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I offer Functional Medicine labwork to all who want to deeply explore their health, along with a one hour consultation to review labs and design a supplement protocol per results. These labs can be incredibly revealing, as almost every single person I work with is found to have a very high toxic burden due to modernized living. Once the toxicity is eliminated or greatly reduced, it never ceases to amaze me how much I see folks improve. It's often astounding.
***As of 2022 I am no longer accepting new patients in my local practice in Asheville. We had to put an end to my waiting list here once it exceeded a year and a half out. I truly wish this were not the case because I love physically meeting with folks. However, labs are still accessible to all. 💗
I have had so many chronically ill folks reach out in need of Functional Medicine testing because their conventional doctors have failed them, often telling them it's “all in their head.” The longer I am in practice, the more value I place on a lot of this testing, because otherwise we are shooting in the dark. Are we dealing with mycotoxins? Lyme? Heavy metal toxicity? Or simply a Zinc and B5 deficiency that's just draining you of energy? It's just too much to just guess in these modern day times. Most chronically ill patients I have seen that simply have not been able to get better (and just keep getting worse) have an undiagnosed silent infection going on, or Lyme or mold toxicity- which often go hand in hand.
So many of you are in need of this testing because you live in rural areas where it's not feasible to drive 3 hours to see a Functional Medicine practitioner. Due to this demand, and the scarcity of practitioners actually seeking Root-Cause of disease, I have decided to offer the following labs to those who seek answers. With great sadness I must report that insurance companies will not cover such testing.
Although this service looks very different from becoming an actual patient of mine, it still involves a one hour consult where I review your labs with you and devise a recommended supplement regime. A lot of progress can be made with accurate diagnostic tools and the appropriate nutraceuticals. The 'Total-Tox Burden' package (discounted for bundle) from Vibrant is my clinical go-to. It covers 3 categories: Environmental toxicity, mycotoxins and heavy metals. It is often incredible what shows up on these panels. By identifying the toxic culprits, we can get very specific with detoxification protocols.
Below is a chart of the most common FM testing I see a need for along with pricing. All testing is done through Vibrant Wellness Labs, as I find them to be the most sophisticated Functional Medicine lab currently out there. I try to make this service as affordable as possible- these are Vibrant's lab fees, which are actually less than a lot of their competitors (and more accurate).
Just in the past 5-10, the scientific community has discovered so much about the microbiome, toxicity, detoxification and infectious components to many diseases. New information keeps unraveling at a rapid pace. Incredibly innovative lab work has been developed by very cutting edge labs; labs not even comparable to the conventional ones that most MD's are using. It's an exciting time! Current Functional medicine diagnostic tools promise real answers into why you may be experiencing symptoms that you don't understand. If, somewhere inside of you lies an instinctual curiosity into the root cause of your condition/label.......then you are in the right place. Often, the real markers behind your inflammation, pain, depression, food allergies, digestive issues and so on have not been properly addressed, thus progress in healing is stunted. Intense journeys of ill health can transform us from the inside out, so hold on tight and know that you can come out on the other side of whatever you are experiencing. This platform offers solutions to feeling better, to live the life you truly deserve- to thrive.
| Service | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Exploratory Call - (Pre-labs)
A free, 15 minute consult to better understand your case and decide on which labs would are most appropriate. |
15 Minutes | FREE |
|
Lab Review Consult
A one hour consult to review all labs and develop a clear supplement regime based on diagnostics. |
1 Hour | $150 |
Total-Tox Burden Package
(3 Panels included, $385 savings for bundle) - $710
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Mycotoxin Testing (for presence of mold) The Vibrant Mycotoxins test is a urine-based assay for 31 of the most common mycotoxins produced by molds to which humans are exposed. This test is measured on mass spectrometry, using Vibrant's patent-pending proprietary technology, to produce the most accurate and clinically relevant assessment of difficult-to-detect toxins that can cause serious disease in humans. Vibrant is able to detect mycotoxins, small molecules, as small as 5 pcg, which greatly expands the number of available mycotoxins detected. |
$535 |
|
Heavy Metal Testing Heavy metal toxicity is under-represented as a root cause of illness and disease in humans, is thought to affect over 1 million individuals annually, and can affect virtually all biological systems within the human body. Heavy metals may be the root cause of common neurological disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune diseases, and disorders associated with increased oxidative stress and cellular dysfunction |
$200 |
|
Environmental Testing Environmental toxins, technically called toxicants, are substances produced endogenously from the human body and which, when absorbed, inhaled, or ingested, can cause acute or chronic toxic overload, which may manifest in a variety of biological organ, tissue, and cellular-level systems. Environmental toxins are cancer-causing chemicals and endocrine disruptors, both human-made and naturally occurring. |
$360 |
Gut Zoomer - $710
The test performs the most comprehensive analysis available of your intestinal microbiome ecosystem from a simple one-time stool collection. This test examines the complex and intricate relative abundance of each species or genus measured, in relation to the rest of the ecosystem, to provide a unique perspective on the gut microbiome and its connection to disease and inflammation.
Vibrant uses a proprietary microarray hybridization technology platform, using the whole-genome data to simultaneously detect over 300 microorganisms with 99% specificity and 98% sensitivity, unheard-of levels of accuracy in the detection of pathogenic microorganisms. Because Vibrant does not use sequencing technology, which is time-consuming and prone to high level so inaccuracy, the Gut Zoomer is the most accurate microbiome test available to aid discerning healthcare providers in the assessment and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
The Gut Zoomer report provides you with actionable recommendations that include potential risks for:
- Intestinal permeability (SCFA producing bacteria and tight junction integrity)
- Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)- related bacteria
- Cardiovascular health (inflammation influencing and TMAO-related bacteria)
- Autoimmune health (celiac, Crohn's, rheumatoid arthritis, etc)
- Neurological health (MS, Parkinson's, and more)
- Liver diseases (cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholangitis, and more)
- Metabolic health (Obesity, diabetes, etc)
- Nutrition (Vitamin production, oxalate metabolism)
- Microbiome and hormone connections (Beta-glucuronidase and Beta-glucosidase)
- 67 pathogenic bacteria
- 24 Intestinal parasites
- 8 viruses
- 5 Fungal or yeast species
- 5 worm species
- 6 antibiotic resistance genes measured
- Calprotectin
- Pancreatic elastase 1
- Bile acids
- Cholic acid
- Chenodeoxycholic acid
- Deoxycholic acid
- Lithocholic acid
- Acetic acid
- Butyric acid
- Propionic acid
- Valeric acid
- Total SCFAs
- ß-glucuronidase
Food Sensitivity Testing - $440
Vibrant Food Sensitivity is an array of 209 commonly consumed food antigens which offers very specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. This panel offers the options to measure an individual's IgG, IgA, IgG subclass 4, and C3d reactivity to food antigens. Being able to test IgA antibodies provides additional information to foods that may be causing mucosal damage. Additionally, this test is ideal for patients who might be suffering from delayed reactions to certain foods. Using an antibody-based food sensitivity test can help prioritize the necessary foods to eliminate and create a customized diet plan around the patient's specific needs.
Why Test Food Sensitivities?
Food Sensitivity testing can be very useful to help prioritize an elimination or rotation diet. Usually removing foods that the body has produced antibodies to will alleviate symptoms, because the source of inflammation is removed. The ideal time course for elimination is not established. Consider magnitude of antibody response, ½ life of antibodies, patient's current dietary intake, level of motivation, status of mucosal integrity, and remission and/or progression of symptoms.
IBS-Sure (IBS-D associated with SIBO) - $339.80
IBS is a commonly occurring collection of symptoms diagnosed in the world of gastroenterology. It is the most common GI disorder with worldwide prevalence rates ranging from 10-15%. There are between 2.4 and 3.5 million physician visits annually for IBS in the US. Recent research has shown that up to 84% of those with an IBS diagnosis test positive for a Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth breath test.
Breath tests for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth can be very time consuming for patients, as well as inaccurate, due to many factors.
IBSSureTM is a simple blood test that detects two antibodies which are indicative of bacterial-pathogen-induced motility dysfunction, which can lead to increased incidence of SIBO.CdtB toxins (cytolethal distending toxin B) are released by gastroenteritis-causing bacteria, against which antibodies are produced by the immune system. These antibodies interact with a protein, vinculin, present in the intestinal cell-lining matrix. This interaction compromises and impairs digestive motility. This pathological breakdown of the gastrointestinal motility complex is foundational to chronic SIBO development and recurrence and has been well-studied and documented.
Tick 1.0 - $595
Tick 2.0 - $1,325
Tickborne diseases have more than doubled in 13 years and are 77% of all vector-borne disease reports
- The most common tickborne diseases (TBDs) in the United States are Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Bartonella infections, Ehrlichiosis, Rickettsiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), and Lyme disease
Ticks usually need between 24 and 72 hours to effectively transmit any diseases they are carrying and, if found in time on the host, can be removed before they transmit infectious microorganisms to the host.
Because many symptoms of tickborne diseases are generic or mimic other conditions, these diseases often go undiagnosed for months, increasing the suffering and disease progression of the patient.
The Vibrant Immunochip is made from recombinant proteins of several species of Borrelia burgdorferi, and not just from B31 used by other western blot tests. Vibrant criteria for detection has higher sensitivity and specificity than the two-tier testing by CDC criteria, as demonstrated by internal studies. This eliminates doubt for clinicians.
The Vibrant Tickborne Diseases panel is the first of its kind to be run on a silicon micro-array platform, providing the highest level of specificity and sensitivity in the industry for detecting tickborne diseases.
Patients often present with a range of non-specific symptoms that may be Lyme, or other conditions that have symptom overlap. Patients with diagnosed Lyme may also experience resurgence of symptoms, which might suggest co-infections. Co-infections are complex and should be included in an initial screen of Lyme and related illnesses.
Vibrant has the most comprehensive antibody (indirect) and DNA (direct) test for detection of Lyme and co-infections that, in most cases, can assist the clinician in assessing these situations and lead to the correct diagnosis.
Organic Acids - $360
Organic acids panels test for the organic acids in urine that are byproducts of daily cellular metabolism.
Based on known metabolic pathways and enzyme-cofactor requirements, these organic acid markers can provide great insights in discovering underlying causes of chronic symptoms.
Organic acids testing can aid advanced providers in the detection of imbalances, toxicity, and inflammation in chronically or acutely ill patients with complex illnesses.
Alongside other diagnostic testing, organic acids profiles complete the clinical picture of root causes and guide practitioners in developing the most individual and effective interventions.
The Vibrant Organic Acids panel uses the most advanced mass spectrometry technology to assess 75 metabolic markers in urine.
The panel includes 11 subpanels and provides accurate evaluation of intestinal microbial overgrowth, detoxification, mitochondrial markers, neurotransmitter metabolism, glutathione status, fatty acid metabolism, and inborn errors of metabolism
A complete package of the Vibrant Organic Acids Panel and Vibrant Micronutrients will provide an overall picture of the patient's whole nutrition foundation and aid the provider in intervention choices.
Organic acids can be combined with the Vibrant Fungal Antibodies panel, the Vibrant Gut Zoomer 3.0, and the Vibrant Environmental Toxins profile to get a more specific insight into the individual's root causes of inflammation.