Lab tests, diagnostic procedures, and measurable health indicators
Also known as: Biomarker, Lab test, Diagnostic
Abdominal ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging test used to examine organs such as the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, and spleen. People may search for it when investigating digestive discomfort, liver concerns, gallbladder issues, or unexplained abdominal symptoms.
Advanced lipid testing looks beyond standard cholesterol values to assess particle size, particle number, and other cardiovascular risk patterns. People interested in functional medicine may seek this testing when standard lipid panels do not explain family history or persistent cardiometabolic risk.
Detects antinuclear antibodies in the blood, used to diagnose autoimmune disorders like lupus.
Apolipoprotein A1 is a major protein component of HDL particles and may be used to assess protective aspects of lipid metabolism. It is often interpreted alongside ApoB to better understand cardiovascular balance and lipoprotein quality.
Measures ApoB levels, an indicator of the number of atherogenic particles, closely linked with cardiovascular risk.
Basal body temperature charting tracks waking body temperature over time to help assess ovulation timing and sometimes broader thyroid or menstrual patterns. It is often searched in natural fertility and hormone-balancing approaches within integrative medicine.
A Basic Metabolic Panel measures glucose, electrolytes, and kidney function markers to assess hydration, metabolism, and organ balance. People may search for it when exploring fatigue, electrolyte issues, blood sugar concerns, or medication effects.
Blood pressure monitoring tracks arterial pressure and is a foundational health indicator for cardiovascular, kidney, and stress-related health. In integrative medicine it is often considered alongside nervous system regulation, lifestyle, and metabolic factors.
Body composition analysis estimates body fat, muscle mass, water distribution, and related physical health metrics. It is commonly used in integrative and functional medicine for fitness tracking, metabolic health, and personalized nutrition planning.
Body Mass Index is a screening calculation based on height and weight used to classify general weight categories. In integrative medicine it is often considered a limited but common health indicator alongside body composition and metabolic markers.
Calprotectin is a stool marker of intestinal inflammation that can help distinguish inflammatory gut processes from more functional digestive issues. It is often searched for chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, IBD screening, and persistent gut inflammation concerns.
Candida antibody testing looks for immune responses to Candida species and is sometimes used in broader fungal overgrowth evaluations. People in alternative medicine may search for it when exploring yeast-related symptoms, chronic digestive issues, or recurrent infections.
Carotid Intima Media Thickness is an ultrasound-based measure of artery wall thickness used as a marker of vascular aging and atherosclerosis risk. Integrative and preventive medicine patients may search for it as a noninvasive cardiovascular screening tool.
Assesses sensitivity to environmental chemicals, providing insight into potential causes of unexplained symptoms.
A comprehensive blood test measuring various components of the blood, used to evaluate overall health and detect a wide range of disorders.
A blood test that provides information about the body's chemical balance and metabolism, often used to check kidney and liver function.
Comprehensive stool analysis evaluates digestion, microbiome balance, inflammation, parasites, and markers of gut immune function. It is commonly used in integrative medicine for bloating, IBS symptoms, constipation, diarrhea, skin issues, and systemic inflammation.
Continuous glucose monitoring tracks glucose patterns throughout the day and night, offering detailed insight into food responses, stress effects, and metabolic flexibility. It is popular in functional medicine for personalized nutrition, energy optimization, and early insulin resistance detection.
Copper testing evaluates a trace mineral involved in iron metabolism, antioxidant systems, connective tissue, and neurological health. It is often used alongside zinc and ceruloplasmin in integrative assessments of fatigue, mood, and mineral balance.
A CT scan-based test that measures calcium deposits in the coronary arteries, estimating heart disease risk.
Measures the level of cortisol in the blood to assess adrenal gland function and diagnose conditions like Cushing's syndrome.
Blood test that measures CRP levels, an indicator of inflammation in the body, often associated with chronic diseases.
Evaluates cytokine levels in the blood, offering insights into immune system activity and inflammation status.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, a scan measuring bone mineral density to assess osteoporosis risk.
DHEA Sulfate is an adrenal hormone marker commonly used to assess stress resilience, hormone balance, and aging-related patterns. People may search for it when addressing fatigue, libido changes, hormone imbalance, or suspected adrenal dysfunction.
Blood test to measure dehydroepiandrosterone levels, often used to evaluate adrenal function and hormonal balance.
A hormone panel that uses dried urine samples to provide insights into adrenal and sex hormone function.
Measures the rate at which red blood cells sediment, helping to detect inflammation associated with various conditions.
Estradiol testing measures a key estrogen hormone involved in menstrual health, fertility, mood, and metabolism. It is often searched in functional medicine for PMS, perimenopause, menopause, hormone replacement planning, and estrogen dominance concerns.
A blood test to measure estrogen levels, used to evaluate hormonal balance and reproductive health in both men and women.
Fasting glucose measures blood sugar after an overnight fast and is a basic marker of glucose regulation. It is commonly searched alongside insulin and A1c in integrative medicine to assess early metabolic imbalance and energy dysregulation.
Measures insulin levels after fasting, helping to evaluate insulin resistance and risk for diabetes.
Measures the level of ferritin to evaluate iron storage in the body, commonly used to diagnose iron deficiency or overload.
Fibrinogen is a clotting protein that can also serve as an inflammatory marker linked to cardiovascular risk. In integrative medicine it may be used to assess blood viscosity patterns, inflammation, and vascular health.
Assesses folate levels in the blood, crucial for DNA synthesis and cellular division, often checked alongside B12 levels.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone helps evaluate ovarian or testicular function, fertility, and reproductive aging. It is often searched in integrative medicine for menstrual irregularities, fertility workups, and menopausal transition assessment.
Food Allergy IgE testing looks for immediate-type allergic responses to specific foods. People may search for it when symptoms suggest true food allergy rather than food sensitivity, such as hives, swelling, wheezing, or acute reactions after eating.
Tests for antibodies against various foods to identify sensitivities and intolerances affecting digestive and overall health.
Free T3 measures the active thyroid hormone available to tissues and is often reviewed in functional medicine to assess thyroid conversion and cellular thyroid activity. People may search for it when they have thyroid symptoms despite normal TSH results.
Free T4 measures the unbound thyroid hormone precursor circulating in the blood and helps evaluate thyroid output. It is commonly used alongside TSH and Free T3 in integrative assessments of low thyroid function and hormone balance.
Free Testosterone measures the biologically active fraction of testosterone not bound to proteins. It is commonly evaluated when symptoms suggest androgen imbalance despite normal total testosterone levels.
A stool analysis that evaluates the gut microbiome, pathogens, and digestive health, frequently used in integrative medicine.
Evaluates how efficiently glucose is processed in the body, used to diagnose diabetes and insulin resistance.
Glyphosate testing measures exposure to a widely used herbicide that some people in integrative medicine monitor as part of environmental wellness and detoxification concerns. It is often searched by those interested in pesticide exposure, gut health, and chronic inflammatory burden.
Measures average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months, used to diagnose and manage diabetes.
Heart rate variability measures changes in time between heartbeats and is used as an indicator of autonomic nervous system resilience and recovery capacity. People often search for it in the context of stress management, overtraining, sleep quality, and nervous system regulation.
A Heavy Metal Panel measures exposure to metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium that may affect neurological, immune, and detoxification function. It is commonly searched in alternative medicine for chronic symptoms, environmental exposure concerns, and detox planning.
Detects the presence of harmful heavy metals in the body, using blood, urine, or hair samples.
Helicobacter pylori testing checks for a common stomach bacterium linked to ulcers, gastritis, reflux, and nutrient absorption issues. Integrative medicine users often search for it when addressing chronic indigestion, nausea, upper abdominal pain, or stubborn gut symptoms.
Hemoglobin A1c reflects average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months and is widely used to assess glycemic control. Functional medicine patients often search for it when monitoring prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, and the impact of diet on long-term glucose balance.
High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein is a blood marker of low-grade systemic inflammation often used to assess cardiovascular and chronic disease risk. It is frequently searched in functional medicine for inflammation tracking, heart health, and root-cause evaluation.
Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, estimating insulin sensitivity based on fasting glucose and insulin levels.
Measures homocysteine levels in the blood, which can help assess cardiovascular disease risk and B vitamin deficiencies.
An Immunoglobulin Panel measures major antibody classes such as IgG, IgA, and IgM to assess immune status and possible chronic immune activation or deficiency. It is used in integrative medicine for recurrent infections, gut immunity review, and broader immune system evaluation.
Measures levels of various immunoglobulins, helping diagnose immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases.
Intestinal permeability testing is used to evaluate whether the gut barrier may be more porous than normal, a concept often discussed as leaky gut. People search for it in relation to food sensitivities, autoimmune concerns, digestive symptoms, and chronic inflammation.
A series of tests to assess iron deficiency or overload, including serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation.
Lead testing measures exposure to a toxic metal associated with neurological, developmental, cardiovascular, and kidney effects. It is often searched when there is concern about older housing, occupational exposure, chronic fatigue, or unexplained toxic burden.
A group of blood tests used to measure cholesterol and triglyceride levels for assessing cardiovascular health.
This marker evaluates vascular inflammation and may help identify cardiovascular risk beyond standard cholesterol measurements. It is often searched by people looking for advanced heart disease screening in a functional medicine context.
Measures levels of lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease not captured by standard lipid panels.
Luteinizing Hormone is involved in ovulation and reproductive hormone signaling and is used to assess fertility and endocrine balance. People commonly search for it when evaluating PCOS, irregular periods, or reproductive hormone dysregulation.
Measures magnesium levels within red blood cells, providing a more accurate assessment of magnesium status than serum levels.
Mercury testing evaluates potential exposure from seafood, dental amalgams, occupational sources, or the environment. People in integrative medicine often search for it when investigating neurological symptoms, fatigue, immune issues, or detoxification concerns.
A set of tests to assess DNA methylation patterns, which can influence gene expression and overall health.
Mitochondrial function testing looks at markers related to cellular energy production and oxidative stress. It is often sought by people with fatigue, exercise intolerance, chronic illness, and complex metabolic dysfunction in a functional medicine setting.
Evaluates exposure to mold toxins, often linked with chronic inflammatory response syndrome.
Mold exposure testing evaluates markers associated with environmental mold exposure and possible immune or inflammatory response. People commonly search for it when living in water-damaged buildings or experiencing chronic sinus issues, fatigue, brain fog, and respiratory symptoms.
Evaluates genetic variations in the MTHFR gene, which can affect folate metabolism and homocysteine levels, relevant in personalized medicine.
Tests for the presence of mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by mold, to assess mold exposure and related health risks.
Natural Killer Cell activity testing evaluates a part of the innate immune response involved in viral defense and immune surveillance. Some integrative practitioners use it when investigating chronic infections, immune exhaustion, and complex inflammatory conditions.
Assesses the proportion of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood, indicative of cardiovascular and cognitive health.
An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test measures how the body handles a glucose load over time and can reveal blood sugar problems not seen on fasting labs. It is often searched for prediabetes, gestational diabetes, reactive hypoglycemia, and deeper metabolic evaluation.
Analyzes organic acids in the urine to provide information on gut bacteria, yeast overgrowth, and metabolic health.
Analyzes how genes affect a person's response to drugs, enabling personalized medication plans and reducing adverse effects.
Measures progesterone levels in the blood, used to evaluate fertility and menstrual cycle issues.
Resting heart rate is a simple health indicator reflecting cardiovascular fitness, stress load, and autonomic nervous system balance. It is commonly monitored in integrative medicine as part of broader lifestyle, recovery, and metabolic health assessment.
Reverse T3 is an inactive thyroid hormone metabolite that some functional medicine practitioners use to assess stress-related thyroid conversion patterns. People may search for it when experiencing hypothyroid symptoms, chronic stress, or poor response to thyroid treatment.
Salivary cortisol testing measures cortisol at multiple points in the day to evaluate circadian rhythm and stress hormone patterns. It is popular in integrative medicine for assessing adrenal dysregulation, sleep issues, and chronic stress physiology.
Selenium testing helps assess a trace mineral needed for antioxidant defense, thyroid hormone metabolism, and immune function. People may search for it in the context of thyroid support, detox pathways, or unexplained fatigue and oxidative stress.
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin is a protein that binds sex hormones and influences how much testosterone and estrogen are biologically available. Functional medicine practitioners often review it when interpreting hormone symptoms that do not match standard hormone levels.
Detects small intestinal bacterial overgrowth by measuring hydrogen and methane exhaled after consuming specific sugars.
Measures testosterone levels in the blood, frequently used to assess reproductive health and hormone balance.
A radiation-free imaging technique that detects heat patterns and blood flow, used for early disease detection.
Thyroglobulin Antibodies are used to identify autoimmune processes affecting the thyroid gland. This test is often searched alongside TPO antibodies when evaluating Hashimoto's disease or other thyroid-related immune dysfunction.
A series of tests to assess thyroid gland function and diagnose thyroid disorders like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies help detect autoimmune thyroid activity, especially Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Integrative medicine patients often look for this test when investigating unexplained fatigue, thyroid swelling, or fluctuating thyroid labs.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is a pituitary signal that helps regulate thyroid hormone production and is often used as a first-line thyroid screening test. Functional medicine patients often search it when looking into low energy, cold intolerance, or suspected hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid ultrasound uses sound waves to visualize the thyroid gland for nodules, enlargement, cysts, or structural abnormalities. It is frequently searched when thyroid labs are abnormal or there is neck swelling, suspected nodules, or autoimmune thyroid disease.
Total Testosterone measures the overall amount of testosterone in circulation and is used in both men and women to assess hormone balance. Integrative medicine users often search for it in relation to low libido, fatigue, muscle loss, mood changes, or metabolic dysfunction.
Toxic elements testing assesses exposure to metals and other harmful elements that may contribute to neurological, immune, and detoxification problems. It is frequently searched in alternative medicine for environmental illness, chronic fatigue, and detox-focused care.
Measures vitamin B12 levels in the blood, important for nerve function and the production of DNA and blood cells.
A blood test to measure vitamin D levels, crucial for bone health and immune function, often assessed in integrative medicine.
Volatile Organic Compounds testing assesses exposure to chemicals from paints, solvents, fragrances, plastics, and indoor environments. It is often sought by those concerned about chemical sensitivity, toxic load, and environmentally triggered symptoms.
Waist to hip ratio is a body measurement used to estimate central fat distribution and cardiometabolic risk. It is often searched as a more informative health indicator than scale weight alone in metabolic and preventive health discussions.
Zinc testing helps assess a mineral important for immune function, skin health, wound healing, hormones, and gut integrity. Functional medicine patients may search for it when investigating poor immunity, hair loss, acne, taste changes, or nutrient depletion.
Measures zonulin levels to evaluate intestinal permeability or 'leaky gut', a condition linked with various chronic diseases.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication regimen.
