Lab Work You Can Order Yourself
If you’re reading this, you probably already know that it can be difficult to get traditional primary care doctors and specialists to order the lab work you need.
Additionally, the FDA-approved lab tests for some under-researched conditions, like late stage Lyme Disease and coinfections, are so inaccurate it’s laughable.
To combat this, you might decide to pursue lab testing through an integrative practitioner instead, since they offer much more accurate testing methods. This can be a great option for some.
Unfortunately, though, good naturopathic and functional medicine doctors are expensive and few and far between, making them unaccessible to too many people.
It can be tempting to play the guessing game and go down the list of what you might have based on symptoms alone, experimenting with DIY remedies – but unless you know for sure what you’re dealing with, it’s almost impossible to successfully help your body heal.
Nothing is more disheartening than spending money, time, and energy for years, treating countless conditions you never had, only to be stuck in the same state of health you were to begin with.
That’s where lab work you can order yourself becomes crucial.
The lab companies below offer direct to consumer lab tests you can order yourself, easily. With each result, you’ll get a piece to the puzzle of how to successfully help your body heal.
Gastrointestinal Testing
Verisana is a lab company that specializes in stool culture testing for gastrointestinal conditions.
For their stool cultures, they require that you take the sample and ship it out Monday so that it arrives no later than Wednesday morning at their lab, to avoid the degradation of the sample.
Comprehensive Gut Biome & Health Test (stool culture)
The comprehensive gut biome test includes –
Proteus sp.
Klebsiella sp.
Enterobacter sp.
Citrobacter sp.
Pseudomonas sp.
Other aerobic bacteria
Bifidobacterium sp.
Bacteroides sp.
Lactobacillus sp.
Clostridium sp.
Candida albicans
Candida sp.
Geotrichum sp.
Mold
Secretory IgA
Helicobacter pylori
These markers can help determine if an intestinal overgrowth/infection or microbiome imbalance could be playing a part in your digestive issues and/or IBS. Additionally, the secretory IgA level can shed light on the health and permeability of your gut lining.
Zonulin Test (stool culture)
Adding this single test to the Comprehensive Gut Biome can give greater insight into the health and permeability of your gut lining.
Metabolic Solutions (Gut Check) specializes in hydrogen breath testing for gastrointestinal disorders.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
SIBO is an overgrowth of either –
1. Pathogenic or opportunistic (“bad”) bacteria in the small intestine.
2. Beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that are supposed to colonize in the large intestine, where they would be beneficial, but have instead colonized in the small intestine, where they wreak havoc on digestion and gut health.
It is one of the most common causes of IBS and is notoriously difficult to treat, as it tends to reoccur even after several courses of antibiotics – but with the right treatment method, it can be resolved successfully. Bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation, gas, cramping, and malabsorption are all indictors that you might want to test for SIBO.
If you’re reacting to dairy products like milk and ice cream, and you want to get tested for lactose intolerance, you can do it in the comfort of your own home with this test from Metabolic Solutions.
Leaky Gut
Metabolic Solutions no longer offers this test online due to lack of popularity/demand, but if you call in to order, they will continue selling it over the phone until their stock runs out. It tests the percentage of a sugar solution digested in a 90-minute period, to determine the permeability of your intestines.
Mold/Mycotoxin Testing
Great Plains Laboratory specializes in urine testing for toxins and and a wide variety of other biomarkers.
Great Plains Laboratory’s Mycotox Panel tests for 11 mycotoxins from 40 species of mold. It’s a good test to consider when mold toxicity is suspected and pairs excellently with getting your home tested for mold. Long term exposure to mold can cause everything from allergy symptoms and breathing problems to chronic fatigue, systemic pain, headaches, brain fog, dizziness/vertigo, and insomnia. A positive mold toxicity result is one piece of the puzzle in a Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome – an inflammatory immune disorder – diagnosis. (Learn more about mold toxicity here)
Microbiology DX specializes in nasal swab culturing for MARCoNS, pathogenic bacteria, mold, and other fungi in deep in the sinus cavities.
MARCoNS is an antibiotic resistant staph infection that is not typically present in people with healthy immune systems, but occurs frequently in people with compromised immune systems. It can cause chronic sinus infection and related symptoms, but also synergizes with other opportunistic pathogens the body, increasing any neurological symptoms, pain, and fatigue you might already have.
When MARCoNS is present/positive, you can almost always expect underlying mold toxicity, late stage Lyme Disease, Lyme coinfections, and/or reactivating viral infections to be present as well.
MARCoNS is typically treated with BEG spray, colloidal silver, or antimicrobial nasal sprays such as Xlear or Citridrops, but progress has recently been made in successfully treating with nasal probiotic therapy.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
Trace Elements offers a hair tissue mineral analysis. This can be helpful in identifying low levels of beneficial minerals that might not yet show up on a blood test, as well as (too) high levels of toxic minerals like aluminum that might require treatment with binders. Low(er) levels of nutrients like potassium and sodium sometimes co-occur with the depletion of the adrenal glands and contribute to the resulting chronic fatigue.
Lyme Disease and Coinfection Testing
DNA Connexions specializes in urine PCR testing for Lyme Disease and coinfections.
If you receive a positive result but are asymptomatic, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need treatment for Lyme Disease and/or coinfections. It simply means that there are one or more of the below infectious bacteria in your body. If you’re asymptomatic, your immune system may have the bacteria under control. Only positive results along with symptoms that line up indicate a definite need for treatment.
DNA Connexions testing includes –
4 types of Borrelia Burgdorferi (Lyme Disease)
2 strains of Borrelia (Tick Borne) Relapsing Fever
3 strains of Bartonella
3 strains of Babesia
1 strain of Anaplasma
1 strain of Ehrlichia
(Learn more about Lyme Disease and coinfections here)
IGeneX specializes in testing for Lyme Disease and coinfections.
They offer –
Western Blot
Immunoblot/IFA
FISH
PCR,
and even cerebrospinal fluid testing
For –
Lyme Disease (Borrelia Burgdorferi)
Borrelia (Tick Borne) Relapsing Fever
Bartonella
Babesia
Anaplasma
Ehrlichia,
and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
You can order the lab kit yourself, but they require that you consult with a practitioner to help you choose the tests to order. If you don’t have an MD willing to help you, an ND, NP, PA, or even a chiropractor (DC) can sign for you so you can get the lab work done.
Their Western Blot test includes bands 31, 34, and 83 for better accuracy.
Pricing runs anywhere from $250 for an IgM and IgG Western Blot, to $495 for a urine PCR panel like DNA Connexions, to $2621.50 for their most comprehensive tick panel.
As a good starting point, I recommend the –
188 & 189 – Lyme Western Blot IgM & IgG (will test for Lyme & coinfections in general, but not specific strains)
Tick Borne Disease Panel 7 (TBD7) (will test for Lyme and the most coinfections for the lowest price)
*Again, positive results do not mean you definitely need treatment unless you have corresponding symptoms.
Additional high quality Lyme and Coinfection lab companies to consider are Vibrant Wellness and Galaxy Diagnostics.
Request A Test
Request A Test offers IgM, IgG, and IgM + IgG Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever tests – one of the only lab companies that does. When RMSF is initially suspected after a tick bite, treatment with antibiotics should not be delayed while waiting on test results because the disease progression is rapid and has up to a 30% fatality rate when left untreated for even 5-7 days. If you’re looking to order lab work for RMSF yourself, it’s likely that you have ongoing symptoms following an acute tick borne infection that need to be addressed. In that case, you only need to order IgG testing to confirm exposure to RMSF.
Walk-in-Lab
Walk-in-Lab partners with Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp to allow consumers to order blood work without a doctor’s order. It’s simple. You order the tests you need, schedule an appointment at a lab location near you, get your samples drawn, and wait for the results to come via email.
I share the following Walk-in-Lab tests through affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a lab test through one of those links, I will make a small commission that helps me support my family, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend lab tests that were beneficial to our health journey.
Human Herpes Virus 6 IgM & IgG
Epstein Barr Virus EA (early antigen), EBV-VCA IgM, EBV-VCA IgG, and EBNA
The above three viruses are each possible contributors to and causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. After the acute stage of infection, the viruses stay in the body for life, and can reactivate in cycles and contribute to chronic symptoms in people with compromised immune systems.
The bacteria Chlamydia Pneumoniae is a Lyme Disease coinfection and possible contributor to and cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. After the initial acute infection, it can cause systemic inflammation through cytokine activation, organ damage, endotoxin buildup, and immune impairment, resulting in chronic symptoms.
The bacteria Mycoplasma Pneumoniae is a Lyme Disease coinfection and possible contributor to and cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. After the initial acute infection (eg. Walking Pneumonia), it can cause systemic inflammation through cytokine activation, organ damage, endotoxin buildup, and immune impairment, resulting in chronic symptoms.
(Lyme Disease/Borrelia Burgdorferi)
When conducting a Western Blot test for Lyme Disease through a traditional lab company like Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp, it’s important to know how to interpret the results properly. The CDC interpretation included with the results causes too many false negatives and a lot of confusion, so see the image below for correct interpretation instructions.
Autoimmune Disease Testing
General Autoantibody Testing
This comprehensive panel includes markers that are evaluated when testing for possible autoimmune diseases like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and Ankylosing Spondylitis.
(Ankylosing Spondylitis)
Helpful when testing for possible Ankylosing Spondylitis, an arthritic autoimmune disease.
Includes markers that are evaluated when testing for Sjogren’s Syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the salivary and lacrimal (tear) glands.
Thyroid Marker Testing
Thyroid #3 Plus Reverse T3 Panel
This thyroid panel is very thorough and includes TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies, and Thyroid Antithyroglobulin Antibody.
As such, it can help diagnose hypothyroid and hyperthyroid, plus Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Antibodies Only
Graves’ Disease Antibodies Only
TSH Only (helpful for monitoring treatment)
Celiac Disease Testing
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the lining of the intestines every time gluten (found in wheat, rye, barley, and non-GF oats) is eaten, which causes the immune system to damage the intestinal lining and eventually destroy it. Often, but not always, Celiac Disease causes severe GI symptoms and malabsorption. These tests help identify antibodies to gluten and aid in diagnosing Celiac Disease. You have to be eating gluten in order to test, because the body will not make antibodies against gluten if it’s not being consumed. (Learn more about Celiac Disease here)
Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgG (a good option for people who don’t make enough IgA, because those people may test negative for tTG IgA even if they have Celiac Disease)
Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA (the first-line blood test for Celiac Disease)
Gliadin Antibody Profile, IgA and IgG (a good confirmatory test to do along with tTG)
Endomysial Antibody, IgA (very specific, but less sensitive than other Celiac Disease blood tests; can be a helpful test for difficult to diagnose cases)
IgE Wheat Allergy, non-Celiac (tests for IgE immune-mediated wheat allergy, which is a form of gluten allergy that is not Celiac Disease or autoimmune in nature)
Cortisol (Adrenal Fatigue/HPA Axis Dysfunction) and Hormone Testing
ZRT Comprehensive Hormone Panel
This saliva hormone test includes estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and 4 cortisol readings, plus estrogen/progesterone and DHEA/cortisol ratios. Imbalanced estrogen and progesterone can cause a wide spectrum of health problems in females, including infertility. High DHEA can signify that the body is fighting an infection, or can contribute to (too) high testosterone and resulting complications in women. Low testosterone can cause several health problems in men, while high testosterone can contribute to anger outbursts, aggression, and reckless behavior. High cortisol often signifies prolonged (chronic) stress, which is incredibly taxing on the body – especially the adrenals, while low cortisol can point to adrenal depletion from chronic stress that went unaddressed for too long. Both high and low cortisol can be major contributors to chronic fatigue and insomnia.
4-Point Cortisol Panel
The gold standard test for adrenal fatigue.
High cortisol on all 4 points indicates stage one adrenal fatigue. Low or normal cortisol in the morning and noon, and high cortisol in the evening and night indicates stage two adrenal fatigue. Low or flatlined cortisol on all 4 points indicates stage three adrenal fatigue.
This is not the same thing as Addison’s or Cushing’s Disease, the only adrenal disorders mainstream medicine addresses. You can test for Addison’s Disease (an autoimmune condition) here.
Neurotransmitter Panel
One of the only tests for neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitter testing can help give insight into mood disorders and insomnia, among other things.
This panel includes 5-HIAA, Glutamate, GABA, Glycine, Dopamine, Adrenaline, Norepinephrine, Histamine, Serotonin, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, NMN, VMA, and Creatinine. To improve accuracy, it requires samples from four points during the day.
Methylation Pathways
KnowYourGenetics Methylation Analysis
This genetic analysis includes –
COMT V158M, H62H, and 61
VDR Taq
MTHFR C677T and A1298C
MTR A2756G
MTRR A66G, K350A, and R415T
BHMT 2
CBS C699T
SHMT C1420T
Genetic mutations within these SNPs contribute to difficulty breaking down micronutrients (like B vitamins) into the active form for the body to use, as well as synthesizing and balancing neurotransmitters in the brain (chemicals responsible for a lot of brain activity).
Knowing your genetic mutations can give you valuable information about the nutrient and neurotransmitter support your body may need for optimal physical and mental wellness.
If you already have your raw DNA from a DNA test like Ancestry or 23andMe, this analysis is free.
Routine Lab Work and Tests
Nutritional Lab Testing
Iron Deficiency Anemia (can help detect iron-deficiency anemia and monitor treatment progress)
B12 & Folate (can help detect B vitamin deficiencies and anemia)
Homocysteine (can help detect a functional B vitamin deficiency, ie. B12 and folate levels are normal or high, but homocysteine is high, indicating that the body can’t use the available B12 and/or folate)
Vitamin D (a clinical deficiency is 20 ng/mL or less, and a clinical insufficiency is less than 30 ng/mL; however, optimal levels for immune function and prevention of disease in functional medicine are 60-90 ng/mL)
Wellness # 2 Essential Blood Test
Similar to what you would get from a doctor’s office at your yearly checkup.
- Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP-14) with eGRF Blood Test
- Glucose Levels
- Kidney Profile
- Liver Panel
- Fluids and Electrolytes
- Lipid Panel With Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio
- Thyroid Panel with Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) With Differential & Plateletes
- Mineral and Bone
Blood Sugar Monitor
This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to check your blood sugar levels. It can help identify low and high blood sugar (hypo and hypergylcemia). Which, depending on your results, you may need to talk about with your doctor.
Blood Pressure Monitor
A simple way to keep track of your blood pressure and progress from lifestyle changes, and also an easy at-home way to screen yourself for POTS.
Pulse Oximeter
An easy, home method to monitor your oxygen levels.
Notes:
Homeopathic Doctors and other alternative practitioners often perform “bioenergetic scanning” instead of lab testing and I cannot stress how much I recommend avoiding that route (read about why here). These scanning devices usually fall under one of two brands – Zyto and Qest4 (also known as Asyra).
I also recommend not putting too much stock in applied kinesiology or muscle testing for diagnostics. For one, seeing a practitioner who does it and buying the supplements they recommend often costs more than doing the lab tests you really need. Two, there is virtually no evidence behind using muscle testing as a diagnostic tool. I have personally witnessed health practitioners give conflicting muscle test “results” during the same visit.
Unfortunately, IgE allergy testing (for traditional food allergies, not intolerances or sensitivities) can’t be completed at home, because you have to see an allergist or ENT to get a skin prick test and supervised food challenge. It’s a good idea to seek out this type of testing if you’re experiencing new allergic reactions when you eat, but you don’t know what is causing it. Or, if you want to find out your airborne allergy triggers.
Lastly, IgG food sensitivity tests are extremely popular right now, but they are not going to tell you anything useful and here’s why – having IgG antibodies for certain foods simply means you have been exposed to (A.K.A eaten) said foods, not that you have a sensitivity to them. The best way to pinpoint a food intolerance or sensitivity is to do a proper elimination diet with the help of a nutrition expert.
Disclaimer:
I am not a licensed doctor and do not diagnose, treat, or cure patients. Please do not substitute the information in this educational blog post for the personalized advice of your health practitioner. I make the above list of lab companies available as a resource for my readers, so that if they can’t get the lab work and diagnosis they need from a physician, they can order the lab work and go over it themselves.