Specialist functional medicine diagnostic tests available through Andrea Cullen Health Solutions
I have accounts with several expert health diagnostics tests companies so that clients struggling with health challenges can avail of specialist tests. These are listed below.
If you click the images below (company inage or logo) it will take you through to the individual companies websites so that you can have a peak at the testing services provided. All companies (except Micro Trace Germany) require that I authorize your tests; this is to ensure that all patients have access to specialist support, test interpretation, and appropriate clinical recommendations.
(You do not have to work with me; I do recommend a chat before ordering tests and this is to prevent ordering unnecessary tests. For example, many people contact me requesting food allergy tests. Most food allergies however are due to dysfunction or inflammation in the gut. So it makes more sense to look at the causes, rather than test for food allergies and give yourself a long list of foods to avoid without healing the root causes. Which often leads to new food allergies developing).
Functional diagnostic tests can often provide the hidden key to unlocking the root causes for a patients health symptoms. Tests identify biochemical and hormonal imbalances and often offer us insights that standard medical tests cannot.
These tests have helped me give answers to patients when consultants have failed, and to deliver treatment recommendations that get patients started on the road back to health.
I take the recommendation of tests very seriously; they must give us actionable, validated data that helps me to tailor your health programme to your best benefit. Tests can be expensive and I reserve their use for when absolutely required. Good clinical skills, thorough assessment and detailed interviewing are the most important tools that experienced therapists have and should never be replaced by the over-zealous use of tests.
I have been using many of these tests for the past 20 years and would not run my practice without them.
The world of diagnostic tests is very exciting, and also it is one that has often been delivered with false promise and unnecessary need to the great expense of the patient. I don’t agree with this (for example not all genetic tests are practically helpful; and some are).
I feel an ethical responsibility to treat your health and finances with the utmost respect; any clinical decisions that are made, we make together.
Andrea
Invivo Clinical
In a nutshell Invivo Clinical are THE microbiome diagnostics company!
Invivo Clinical provide a range of specialist microbiome and gastrointestinal tests that help us to gain insights and answers into all things microbiome and health. The world in our guts impacts and communicates with the rest of the body; it is truly fascinating. And when out of whack significantly impacts us as a whole.
Are you interested to learn how your microbiome may be impacting your health?
Invivo Clinical additionally provide comprehensive tests for the vaginal and oral microbiomes giving us deeper insights into local and systemic health conditions, poor dental health, ENT conditions, fertility challenges, menstrual cycle symptoms, and may also support the treatment of endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
Genova Diagnostics
Unlike traditional labs that focus on disease pathology (what made you sick), Genova Diagnostics offers comprehensive panels that combine standard and innovative biomarkers designed to provide a more complete understanding of specific biological systems that can help me understand how you can achieve optimal health.
I have been using Genova tests since 2010; they have been at the forefront of functional diagnostic tests for decades.
I especially like Genova’s hormone, metabolic, gastrointestinal and organic acid tests.
Random fact – it was my athlete clients that first were interest in and availed of functional diagnostics tests. This was to help solve a range of problems from post-infectious gut issues after ironman to chronic fatigue over-training syndrome. Some athletes simply wanted to gain insights into metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional health during their training cycle in preparation for the Olympic games in 2012 (to complement standard blood work).
Gastrolife Ireland
I am super excited to partner up with Irish company Gastrolife to bring their specialists tests to my patients.
Tests can be ordered online to be delivered directly to your home or done via appointment in their clinics in Galway or Kildare.
To date I have had to outsource SIBO testing to the UK and as of 2021 I now can offer this service to Irish patients from a company right here in Ireland.
Testing services include small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO), helicobacter pylori stool testing, leaky gut, fructose/ lactose/ sorbitol/ sucrose malabsorption, specialist nutrient testing (the active B12 test is especially helpful) and more.
Gastrolife do not offer test interpretation or drug or supplements recommendations. When we receive your test results this is something that we work on together. The reason for this is that test results are best taken together in context with clinical signs, symptoms, and your medical and health history.
I recommend that patients struggling with SIBO also do a gut microbiome test.
Dutch hormone tests
The DUTCH test is a unique hormone testing system utilizing dried urine that provides patients with detailed analysis of their female, male, and adrenal hormone patterns. Patients may also add on a cortisol awakening response profile (recommended).
Armed with this info we can develop specific diet, lifestyle, food supplement, herb and nutraceutical protocols to help bring you back into balance.
DUTCH testing is highly recommended for specific female health challenges, chronic fatigue symptoms, mood and emotional symptoms, transitions such as perimenopause, for detailed analysis of stress hormone patterns, oestrogen metabolic pathways in at risk patients, and also male andropause or low testosterone conditions.
Nordic Labs
Nordic Labs provide a range of practitioner authorised tests for my clients. These include tests for Lymes disease (borrelia and co-infections markers), and profiles for cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genetic, hormonal, immune, nutrition, metabolic, oxidative stress and toxicity markers.
Have a look at their website for a more detailed list of what is available. For a long time I could not access many of these tests for my Irish patients and now we have a solution (which makes me happy).
Nordic labs also offer the DUTCH test service.
I am excited to partner up with Nordic labs to extend on my already comprehensive range of tests available to patients.
MicroTrace Minerals
Micro Trace Minerals, Germany, was founded in 1975, specializing in the analysis of minerals and toxic metals. I have been using their hair mineral analysis and chelation challenge urine tests for the past decade.
If you are concerned that your health symptoms may be linked to substances such as mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead or more we can test for this.
Micro Trace test human, animal and environmental samples such as water and soil. They also analyse the metal concentration in a variety of specialty samples such as cosmetics, medication, nutrients, food, even tissues.
Many heavy metal toxicity issues stem not only from exposure but also compromised detoxification systems and reduced gut microbiome diversity. I always recommending addressing these before embarking on a detox programme. This is very important!
The ability to access tests directly from home is now more important than ever in these pandemic times. Just because life is more complex does not mean that we should put our health on hold. Quite the contrary.
Technology allows us to speak, test, and make a plan.
Andrea
Dutch test sample reports
Why not test all of your microbiomes! Vaginal, oral and gastrointestinal
Diagnostic testing has given some ah-ha moments for the following :
- Fatigue, chronic fatigue, ME.
- Post-viral syndrome.
- Migraine.
- Elevated liver enzymes, cholesterol, cardiovascular disease.
- Inflammation – systemic/ musculoskeletal.
- Autoimmune conditions (that’s a list in itself).
- Gastrointestinal conditions.
- Chronic anaemia/ B12 deficiency.
- Chronic allergies or food intolerances.
- Over-training in sport.
- Skin problems.
- RED-s (relative energy deficiency in sport).
- Tummy problems in training/ racing.
- Neuromuscular problems.
- Neurodegenerative conditions.
- Chronic Lymes disease.
- Mood and anxiety.
Get in Touch
We all put our health on the long finger; it is a pattern I see often in clients and something I have been guilty of myself. We are only human.
I don’t understand why it is that many of us end up stuck for longer than we want to be stuck. And we do! We do it all the time.
We tell ourselves that it isn’t the right time, there isn’t enough time, we don’t have enough money, and on the excuses go. I actually think that it is a self-worth thing. And perhaps also there is an element of fear; what will I find? What will I have to change? Who am I with health? The ideas of possibilities and no limitations scares us.
And then also there is the endless amount of times that we have been let down by the health-care system; this creates understandable hesitancy to trust once more.
The only way to change behaviour is to move and act…. to make a start..
Imagine…..
Change is scary and yet if nothing changes; nothing changes.
Your health is everything; take the leap.
I look forwards to supporting you on your journey.
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