Testing and Diagnostics

The doctors at Green Apple Health Care use tests not only to confirm diagnosis of an existing problem but also to determine if a previously unsuspected health condition has the potential to develop. When this is discovered, the doctors can intervene before it becomes a problem. The tests are also used to identify specific treatments that will make your program more functional and efficient and to monitor progress.

Adrenal Testing 

There are different ways of testing adrenal function.

In-Office Urine Screening

This test is a simple screening test to give us an indication of whether your adrenal glands are a possible problem. It is also used to measure progress once a treatment has started. 

Cost: $20

Blood Testing

Blood tests can be done for adrenal functioning. They measure morning and/or afternoon cortisol. This information is useful but may not provide a full picture.

Blood testing will measure how much hormones are in your blood at that moment, like a “snapshot”; it won’t tell you how much of the hormones are getting into the cells or what the pattern of your adrenal function is throughout the day. It is key to understand that you can have normal hormone levels in the blood but low levels in the cells.  

Cost: $50 to $75

Saliva Testing and Urine Testing

A more complete measure of adrenal function is done through saliva or urine testing. Saliva or urine samples are taken at four points during the day: first thing in the morning, before lunch, before supper, and at bedtime.

Saliva or urine testing measures the levels of cortisol and gives a very accurate reading of the cortisol pattern and how your adrenal glands are functioning throughout the day. It also measures how much cortisol is getting into the cells and being metabolized, rather than just what is present in the blood.

Saliva testing cost: $275 to $400 depending on whether additional hormones are also being measured.
Urine testing cost: $500

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Allergy Testing and Food Sensitivity Testing  

Food allergies can sometimes be confused with food sensitivities but they are not the same. Both are immune system responses, but they each trigger a different portion of the immune system and they each manifest differently. 

Allergies

Allergies are your body’s immune system’s reaction to certain foreign substances such as pollens, pet dander, mold, hay, or other environmental elements. There are also food allergies such as peanuts, shellfish, eggs. Allergies produce an immediate reaction such as wheezing, shortness of breath, hives, rashes, watering eyes, and other symptoms that are almost instantly obvious.

Allergies activate a very specific portion of the immune system called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Food sensitivities activate a different portion of the immune system, immunoglobulin (IgG). Food sensitivities are not immediately apparent; they create a cumulative effect.

Allergies and food sensitivities are also tested for differently.

Allergists typically use a skin scratch test to provoke a small, controlled allergic response.

In naturopathic medicine, environmental and food allergy testing are done through blood testing. 

Cost: $200 – $500

Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities are not the same as allergies. Allergic reactions are immediate; food sensitivities can cause symptoms to develop over a period of time. There is an extensive list of conditions that can be caused by food sensitivities. Some examples are PMS, hormone imbalances, headaches and migraines, digestive problems, skin problems including eczema and psoriasis, to name just the top few.

Food sensitivity testing is not allergy testing. It measures the levels of IgG antibodies being produced in the body and identifies the foods to which the body is reacting. Once these reactive foods have been identified, a program can be tailored to eliminate them.

Food sensitivity testing is done through blood testing. A full blood draw is not needed; a simple finger poke to get a few drops will tell us everything we need to know. We do the blood draw in the office and send it to the lab for full analysis. It is normally scheduled for 15 minutes and often at the end of the morning or the end of the day.

Preparation for food sensitivity testing is of vital importance. Patients being tested for food sensitivities MUST avoid all antacids, proton pump inhibitors, anti-inflammatories (including Advil, aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin etc.) cold or flu medications, allergy medications and asthma medications for a minimum of 5-7 days prior to the test and must NOT be using steroids such as asthma medications.  If a patient is on one or more of these medications, we STRONGLY URGE them to book a consultation prior to their test.

Patients taking medications must NOT stop taking them without talking to the doctor who prescribed the medications. This is a very important point because stopping or altering medications without consulting the prescribing doctor can cause negative reactions, some of which can be severe. We don’t want our patients to experience any of these possible effects. The doctors at Green Apple Health Care cannot and will not advise you to stop your medications or change your prescription in any way. 

New patients will sometimes want to do this test before their first consultation. We do allow this as long as it’s done a month before the first consultation as it can take up to a month to get the results. New patients wishing to do a food sensitivity test prior to their first consultation MUST SIGN A CONSENT FORM STATING THAT THEY TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RESULTS OF TESTING WITHOUT SEEING THE DOCTOR AT GREEN APPLE HEALTH CARE TO DETERMINE IF IT’S A MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE TEST AND/OR NOT FOLLOWING TESTING PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS.

Cost: $300

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BIA (Bio Impedance Analysis) 

BIA testing is used to determine body composition (the amount of muscle and fat) and cellular health and it can be used to screen for toxicity. BIA testing also measures metabolic rate (the number of calories burned at rest without exercise) and also tells us the overall health of the cells. 

BIA testing is painless and non-invasive. Pads similar to those used for an EKG are attached to your hand and your foot. A measurement is taken from the pads and the results are recorded. 

Cost: $20

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Blood Testing 

We do all the standard blood tests including such basic tests as:  

  • regular checkup testing like a CBC (complete blood count), 
  • iron
  • ferritin
  • thyroid
  • cholesterol
  • liver and kidney function. 
  • hormones 

We can also do more detailed, specific, and customized testing based on what the patient needs. 

Cost: $50 to $500, depending on the test and what is required for the patient.

Advanced Blood Tests

We also do more advanced blood tests than standard available tests. As an example, we can test for vitamin and minerals deficiencies. The advanced blood tests are to pinpoint and test very specific health conditions and combinations of health problems. 

Cost: $50 – $250+, depending on the test and what is required for the patient.

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Digestive Issues Testing  

Your body extracts the nutrients it needs – the proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water – from what you eat and drink through the process of digestion. If your digestive system is impaired, your body is simply not getting the nutrients it needs. Digestive problems are among the most common issues seen today. Often the cause of the digestion problem is an insufficiency of digestive enzymes, food reactions or infection in the bowel.

If digestive issues are suspected, testing is done through stool analysis. Stool analysis can tell us if food is being digested properly and if there is sufficient of the good bacteria in the bowel. It can also tell if there are any bad bacteria or yeast in the bowel causing the problem. We can also test for parasites that cause bowel problems. This type of testing is usually only done when there are bowel problems.

Digestive issues testing is also known as GI mapping, CSA (comprehensive stool analysis) or CDSA (comprehensive digestive stool analysis).

Cost: $450+, depending on the test and what is required for the patient.

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Hormone Testing 

There are many different hormones and different types of tests. You must have a consultation with the doctor at Green Apple Health Care to determine if a specific hormone should be tested and the most appropriate type of test.

Blood Hormone Testing

Blood testing can detect the levels of many common hormones in the blood. Blood hormone testing is most often done for women with a regular menstrual cycle. A predictable cycle will pinpoint when the testing should be done, depending on which hormones are being tested for.

Cost: $150 to $175.

Saliva Hormone Testing

Saliva hormone testing measures how much hormone is getting into the cells. It is generally done for post-menopausal women to determine hormone levels and whether there is an imbalance (too much of one hormone and not enough of another). 

Cost: $250 to $400 depending on whether the doctor adds testing for specific hormones.

Urine Hormone Testing

Urine hormone testing is done to look at all hormones in the body and how much the body is eliminating, and how well you are metabolizing them. This test tells us how the hormones are being broken down and used in the body, not just how much are in the cells and being made in the body. Urine hormone testing tells us whether hormones are a possible cause of health problems.

Cost: $500

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Nutritional Testing 

Nutritional testing measures your levels of various important vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function well. There are different levels of nutritional testing.

Vitamin Screening Testing

We can do a simple screening test to get a general idea of your nutrient status by testing some basic vitamin and mineral levels. It is not an exhaustive test, but it is a reliable method of determining if nutritional deficiencies are present. It gives us a general overview to help determine if nutrient level is an area we should focus on.

Cost: $100 – $150

Organic Acids Testing

Organic acids are compounds that are formed during the body’s metabolic processes. They are created from the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and are used by the body to generate cellular energy and to assist with cellular function. 

Organic acids testing provides an assessment of metabolic function and the body’s functional need for specific vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, amino acids and other nutrients. 

Organic acids testing is a primary test done in functional medicine that tells us what is going on metabolically and functionally throughout your entire body and where we need to focus a treatment plan.

This test can also flag health concerns such as:

  • an imbalance of good bacteria in the bowels and other digestive issues
  • vitamin deficiencies
  • toxins
  • kidney stone formation and risk of kidney stones 
  • neurotransmitter dysfunction

Organic acids testing is done by blood analysis or urine analysis, depending on which method is best indicated for the patient.

Cost: $400 – $550

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Thyroid Testing 

The thyroid gland creates two important hormones, T3 and T4. These hormones regulate growth and metabolism. They also help to control such things as body temperature, weight, and energy levels.

There are different ways of testing thyroid function.

Blood Test

Cost: $50 to $75

Urine Test

The patient is provided with a take-home kit that contains full instruction on how to collect urine samples over a 24-hour period and how to store the samples. 

Cost: $250

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Toxicity Testing - Chemicals 

People may be exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of them are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) and others just cause bad health. Symptoms can range from low energy to “brain fog” to immune system problems to a general feeling of being unwell and to depression. Some chemicals can also cause hormone problems and certain cancers.

We can test for the most common chemicals through a simple urine sample. 

The patient is provided with a take-home kit that contains full instruction on how to collect and store the sample. 

Cost: $450-500

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Toxicity Testing – Heavy Metals 

Heavy metals are called that for two reasons. First, they are physically very dense, and they are “heavy” on the periodic table of elements. These metals have no metabolic function in the body and the body has no method of removing them. They can build up in the fatty organs of the body including the liver, adrenals, thyroid, and brain. The most common heavy metals that cause health problems are mercury, lead, and cadmium. 

There are different tests for heavy metals.

In-Office Urine Metal Screening

This is a screening test to determine whether there is a problem with heavy metals and whether there are low, medium, or high levels of heavy metals in the body. It is also used to measure the progress of a detox program to remove heavy metals from the body. 

Cost: $50

Hair Analysis

Hair analysis can be used to detect the presence of heavy metals but it is not the preferred method. Hair is exposed to our environment and so heavy metals can settle on the hair from the atmosphere, from swimming pools, and from other sources. Hair analysis is used most often for patients where urine collection is difficult. 

Cost: $100

Urine Metals Challenge Test

Also called “urine metals mobilization testing” or “provoked urine testing”, the urine challenge test provides a definitive analysis of not only the presence of heavy metals, but which specific metals are present in the body and the volume of these metals. This test will tell us how much exposure the patient has to metals and will also measure the overall load of metals being stored in the body.

The patient is provided with a take-home test kit that contains full instructions on how to collect and store the samples. 

Cost: $500

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Urine Screening Tests 

Urine screening tests are used to confirm the presence of substances in the urine that can indicate health issues that should be addressed.

Dipstick Test

This is a simple urine screen test that can detect urinary tract infection, kidney disorder, dehydration and other metabolic issues.

Cost: $20

Vitamin D Testing  

When it comes to keeping your bones healthy most people know that calcium is an important nutrient. What they may not realize is that Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium.

Absorption of calcium is key to bone health because when calcium is not absorbed in the small intestine, the body will “steal” the calcium from the bones in order to maintain sufficient calcium levels elsewhere in the body. 

Adequate levels of Vitamin D will help the body to absorb calcium so that it does not rob the bones of their calcium.

Testing involves a simple finger poke, just enough to get a few drops of blood. 

Cost: $120

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Tests We Don’t Do

  • Live blood cell
  • Vega testing, also called enterro, meridian, EAV (Electro Acupuncture According to Voll)  
  • BTA (Bio Terrain Analysis), also called Applied Kinesiology
  • QEEG neuronal brain testing

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