Functional Testing
Functional testing goes beyond standard blood tests to identify the root causes of your health concerns. These specialised tests provide detailed insights into digestive health, hormones, nutrient status, and more – helping create truly personalised treatment plans.
Gastrointestinal Microbiome Mapping (Stool)
When standard testing comes back "normal" but you still don't feel well, the answer often lies in your gut microbiome. This comprehensive, DNA-based stool analysis goes beyond basic pathology to reveal bacterial imbalances, hidden infections, inflammation and functional deficiencies affecting your digestion, immunity, hormones and mental health.
Common symptoms that may benefit from GI microbiome mapping include:
Digestive discomfort
Bloating, heartburn/reflux, cramping, constipation or unexpected diarrhoea
Mental health changes
Increased anxiety / depression, stress, mood swings or ADHD
Skin issues
Acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes and dermatitis
Food reactivity
New or changing food intolerances or sensitivities
Metabolic issues
Stubborn weight, low energy, sugar cravings, difficulty building muscle mass, uncontrollable hunger
Hormonal dysregulation
Irregular or absent menstrual cycle, anovulatory cycles, infertility, poor libido, heavy or painful periods and breast tenderness
Immune dysfunction and inflammation
Persistent or recurring illness, slow wound healing, joint pain or stiffness, seasonal allergies / asthma, autoimmune conditions and recurrent sinus infections
Vaginal Microbiome Mapping (Swab)
The vaginal microbiome plays a critical role in reproductive health, fertility, pregnancy outcomes and protection against infections. Vaginal microbiome mapping uses advanced DNA sequencing to analyse the bacterial communities in the vaginal environment, identifying imbalances, harmful pathogens, levels of beneficial Lactobacillus species and inflammatory markers.
Common scenarios that may benefit from vaginal microbiome mapping include:
Recurrent infections
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), thrush (candida / yeast infections), UTI’s, STI’s or trichomoniasis (TV)
Vaginal symptoms
Pungent, discoloured, textured or abnormal amounts of discharge, persistent odour, itching, burning, irritation, inflammation, dryness or painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
Reproductive and fertility issues
Difficulty conceiving or infertility, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), unexplained pelvic pain or pelvic congestion syndrome
Chronic conditions
Interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia (vulvar pain), vestibulodynia (pain at vaginal opening), vaginismus or post-antibiotic vaginal symptoms
Pregnancy related
Pregnancy planning and preconception optimisation, history of pregnancy complications or miscarriage, Group B Strep (GBS) colonisation, history of preterm birth or preparing for IVF
General health
HPV infection, abnormal pap smears, hormonal changes (perimenopause, menopause or postpartum), taking or recently finished antibiotics, autoimmune conditions or weakened immune system
Breath Testing
Bloating after every meal? Constipation alternating with diarrhoea? Persistent reflux or stomach pain? The cause may be bacterial overgrowth or infection that standard tests can't detect.
Breath testing is a simple, non-invasive way to diagnose SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and H. Pylori infections – two of the most common but underdiagnosed causes of chronic digestive symptoms.
These at-home breath tests measure gases produced by bacteria, revealing bacterial imbalances in your small intestine or stomach infection that blood tests, stool tests and even endoscopies can miss. Accurate diagnosis means targeted treatment that actually addresses the root cause of your symptoms.
Hormone Metabolism and Production (Urine)
Blood tests measure hormone levels at a single point in time, but they can't tell you how your body metabolises, uses and eliminates those hormones – which is often where hormonal dysfunction occurs.
Comprehensive urine hormone testing reveals the complete hormonal picture; not just production, but metabolism pathways, detoxification patterns and daily hormone rhythms. Tests like the DUTCH hormone panel and ENDOMAP analyse sex hormones, stress hormones, hormone metabolites, cortisol patterns throughout the day and metabolic markers linked to conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, adrenal fatigue and oestrogen dominance. This comprehensive analysis provides the detailed insights needed to create targeted, effective treatment for complex hormonal issues.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)
Exhausted despite supplementing? Thyroid medication not working? Hair falling out, brain fog persistent, or metabolism mysteriously slow? Standard blood tests show "normal" results, but you know something's off.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) reveals what blood tests can't: your long-term mineral status, toxic metal accumulation and the mineral ratios that govern thyroid, adrenal and metabolic function. This simple test analyses a small hair sample to assess essential minerals (magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, calcium), mineral imbalances affecting metabolism and hormones, and heavy metal burden (mercury, lead, aluminium, cadmium, arsenic). HTMA provides the missing piece of the puzzle – guiding targeted treatment that actually works.
Functional Blood Testing
Standard blood tests are designed to catch disease, not optimise health – and there's a massive difference. Your ferritin might be 30 (technically "normal") but optimal function requires 70-100. Your thyroid TSH might be 3.5 (within range) but you're symptomatic because optimal is closer to 1-2.
Comprehensive functional blood testing assesses the same markers your GP orders – full blood count, iron studies, thyroid panel, vitamins, inflammatory markers, metabolic markers – but interprets them against optimal ranges for vibrant health, not just absence of disease. This proactive approach catches declining function early, identifies subtle deficiencies affecting energy and wellbeing, and guides targeted treatment before problems escalate.
