Patient Assessment Panels by LifeLabs

The Inflammation Panel provides insight into a variety of markers of inflammation. Acute phase reactants are proteins that rise or fall in the presence of inflammation. The positive acute phase reactants CRP, ESR, ferritin and fibrinogen increase in the presence of inflammation. The negative acute phase reactant, albumin, decreases with inflammation. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is another good biomarker of inflammation. Inflammation increases gut permeability, may interfere with steroidogenesis, promotes obesity, is a cause of cardiovascular disease and has been implicated in mood disorders.

The Inflammation Panel may be recommended in the presence of elevated IgG antibodies to food or Candida, elevated fecal calprotectin, a low anabolic/catabolic hormone ratio, an elevated oxidative stress marker such as 8OHdG, and any other clinical condition that may be exacerbated by inflammation.

The Inflammation Panel includes the following tests:

• Albumin
• CBC
• ESR
• Ferritin
• Fibrinogen
• CRP

The Liver/Digestion Plus Panel includes Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index. A simple, non-invasive, and convenient testing option, with promising clinical utility in defining non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with increased risk of clinically significant fibrosis and reducing unnecessary biopsies.

The Liver Digestion Plus Panel includes the following tests:

• ALT
• AST
• ALP
• Bilirubin (Direct)
• Bilirubin (Total)
• GGT
• LDH
• CBC
• FIB-4

The Autoimmune Panel provides insight into levels of a variety of disease-specific antibodies. Research shows that organ-specific (e.g. thyroid peroxidase) and non-organ specific antibodies (e.g. rheumatoid factor) rise steadily in the years prior to diagnosis of auto-immune disease. In addition, research has shown that removal of wheat gluten from the diet often results in a significant decline in antibody levels.

By monitoring antibody levels, functional medicine practitioners may be able to identify and prevent or treat potential auto-immune disorders. The Autoimmune Panel may be recommended in the presence of elevated gliaidin antibodies or moderate or high risk for celiac disease associated with HLA antigens or other celiac markers.

The Autoimmune Panel includes the following tests:

• Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)
• ANA Reflex (if required, test is billed separately)
• Anti-TPO
• Anti-Thyroglobulin
• Rheumatoid Factor
• Transglutaminase

The Healthy Living Assessment and Enhanced Living Assessment are comprehensive panels of blood tests that provide insight into liver, kidney, blood, electrolyte, heart and metabolic health. The Healthy Living Assessment may be used as an initial screening test, or ordered as a follow-up panel. The Healthy Living Assessment may be recommended in the presence of elevated IgG to Candida, abnormal cortisol levels, low DHEAS, low testosterone, suspected anemia or nutritional deficiency, low levels of essential elements, gastric or peptic ulcer, and/or general malaise.

The Healthy Living Assessment Panel includes the following tests:

The Enhanced Healthy Living Assessment Panel includes all the tests in the Healthy Living Assessment Panel, plus those listed below.

The Men’s Health provides insight via the biomarkers most relevant to men’s health. Men typically suffer heart attacks about seven years earlier than women, making lipid measurements an important part of the panel. In Canada, prostate cancer represents 21% of new cancers in men and hyperprolactinemia is a common finding with impotence or infertility. The Men’s Health may be recommended when androgens are low, estrogens are high or when signs and symptoms related to sexual or cardiac health are noted.

The Men’s Health includes the following tests:

• Bioavailable Testosterone
• Cholesterol
• HDL
• LDL
• Prolactin
• PSA Ratio
• Triglycerides

The Female Hormone Panel is comprised of five major hormones. Interactions between these hormones are fundamental to overall health. Imbalances may negatively impact health and if left untreated may lead to more serious health concerns including polycystic ovarian syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, mental health concerns or chronic illnesses such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Female Hormone Panel may be recommended when hormone imbalance is suspected or when the patient presents with weight management issues, chronic fatigue, or mood disorders.

The Female Hormone Panel includes the following tests:

• Cortisol AM
• Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate (DHEAS)
• Estradiol
• Follical Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• Progesterone
• Testosterone

The Female Fertility Panel provides insight into the most common hormone abnormalities that can affect fertility including elevated prolactin, thyroid disorders, progesterone insufficiency, low testosterone in men, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Stress can also affect fertility, so consideration may be given to ordering the Comprehensive Hormone Insights (CHI), an Adrenal Function Panel or a Month-Long Hormone Assessment for a view to cortisol production/patterns. The Female Fertility Panel may be recommended in the presence of decreased progesterone and elevated androgens in women and increased alpha-reductase activity in men, or whenever infertility is a clinical concern.

The Female Fertility Panel includes the following tests:

• Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH)
• Estradiol (E2)
• FSH
• Free Testosterone
• FT4
• LH
• Progesterone
• Prolactin (PRL)
• Total Testosterone
• TSH

The Thyroid Panel provides insight into the major thyroid hormones and thyroid antibodies that inform on thyroid disorders including TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. The Thyroid Panel may be recommended when hyper- or hypothyroidism is suspected or when hormone imbalances are present that affect, or are affected by, thyroid hormone function. In particular, high cortisol, low cortisol, elevated estrogens, and low DHEAS all have important interactions with thyroid hormones.

The Thyroid Hormone Panel includes the following tests:

• Free Triiodothyronine (FT3)
• Free Thyroxine (FT4)
• TSH
• Thyroperoxidase Antibody (TPO)
• Reverse T3
• Anti-Thyroglobulin

The Fatigue Panel provides insight into common causes of fatigue, which include anemias (macrocytic, microcytic, iron deficiency), infections (viral or bacterial), mononucleosis, and hypothyroidism. The Fatigue Panel informs on nutritional causes of anemias including iron, B12 and folate deficiency, thyroid function, and presence of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus. The Fatigue Panel may be recommended in the presence of low cortisol or when clinical signs and symptoms of general malaise are evident.

The Fatigue Panel includes the following tests:

• CBC
• Ferritin
• Folate (Serum)
• Iron/TIBC
• Mono Spot
• Transferrin
• TSH
• Vitamin B12

The Methylation Panel provides insight into serum levels of vitamins required for methylation as well as indicators of ability to methylate. Vitamins B12 and folate are essential for methylation and homocysteine is a good indicator of ability to methylate. Methylation is essential for DNA/RNA production, neurotransmitter synthesis, estrogen metabolism, detoxification, histamine metabolism, fat metabolism, cellular energy and liver health. The Methylation Panel may be recommended in the presence of high estrogens, a low ratio of 2-methoxyestrone to 2-hydroxyestrone, or whenever signs and symptoms of impaired methylation are observed.

The Methylation Panel includes the following tests:

• Homocysteine
• Folic Acid (serum)
• Vitamin B12

The Nutrient Panel provides insight into the serum levels of vitamins A, B6, B12, C and E. It also reports on serum levels of common minerals including calcium (the active ionized form), copper, magnesium and zinc. Serum levels of vitamins and minerals are generally reflective of recent intake, but a normal result does not preclude the possibility of a mild or moderate deficiency since body stores may be lower than serum levels. The Nutrient Panel may be recommended when nutrient deficiency is suspected, malabsorption is suspected, urine essential elements are abnormal, hair element analysis exhibits a noticeable ‘left shift’ or whenever deficiencies or insufficiencies of key minerals are suspected.

The Nutrient Panel includes all the tests within the Vitamin and Mineral Panels:

The Vitamin Panel provides insight into the serum levels of vitamins A, B6, B12, C and E. Serum levels of vitamins are generally reflective of recent intake, but a normal result does not preclude the possibility of a mild or moderate deficiency since body stores may be lower than serum levels. The Vitamin Panel may be recommended when nutrient deficiencies are suspected, or when there is evidence of malabsorption.

The Vitamin Panel includes the following tests:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E

The Mineral Panel provides insight into serum levels of common minerals including calcium (the active ionized form), copper, magnesium and zinc. Serum levels of minerals are generally reflective of recent intake, but a normal result does not preclude the possibility of a mild or moderate deficiency since body stores may be lower than serum levels. The Mineral Panel may be recommended when urine essential elements are abnormal, hair element analysis exhibits a noticeable ‘left shift’ or whenever deficiencies or insufficiencies of key minerals are suspected.

The Mineral Panel includes the following tests:

• Calcium (Ionized)
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Zinc

The Lipids Assessment reports on cholesterol, triglycerides and the lipid transport proteins LDL and HDL. Lipid levels are standard tests for assessing risk of cardiovascular disease. The Lipid Panel may be recommended in the presence of low DHEAS in men or women, when androgens are high in women, or whenever cardiovascular disease is suspected.

The Lipids Assessment includes the following tests:

• Cholesterol
• HDL
• LDL
• Triglycerides

The Hematology Assessment provides insight into common markers of blood health. The Complete Blood Count (CBC) reports on the health of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Iron, vitamin B12 and folate biomarkers are included to assess for anemias. The Hematology Assessment may be recommended in the presence of suspected anemias, nutritional deficiencies or any conditions related to blood health (e.g. infections, leukemias, clotting disorders).

The Hematology Assessment includes the following tests:

• CBC + Differential
• Ferritin
• Folate (Serum)
• Folate (RBC)
• Iron/TIBC
• Vitamin B12

The Metabolic Panel informs on biomarkers commonly used to identify Metabolic Syndrome, which manifests with three or more of the following signs: abdominal obesity, elevated serum glucose, elevated triglycerides, high blood pressure and low HDL levels. The Metabolic Panel is recommended in the presence of certain hormone patterns linked to increased risk of metabolic syndrome. These include elevated cortisol, high androgen levels in women, and low androgen levels in men.

The Metabolic Panel includes the following tests:

• GGT
• Glucose
• HbA1c
• hs-CRP
• Insulin
• Triglycerides
• Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)