Functional Blood Chemistry Panel

“There is no general screening test that is more efficient, effective,

and affordable than a comprehensive blood chemistry panel.”

Dr. Datis Kharrazian

 

Why do a Functional Blood Chemistry Panel?

● This full panel test provides us with a set of benchmarks, which allows us to track your progress and health trends over time. This can help us attain a wellness picture and give me direction as your practitioner for healing opportunities!

● Blood work is comprehensive - we will get a good look at many functioning systems and organs in one test.

● It’s a well respected test that is universally accepted by both functional and conventional practitioners.

● The markers that this comprehensive blood chemistry panel provides is by far a phenomenal value. Just a thyroid panel alone run by your doctor and put through insurance can cost around $300 out of pocket. This panel covers that, plus many more markers that a traditional blood chemistry panel run by your conventional practitioner does not. This Comprehensive Blood Work up is valued at $1500. 

 

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​What is the difference between how I use a blood chemistry panel and your doctor?

● The main difference is that I am looking for underlying imbalances in your blood chemistry, rather than identifying or diagnosing a disease.

● My work is preventative. I work to identify imbalances in hopes of preventing disease - ideally long before it manifests. This is much better than digging yourself out of a hole!

● The body is assessed as a whole, understanding that no system or body part is isolated or unaffected by the rest of the body.

● I DO NOT RELY ON SOFTWARE TO ANALYZE YOUR BLOOD RESULTS. This results in more accurate, more customized, and more effective recommendations. We can then create protocols based on your test results as well as your symptoms...this is something SOFTWARE (OR AI) CAN NOT DO!

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​How often should a Functional Blood Chemistry Panel be run?

● I suggest once a year for a full panel and if markers are out of range a follow up of those markers in 3 -6 months. (depending on the markers that are out of range).

● And, after dietary and lifestyle recommendations have been suggested and implemented.

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What markers are included in a Functional Blood Chemistry Panel?

● This is a Comprehensive Wellness Panel that includes the following markers: (Total of 63 markers)

○ Complete Blood Count with Differential - which includes red blood cell markers, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, and Platelets. It also includes white blood cells, and the differential then gives you a percentage of each of the different types of white blood cells: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.

- A CBC with differential will give you clues about the immune system, dehydration, some types of anemia (additional markers for anemia are included as well (B-12, homocysteine, ferritin, total iron and TIBC)

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○ Comprehensive Metabolic Panel – which included electrolytes/chemical balance, liver, kidney, bone and mineral status. It contains 14 tests, or markers, as compared to a basic metabolic panel, which typically has 7 markers.

 - This panel gives you information about protein and mineral assimilation, blood sugar, liver and gallbladder, renal insufficiency, dehydration and kidneys, electrolyte status, oxidative stress, detoxification, biliary status.

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○ Lipid Profile – gives an overall picture of cardiac risk and can help determine if dietary changes are necessary, includes:

■ Total cholesterol ■ HDL and LDL ■ Triglycerides ■ VLDL ■ Non-HDL ■ Cholesterol:HDL ■ Triglyceride: HDL ■ LDL: HDL ■ HsCRP

■ Apo A and ApoB - a better marker of cardiovascular health! - Apo A - found in HDL cholesterol, provides an indicator of arterial plaque formation due to Apo A’s ability to aid cholesterol removal. High Apo A may predict a lower risk of coronary artery disease.

● Research has found that ApoB may be a better predictor of heart disease than a standard lipid profile ordered by your doctor! Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a protein involved in the metabolism of lipids and is the main protein constituent of all non-HDL cholesterol in your blood. These ApoB containing lipoprotein particles are the most damaging to your arteries and include not only LDL cholesterol but, VLDL and IDL… ALL of which promote atherosclerosis!

 

○ Comprehensive Thyroid Panel, which will help you determine your rate of metabolism, ability to make adequate thyroid hormones, and if there is a thyroid autoimmune component at play - includes TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, Total T4, Total T3, as well as thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies. ​

 

○ Other markers included are the following:

■ Iron Panel & Ferritin (Stored Iron): This group of markers provides a deeper look into how your body is managing iron — from absorption, to transport, to long-term storage. The iron panel includes serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation, and ferritin.
     • Low iron or ferritin can point to anemia, heavy menstrual bleeding, poor stomach acid           production, nutrient malabsorption, or chronic gut imbalances.
     • High ferritin can indicate inflammation, oxidative stress, liver congestion, metabolic               dysfunction, or chronic infection — even when serum iron itself is normal.

 

A complete iron and ferritin panel is essential for assessing fatigue, hair thinning, exercise intolerance, mood concerns, immune issues, and overall metabolic health.

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■ Additional Glucose Regulation Markers: I also include Hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, and LDH — along with glucose (included in the metabolic panel) — to assess blood sugar stability, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic function.

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■ Vitamin D: Low vitamin D levels are commonly associated with autoimmune disease, reduced immune function, bone and mineral issues, and mood or mental health concerns.

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■ Inflammatory Markers: C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and high-sensitivity CRP (HsCRP) help evaluate systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk.

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■ Homocysteine - Homocysteine is a type of amino acid. Your body naturally makes it. But at high levels, it can damage the lining of arteries. It can encourage blood clotting, and raise your risk for coronary artery disease, heart attacks, blood clots, and strokes. High levels are associated with brain issues, such as Alzheimer’s as well as cardiac issues. 

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■ Magnesium - There are so many reasons to pay close attention to magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. One of the most important ones is the vital role that it plays in cardiovascular health, from maintaining the integrity of blood vessels to keeping your heart beating. If you want to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, and keep your heart, mind, and body healthy, keep magnesium in mind.

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■ Phosphorus - Phosphorus is essential in the diet and the body, where it is associated with bone structure, energy and oxygen metabolism, cellular activity, acid-base balance, and B vitamin activation. Low levels are associated with compromised nutritional status, while higher levels are associated with kidney disease, liver disease, CVD, and dementia. A diet high in processed foods and soft drinks may promote excess consumption of dietary phosphorus.

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■ GGT - GGT is abundant in hepatocytes and is considered a “liver enzyme” as it becomes elevated in the blood when liver damage occurs. GGT is also a sensitive marker for gallbladder issues such as cholestasis, cholecystitis, cholangitis, and biliary obstruction. It can also be a sign of glutathione depletion, which is necessary for to scavenge free radicals.

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■ LDH - LDH is lactate dehydrogenase, a type of metabolic enzyme that assists in the generation of energy, especially when oxygen availability is low. It facilitates the conversion of pyruvate to lactate and vice versa, creating an energy substrate with flexible use. Increased levels can be seen with metabolic syndrome, poorly controlled diabetes, myocardial infarction, lung disease, kidney disease, muscle injury, infections, inflammation, alcohol, certain medications, and pesticide exposure.

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■ Uric Acid - Uric acid is a normal waste product that your body makes when it breaks down chemicals called purines. Purines come from your cells when they die. Purines are also found in many foods and beverages. High uric acid is associated with joint issues such as gout, as well as kidney stones, and most recently issues with managing blood sugar.

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Female Hormone Panel Add-On

Balancing female hormones requires more than a single marker like estrogen or progesterone. A complete picture helps us understand how the body is producing, converting, and clearing hormones — and how that hormone landscape may be influencing symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, mood fluctuations, PMS, irregular cycles, perimenopausal or menopausal transitions, fertility challenges, acne, and sleep disturbances.

When appropriate, I offer an expanded Female Hormone Panel that provides deeper insight into:

● Estradiol (E2) – your primary estrogen; helps assess ovarian output and overall estrogen status
● Progesterone – critical for mood, sleep, fertility, and balance with estrogen
● Testosterone (Total & Free) – important for muscle, metabolism, and libido
● DHEA-S – a key adrenal hormone that supports resilience and hormone production
● Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) – shows how much hormone is available vs. tightly bound
● LH & FSH – pituitary hormones that help us understand cycle status, ovarian reserve, and perimenopause
● Prolactin (if indicated) – helpful when irregular cycles, fertility issues, or thyroid imbalances are present

This panel is especially helpful for women experiencing cycle irregularities, perimenopause or menopause symptoms, mood shifts, sleep issues, and unexplained weight changes.

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Male Hormone Panel Add-On

Men’s hormones also shift with stress, fatigue, metabolic changes, and aging — often years before symptoms are recognized. Low testosterone can show up as low energy, decreased muscle mass, poor recovery, irritability, abdominal weight gain, low libido, and brain fog.

A Male Hormone Panel gives a comprehensive picture of how hormones are functioning by measuring:

● Total Testosterone
● Free Testosterone – the biologically active form
● Bioavailable Testosterone – helpful when SHBG is abnormal
● DHEA-S – a marker of adrenal reserve and hormone production
● Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) – impacts how much testosterone is usable
● Estradiol (E2) – men need optimal (not zero) levels for metabolism, libido, and cardiovascular health
● LH & FSH – indicate whether the issue is testicular or pituitary in origin
● Prolactin (when indicated) – can suppress testosterone if elevated

This panel is ideal for men struggling with energy, strength, metabolic health, mood concerns, or performance.

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Personalization & Bioindividuality in Your Testing Panel

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Every client’s body tells a different story, which is why no two testing plans are ever exactly the same. While this Functional Blood Chemistry Panel includes a comprehensive set of foundational markers, additional labs can always be added based on your unique symptoms, history, and goals. My approach is rooted in bioindividuality—meaning your plan is tailored specifically to you. Whether we need deeper insight into hormones, inflammation, nutrient status, gut health, or metabolic function, we can build out your panel in a way that gives us the clearest picture of your health and the most effective path forward.

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All testing is ordered through my office.  I currently do not do testing until we have had a Strategy Session, which you can book by clicking here. I look forward to working with you!

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I try to keep the pricing up to date, but the labs do change pricing, so please keep this in mind.