Functional Chemistry Analysis

Assessing and monitoring functional body chemistry is pivotal to understanding and maintaining our health. The intricate balance of hormones, enzymes, and other biochemicals dictates how our bodies operate, from energy production to mood regulation. By keeping a vigilant eye on these internal markers, we can detect early signs of imbalances or dysfunctions, enabling timely interventions. Proper oversight of body chemistry ensures we are proactive in our health approach, optimizing wellness and preventing potential issues before they escalate.

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Fuel and Chemistry

Proper nutrition and body chemistry provides the body with essential building blocks and signals. It's crucial that our bodies effectively absorbs nutrients. Monitoring blood chemistry complements this process by offering insights into our internal balance and nutrient utilization. Any discrepancies in blood chemistry can indicate issues in absorption or other metabolic challenges. Together, obtaining, absorbing, and monitoring nutrition and hormones ensures our body's optimal function and long-term well-being.

Inflammation

Inflammation, a natural response to injury or infection, can also be caused by metabolic processes gone awry. Persistent inflammation can cause persistent symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog and damage tissues. lIt can damage to organs, joints, the brain, and even some cancers. Recognizing and managing inflammation is essential, as it's more than just short-term discomfort or pain. When left unchecked, it becomes a silent assailant in our body's systems, undermining long-term health and wellness.

Detoxification

Detoxification is the body's natural process of neutralizing and eliminating harmful substances. Assessing detoxification capabilities and facilitating optimal function are essential to health. An effective detox system reduces toxin accumulation, which can lead to chronic diseases and impaired bodily functions. By prioritizing detoxification assessment and support, we ensure the body remains resilient against environmental and internal stressors, promoting sustained well-being.

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Metabolic Testing

Glucose Storage and Metabolism

Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels pinpoint risks for conditions like low blood sugar, diabetes, or insulin resistance. Understanding glucose metabolism provides insights into energy production and potential hormonal imbalances that relate to sugar handling.

Oxygen Carrying Capacity

Assessing oxygen carrying capacity determines how well blood delivers oxygen to tissues, impacting cellular function, energy production, and overall vitality. Deficits can lead to fatigue, diminished cognitive function, and various medical conditions.

Lipid Metabolism and Storage

The analysis of fats, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the body. allows us to ascertain cardiovascular health risks and better understand the body's fat absorption, utilization and storage mechanisms. This can shed light on liver, digestive, and immune function.

Mineral, Electrolyte and Hydration Balance

Vital minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, as well as electrolytes are critical for muscle function, nerve transmission, and maintaining proper pH levels in the body. Ensuring balance supports optimal organ and cellular function, and hydration.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status

Damage caused by free radicals to the body's can accelerate aging and increase vulnerability to diseases. Assessing antioxidant status allows us to direct dietary and lifestyle recommendations to bolster the body's defenses.

Hormone Synthesis and Balance

Various hormones, such as Vitamin D, melatonin, thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones, affect mood, energy, weight, immune, and reproductive health. A thorough evaluation can provide strategies for restoring balance.

Gut and Microbiome Health

Health, diversity, and function of gut bacteria influences energy, mood, digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function, and even brain health. Ensuring a balanced microbiome is crucial for overall well-being.

Detoxification Pathway Integrity

Processing and eliminating toxins and harmful substances are necessary roles of the liver and kidneys. This prevents the accumulation of waste products, which can cause cellular damage and lead to chronic health issues.

Immune System Function

By understanding the status, responsiveness, and potential overactivity of immune markers, it's possible to identify potential vulnerabilities or tendencies towards conditions like food allergies, neurological disease and autoimmunity.

Nutrient Status and Deficencies

Diving deeper into the levels of essential vitamins and minerals allows us to identify and addressing potential deficiencies or excesses. This is a key for metabolic efficiency, brain health, immune function, and bone health.

Genetic Testing for Predispositions

Evaluating genetic markers can identify inherited vulnerabilities in metabolic pathways, enabling personalized interventions in including tailored dietary, lifestyle, medical strategies, and optimizing metabolic health.

Biotoxin/Infection Evaluation

Assessment for biotoxins and infections is crucial because these agents can disrupt cellular functions, impair nutrient absorption, and trigger inflammation which. can derail metabolic processes and cause chronic disease and suffering.

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Traditional Labs vs. Functional Medicine

Routine Primary Care Labs

Fasting Glucose
Hemoglobin A1C
Calcium
Sodium
Potassium
CO2/Bicarbonate
Chloride
Creatinine
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Total Cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol
HDL Cholesterol
Triglycerides
Urine Analysis
Vitamin D
Red Blood Cell Count
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
MCV
Platelets
White Blood Cell Count
Red Cell Distribution Width
Neutrophils (Total Count and %)
Lymphocytes (Total Count and %)
Eosinophils (Total Count and %)
Basophils (Total Count and %)

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Our Routine Labs

Everything in your routine PCP's testing PLUS...

Triglyceride-Glucose Index
BUN: Creatinine Ratio
Sodium: Potassium Ratio
Anion Gap
Total Protein
Albumin
Globulin
Albumin: Globulin Ratio
Phosphorous
Magnesium
Uric Acid
Calcium: Albumin Ratio
Calcium: Phosphorous Ratio
Alkaline Phosphatase
AST
ALT
GGT
AST: ALT Ratio
Lactate Dehydrogenase
Bilirubin
Iron
Ferritin
TIBC
UIBC
Iron Saturation %
Cholesterol: LDL Ratio
Triglyceride: HDL Ratio
LDL: HDL Ratio
Homocysteine
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
T3 (Total and Free)
T4 (Total and Free)
Reverse T3
T3 Updake
Thyroid Antibodies (TPO and TGB)
Vitamin B12
MCH
MCHC
C-Reactive Protein

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Lab Testing FAQ's

Why so many labs?

Think of body chemistry markers as pixels in your TV. The more pixels that the TV has, the more clear the image is. The more labs that we have, the better we'll be able to evaluate your internal environment. The labs that we order overlap to other systems, so Dr. Antonucci can see how each lab marker relates to others. This helps him identify dysfunction in certain functional systems.

Are these all the labs that I will need?

There are literally THOUSANDS of labs that we could order on you. Based upon our experience and education in functional medicine, we try to order as many of the primary labs that give us the most information. If there are abnormalities in these labs, we will need to order more. If they are functionally normal, you can trust that you're most likely pretty healthy.

Can you order additional labs?

We can order all sorts of lab testing-- everything from blood tests, urine tests, stool tests, hair, and salivary tests. These tests can cover hormones, food sensitivities, allergies, infections, genetic sequencing for diseases, amino acid profiles, detailed nutrient testing, recreational drug testing, antibiotic resistance profiles, even genetic testing to determine what medications might work or not work for you.

Will my insurance pay for these labs?

Insurance companies are in the business of collecting more money than they spend. They want your doctor order as little as possible to reduce costs. If a lab is not likely to be positive based on your diagnosis, they will not pay for them and say that they are the "patient's responsibility". Keep in mind that labs bill insurance 10-20x more money than those that pay cash. You can submit our bill with your labs to your insurance for repayment.

Can my PCP also order these labs?

Absolutely! However, keep in mind, if they bill your insurance you will have to get multiple blood draws. If round one labs come back positive, they will send you for additional labs. Your time is valuable, and nobody love needles enough to get stuck a half-dozen times. It is also a possible that, based on your diagnosis, they won't have "medical necessity" for many of our labs. Then, you will have to pay your insurance company (lab prices).

Will you interpret the findings for me?

We can, if you want us to. We have helped patients secure comprehensive and expedited labs for their other doctors.

Other patients prefer the familiarity, trust, and expertise of Dr. Antonucci to interpret the labs. Upon request, Dr. Antonucci will create and schedule an hour to review with you a 40-45 page report on your tests. There is an additional cost of $275.00 for this service.

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What is Functional Chemistry Analysis process?

Data Collection

The first thing that we need is to get information about you. This includes demographic information (name, date of birth, sex, race, occupation) to help us determine if particular labs are age, sex, race, or occupationally relevant. We will also need you to complete some questionnaires about your current health status, and health history.

Quoting

Once we have reviewed your paperwork, the doctor will determine which labs are most appropriate for your situation and your health goals. We will price them out and quote the labs. At this point, you will let us know if you want the lab interpretation. The process of quoting and ordering labs takes the doctor approximately an hour. We do not charge for this time if you purchase an assessment.

If you are only ordering labs through us, there is a $200 administration fee on top of the cost of the labs.

Payment & Ordering

Once you have accepted the quote for the costs of the labs and the services to be performed, we will require payment. You can pay by credit card, debit card, PayPal, Venmo, and ACH bank transfer

Once labs are ordered there are NO REFUNDS under any circumstances. We cannot receive a refund either. If, for any reason, you do not provide your specimen for analysis, and the order expires, we cannot refund your money.

Submitting Your Labs

Once we place the order for your labs there are a couple different ways that you might have to submit your specimen

LabCorp:
There will be an electronic submission. You should only need to show up to the local LabCorp draw center with your an ID. We recommend bringing your lab requisition just incase.
Other Labs:
For labs that are not run through LabCorp, we will send you a collection kit containing instructions. Some of these kits can be performed at home. Others may need you to go to a collection center. We will provide detailed instructions.

The Wait..

Different labs will require different processing times. This can take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the type of labs.

We will be just as eager as you to get the results, and will let you know as soon as they come in and are interpreted (if applicable). Meanwhile, we ask for your patience.

Lab Report

Once Dr. Antonucci has received your labs and had a chance to review them, he will compile his report.

At that point, our staff will contact you to schedule a time for him to review his impressions. At this point he will also make any recommendations for additional testing (if indicated).

This appointment typically takes about an hour.

Action Plan

Based upon your goals and your results, Dr. Antonucci can work with you to create a plan for success. This might mean referring you to another specialist, or continuing working with him on a remote basis.

We will discuss all options and costs at this time.