Looking for deeper answers? Let’s talk about advanced testing

One of the most common things we hear from patients is:

“I feel like something is off… but my labs keep coming back normal.”

If that resonates with you, you’re not alone. At our clinic, we always start with the foundations - your symptoms, your history, your lifestyle, and standard lab work. But sometimes, that only gives us part of the picture. And when that happens, we have access to advanced functional testing that can help us dig deeper.

These tests aren’t something we recommend for everyone. In fact, we don’t often push specialized testing. But for the right person, especially someone who feels stuck or is looking for more clarity, they can offer meaningful insight.

Because these tests are more specialized, they do require you to be a patient at the clinic, and they are out-of-pocket investments. That said, if you’re looking for more concrete answers, they can be incredibly valuable.

Here are a few of the advanced tests we use and love:

Micronutrient Testing (SpectraCell)

Nutrient deficiencies don’t always show up clearly on standard bloodwork. That’s because many nutrients are tightly regulated in the blood (the body does a great job at maintaining “homeostasis”), even when your tissues are running low. In other words, you can have “normal” labs but still not be functioning optimally.

SpectraCell micronutrient testing looks at nutrient status inside your cells, specifically within white blood cells (lymphocytes). This gives us a better sense of your functional nutrient status over time, rather than just a snapshot of what’s circulating in your blood that day.

This type of testing can help guide:

• Energy and fatigue concerns

• Immune function

• Mood and cognitive health

• Recovery and performance

• Long-standing or unexplained symptoms

It’s a more comprehensive way to understand whether your body actually has what it needs to function well.

Advanced Cholesterol Testing (SpectraCell LPP)

Cholesterol can be confusing. You may have been told your cholesterol is “normal” or maybe it’s “high” and you’re not sure how concerned you should be. Standard lipid panels don’t always tell the full story.

That’s where LPP (Lipoprotein Particle Profile) testing comes in. Instead of just measuring how much cholesterol you have, this test looks at:

• How many cholesterol particles are circulating

• The type, density, and size of those particles

Why does this matter?

Because cardiovascular risk is more closely tied to how many particles are interacting with your blood vessels, not just the total amount of cholesterol.

In addition to particle analysis, this panel can also include important markers such as:

• ApoB → a direct measure of the number of atherogenic particles

• hs-CRP → a marker of systemic inflammation linked to cardiovascular risk

• Homocysteine → associated with vascular health, endothelial function, and methylation status

Together, these markers help paint a more complete picture of cardiovascular risk and vascular inflammation, rather than looking at cholesterol in isolation.

This test can help us better understand whether your current cholesterol levels are actually concerning, if your risk is being under- or overestimated, and how inflammation and metabolism (including insulin resistance) are influencing your cardiovascular health

It allows for a more nuanced, personalized conversation about heart health, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Alpha-Gal Testing (Tick-Borne Meat Allergy)

This is one of the more unique tests we offer, and one that many people have never heard of. Alpha-gal syndrome is a type of delayed allergic reaction to red meat that can develop after certain tick bites. It’s increasingly being recognized, even in Canada.

Symptoms can include:

• Hives or itching (often delayed hours after eating)

• Digestive upset

• Fatigue or malaise

• In more severe cases, anaphylaxis

Because the reaction is delayed, it’s often missed or misattributed. We offer alpha-gal testing to help identify whether this could be playing a role in unexplained symptoms, especially in individuals with a history of tick exposure.

Food Allergy Testing (IgE - True Allergies)

There’s a lot of confusion online about food testing. Many people are familiar with IgG food sensitivity testing (which we do offer and can be a useful bit of information), but this does not diagnose true food allergies.

We offer IgE-based food allergy testing through Alletess, which identifies true immune-mediated allergic reactions.

This type of testing is helpful for:

• Immediate reactions to foods

• Hives, swelling, or itching after eating

• Suspected anaphylactic triggers

• Pediatric concerns

It allows us to distinguish between:

• True allergies (IgE) → immune system activation that can be serious

• Sensitivities/intolerances → often more delayed and complex

Both can matter, but they are very different, and it’s important to test appropriately.

Environmental Toxin Testing

Environmental exposures are an often overlooked piece of the health puzzle.

In today’s world, we are constantly interacting with a wide range of environmental compounds. Everything from mold and mycotoxins, to pesticides like glyphosate, to other industrial and environmental chemicals. For some individuals, these exposures can place an added burden on the body and contribute to symptoms such as:

• Chronic fatigue

• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

• Headaches

• Respiratory or sinus symptoms

• Skin concerns

• Hormonal or nervous system dysregulation

Through specialized testing with Mosaic Diagnostics, we are able to assess for markers of environmental toxin exposure, including mold-related compounds and certain chemical exposures.

This type of testing can help us better understand:

• Whether environmental factors may be contributing to your symptoms

• How your body is processing and eliminating toxins

• Where to focus support for detoxification and overall resilience

As always, this testing is not necessary for everyone, but in the right context, it can provide valuable insight into a piece of health that is often missed.

Is advanced testing right for you?

Not everyone needs these tests and that’s important to say. But if you feel like your symptoms aren’t being fully explained, have tried multiple approaches without success or want a more in-depth understanding of your health, then advanced testing may be worth exploring.

Our goal is never to over-test, it’s to test intentionally, when it will actually change how we approach your care.

If you’re curious whether any of these options might be a good fit for you, we’d be happy to walk through it together.

Learn more or book an appointment at:

kathrynkingnd.com