We work with any and all labs.  This includes the familiar labs such as LabCorp & Quest, but also any "specialty" lab that offers unique testing.  

Below are the "routine" or "baseline" labs with a brief explanation.

CBC: The Complete Blood Count

This looks at the 3 main components of our blood: the red blood cells, white blood cells, and the platelets. Our bone marrow makes all of these components of our blood.

• Red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen from the lungs to the cells and bring Carbon Dioxide out fo the cells to the lungs for us to exhale. RBCs live about 4 months before they die and are replaced by new RBCs.
• White blood cells (WBCs) are more complex! The WBCs are our army of defenders – just as an army has many divisions that perform different functions, so too do our WBCs.
• Platelets are mainly involved in the clotting process. Incidentally, most of our body's Vitamin B-6 is stored in the platelets.

CMP: The Complete Metabolic Profile

This looks at how well your kidneys and liver are functioning. The first part looks at how well the kidneys are balancing electrolytes and functioning, and the latter part looks at various liver markers and enzymes.

Total Testosterone

This is a measure of all the Testosterone in the blood. It is the hormone associated with increased energy and vitality, cardiovascular protection, increased cognitive clarity (less brain fog!), stronger bones and muscles, better blood sugar control, reduced body fat, and of course, enhanced libido. Most men feel and do better if their total Testosterone is between 700 and 1200 ng/ml. Most ladies feel their best with levels between 75 and 250 ng/ml.

Estradiol

This is the hormone responsible for the secondary female characteristics: softer skill, less muscle mass, higher voice, and breast development. Both men and women covert Testosterone into Estradiol. Ladies to do it a greater extent, and this is what makes them ladies! Some men taking Testosterone can convert too much to Estradiol, and can thus develop what is known as "man-boobs".

FSH: Follicle Stimulating Hormone

This stimulates production of an egg to grow during the menstrual cycle.  It may help us to decide if a lady has too much or too little Estradiol.

LH: Luteinizing Hormone

In men, the Luteinizing Hormone stimulates cells in the testes to produce Testosterone. For ladies, it plays a role in ovulation.

Ferritin

This is a measure of one's Iron Stores (as the iron in the blood is known as the "working iron".) Hematologists in the know feel that the Ferritin level is best when it is between 70 and 100 ng/ml. If it is low, it can affect one's ability to learn and remember, and it may cause your hair to fall out! It can also act as a marker of inflammation, similar to the C-Reactive Protein.

The Cholesterol Panel

The Framingham Data taught us how to evaluate the good and bad “cholesterols”.  For example, if Bubba comes in with his questions about the risks facing him and his wife, Nervous Nancy, stating: “Doc, my cholesterol is 180 and Nancy’s is 280.  Who is at risk for la heart attack? Me, or, Nancy?”

My reply: ”I don’t have enough information.  What are your HDL levels?”

Bubba’s HDL is 30, and Nancy’s is 70.  If the ratio of Cholesterol to HDL is less than 4.5, the risk of a heart attack is low.  Ergo, Bubba is at risk because his ratio is 6!  Nancy is at much less risk as her ratio is 4.

TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

This one requires your thinking cap. TSH stimulates the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone when there is not enough.

Or, in other words, if the TSH is high, the thyroid is low (hypothyroid) as it is not putting out enough thyroid hormone. {OR, you aren't taking enough thyroid hormone.}

If the TSH is low, the thyroid glad is putting out too much thyroid hormone and the thyroid itself is high (hyperthyroid).  {OR, you are taking too much thyroid medicine

When someone has had their thyroid removed and are on thyroid hormones but their TSH is low, they are on too much thyroid hormone. And just the opposite, if the TSH is high, they are not on enough thyroid medicine.

T-3 (Triiodothyronine)  [try-eye-owe-dough-thigh-row-neen] & T-4 (Levothyroxine) [levo-thigh-rocks-in]

The difference between these two is that the T-4 has four Iodines hooked on it, and T-3 only has three Iodines. To put it simply, thyroid hormone is the body's natural speed. The right amount, you go the right speed. The wrong amount, you go the wrong speed. There are several thyroid prescriptions available, and the one that is the best is the one that works best for you!

Urinalysis

A very simple test and a very important test,  it checks for some very important markers in the urine: pH, sugar, protein, Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells.