
The GI-MAP TM was designed to assess a patient’s microbiome from a single stool sample, with particular attention to microbes that may be disturbing normal microbial balance and may contribute to perturbations in the gastrointestinal flora or illness.
The panel is a comprehensive collection of microbial targets as well as immune and digestive markers. It screens for pathogenic bacteria, commensal (“friendly”) bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, fungi, viruses, and parasites. It also measures standard markers of immunity, inflammation and digestion including calprotectin, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), anti-gliadin antibody, and pancre
atic elastase 1.
The GI-MAP TM goes beyond traditional stool samples by using comprehensive DNA/PCR techniques to target a variety of pathogens and also allow for the measurement of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors that contribute to disease.
This test is valuable for a variety of conditions, especially in chronic illness, where there has been disruption of the gastrointestinal microbiome. These include, but are not limited to:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting
- Inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis
- Gastric cancer
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), Gastritis, Ulcers
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Autoimmune conditions: Ankylosing spondylitis, Reactive arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis
- Allergic Disease: Asthma, Eczema
SIBO Testing
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a common underlying cause of digestive complaints such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea and even reflux. As the name implies, SIBO consists of an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. Here the bacteria not only create their own gases which can contribute to uncomfortable symptoms, but they interfere with our normal digestion and absorption of food and are associated with damage to the lining or membrane of the small intestine. As a result, SIBO can lead to nutritional deficiencies (ie. B12 and iron), fat malabsorption, food allergies/sensitivities and can also impact overall immunity and neurological health as both these systems have a strong connection to the health of the digestive tract.
The small intestine (SI) is a hard place to see or sample with conventional diagnostic tools – luckily SIBO can be diagnosed with a non-invasive breath test that measures Hydrogen and Methane gases. This test involves ingestion of a lactulose solution which humans can’t digest or absorb. Bacteria have the proper enzymes to break it down and produce gases so if there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the SI, this will be reflected in the levels of Hydrogen and/or Methane gases.
Food Sensitivity IGG Blood Test
This method of testing measures antibody-antigen complexes to individual foods and is offered in a panel of 96 foods to test for both IgE and IgG reactions. IgG reactions are elevated with delayed responses to foods. See RMA labs for further information.
Male Panel
Men can have hormone imbalances too. The RMA Male Panel is a simple salivas test that measures estrogen, testosterone, DHEAs as well as a 4 point cortisol curve. Interactions between these hormones are fundamental to health, and imbalances can explain a variety of symptoms in men such as:
- Irritability
- Low libido,
- Erectile dysfunction, Enlarged prostae
- Depression
- Bone loss
- Memory loss
- Weight gain
Female Panel
Women of any age can be affected by hormone issues, making this test valuable for any woman at any stage of life. The RMA female panel is a simple saliva test that measures estrogen, progesterone, DHEAs, testosterone and morning cortisol – all hormones that interact in a synergistic fashion to promote health. When hormones are out of balance, a variety symptoms can result such as:
- Infertility
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Mood swings, depression, anxiety
- Painful or irregular periods
- Sleep disturbances
- Night sweats, hot flashes
- Accelerated bone loss
- Weight gain
- Breast cancer
Adrenal Panel
Saliva hormone testing is a non-invasive, simple way to map out the cortisol response throughout the day. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can be measured to assess the body’s ability to cope with stress. When cortisol is out of balance (either excess or deficiency), it can wreak havoc on one’s health and lead to a variety of symptoms. The adrenal panel offers information that guides treatment
The adrenal panel is indicated for a variety of symptoms and conditions, including:
- Chronic diseases
- Acute and chronic stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Hormone imbalances
- Fatigue
- Allergies
- Burn out
- Low sex drive
- Low exercise tolerance
Advanced Cardiovascular Panel
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in North America. It doesn’t have to be. Traditional cholesterol screening is limited in its ability to assess true cardiovascular risk as research supports that cholesterol is only a part of the picture. Did you know that 50% of people who have a heart attack have normal cholesterol levels?
Cardiometabolic testing, offered through Spectracell laboratories, is a comprehensive panel to assess a more accurate risk of cardiovascular disease (ie. heart attack and stroke) as well as your risk of developing Diabetes. In addition to a standard lipid panel, the cardiometabolic panel assesses lipoprotein particle numbers, glucose metabolism markers as well as vascular inflammation markers.
Trillions of microorganisms inhabit the human intestine to make up a complex ecosystem that plays an important role in human health. This balance can easily be disturbed When this balance is disturbed. The gut microbiota is diverse, varies among individuals, and can change over time, especially during developmental stages and with disease.
Pap and Breast Exam
A screening test used in gynaecology to detect premalignant and malignant (cancerous) processes in the ectocervix. A cervical brush and spatula is used to gently obtain cells from the ectocervix and vaginal wall. This specimen is sent to the BC Cancer Agency who examine the smear and return results within one month. The test requires a 30 minute consultation, with the results provided for free by the BC Cancer Agency. Current guidelines recommend women between the ages of 25 to 69 get tested every three years.
Bio-impedance Analysis
The Bio-impedance Analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive in-office test that converts easily obtained electrical measurements into information about the patient’s body composition, fluid distribution tissue health. The BIA offers valuable information for a wide variety of conditions, and can not only help guide treatment but can also help to monitor treatment progress. At Hawthorne, we use the BIA for healthy weight loss.
Patient Preparations:
- No alcohol consumption within 24 hours prior to the test.
- No exercise, caffeine or food for 4 hours prior to the test.
- No diuretic medications within 12 hours prior to the test
- Consume 2 to 4 glasses of water within 2 hours of the test.
Ideally the patient should be tested at the same time of day, four hours after consumption of a similar breakfast or lunch each time they are tested.
Biomeridian Testing for Food Sensitivities
Reactions to food are not always immune mediated allergies. These types of reactions, immune mediated or not, are referred to as food sensitivities or food intolerance’s. These reactions can produce symptoms that may mimic those of a food allergy, however are non-life threatening.
This is a screening test using the Biomeridian MSAS machine that utilizes the principles of acupuncture and meridian pathways. By measuring the bioelectrical impulse at the site of an acupuncture point on the hand, foods are evaluated to see if the flow of Qi or energy that passes through the meridian is weakened or enhanced. It has proven to be a valuable clinical tool that can identify problem foods. Research, from a Western perspective, has yet to provide a scientific explanation for this tool. The BioMeridian device is FDA approved as a galvanic skin response, Class II medical device.
Skin Prick Testing For Environmental Allergies
IgE Allergy Skin Prick Testing is the most common method of allergy test and is relatively painless. Hawthorne uses skin scratch testing for environmental allergies to western trees, grasses, weeds, dust mites, cat dander, ragweed, mold and dog dander. The test takes a total of 20 minutes to get results.
The test involves very small amounts of various allergen extracts that is applied to the skin, pricked to allow exposure, and then evaluated for any skin reaction over a specified period of time. If the allergy is positive, a little swelling that looks like a mosquito bite will occur where the allergen was introduced. Results are easy to read and interpret and make specific allergy diagnosis a simple procedure. Once the allergen(s) is identified, focused treatments can follow that help you manage the allergy season.
Allergy Testing Patient Guidelines:
Prior to allergy testing, please avoid the following:
- Corticosteroid: Prednisone for 2 weeks
- Anti-histamines: Claritin, Reactine, Allegra, Aerius for 1 week
- Anti-histamines: Atarax, Benadryl, Chlor-tripolon, Sudafed, Dimetapp for 2 days
- Gravol, Cimetidine, Zantac, Famotidine for 2 days
- Nasal sprays and inhaler: avoid day of appointment
- Quercitin for 2 days
- Nettles for 2 days