Lab Testing

Product Description

**Note: All laboratory testing requires an authorizing physician. DHA Laboratory offers a patient direct program that partners you with an authorizing physician. If you have any additional questions regarding the availability of testing, please contact our laboratory by telephone or email.**

 

The Basic Cancer Panel Includes:

Cortisol, PSA, DHEA-S, VEGF Plasma, GGT, Magnesium RBC, Ferritin, Copper Serum, Ceruloplasmin, Fibrinogen, Urinalysis, TSH, Estrogens Total, Progesterone, Galectin 3, GlycoMark, Homocysteine, C-Reactive Protein, Vitamin D3, Testosterone Total, Vitamin C 

Cortisol: A cortisol test may be used to help diagnose Cushing syndrome, or to help diagnose adrenal insufficiency or Addison disease, conditions associated with deficient cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that plays a part in the metabolism of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, among other functions. Normally, the level of cortisol in the blood fluctuates throughout the day. 

PSA: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein produced by the epithelial cells lining the prostatic ducts and acini. Normally, it is secreted into the prostatic ducts and is present only in prostate tissue, prostatic fluid, and seminal plasma. PSA is produced by normal, hyperplastic, and cancerous prostatic tissue. PSA is used as a tumor marker for the early detection of prostate cancer and in other areas of prostate disease management

DHEA-S: The DHEA Sulfate test will aid in the evaluation of androgen excess (hirsutism and/or virilization), including Stein-Leventhal syndrome and adrenocortical diseases, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal tumor.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Plasma (VEGF): VEGF is thought to play an important role in several physiologic processes, including wound healing, ovulation, menstruation, maintenance of blood pressure, and pregnancy. VEGF has also been associated with a number of pathologic processes that involve angiogenesis, including arthritis, psoriasis, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

GGT: Used to determine why a patient would have elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase or also known as ALP. This test would be recommended for any patients with disease associated with the bile duct, and also for patients who have liver or bone disease.

Magnesium RBC: The Magnesium RBC test is used in the evaluation of Magnesium deficiency. It can often be used to show an earlier indication of Magnesium deficiency than a standard Magnesium test can.

Ferritin: The ferritin test is used to evaluate an individual’s iron levels in the body. Ferritin is often paired with an iron test and also a TIBC test. Ferritin levels correlate with and are useful in evaluation of total body storage iron. From this test you will be able to identify if you are deficient or high in iron levels.

Copper Serum: A highly reliable blood test that directly relates to brain chemistry. Elevated copper levels can alter the brains function, specifically the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine. Copper plays a large role in the metabolism of dopamine and the synthesis of norepinephrine. In turn, elevated copper levels lower dopamine levels and raise levels of norepinephrine. Imbalances in these essential brain chemicals have been related to paranoid schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, postpartum depression, ADD, ADHD, autism, and violent aggressive behavior. Copper serum levels can single handedly be the root cause of an individual condition, but elevated copper serum levels are also known to cause zinc levels to deplete and oxidative stress to rise.

Ceruloplasmin: Used in the evaluation of oxidative stress. When paired with copper, it is used to calculate free copper. When paired with other blood or urine copper tests, ceruloplasmin is used to help diagnose Wilson’s disease. This is due to a decreased ability to incorporate copper into apoceruloplasmin. In turn, free copper levels in plasma and tissue are greatly increased, especially in the liver and brain.

Fibrinogen: This test is essential for the formation of a blood clot. Deficiency in fibrinogen can produce mild to severe bleeding disorders.

Fibrinogen Activity is used in the diagnosis of:
-Heterozygous fibrinogen deficiency
-Homozygous fibrinogen deficiency
-Dysfibrinogenemia

Urinalysis: Detects abnormalities of urine; diagnose and manage renal diseases, urinary tract infection, urinary tract neoplasms, systemic diseases, and inflammatory or neoplastic diseases adjacent to the urinary tract.

TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone): The most common test used to evaluate thyroid function and symptoms related to a thyroid disorder such as hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism.  Produced by the pituitary gland, the primary role of TSH in the body is to stabilize amounts of T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) in the blood.  This process controls how much energy the body burns.

Estrogens, Total: Used to evaluate for ovarian estrogen producing tumor in the premenarcheal and postmenopausal female and evaluate estrogen excess in males. Estrogen analysis may be helpful in establishing time of ovulation and optimal time for conception.

Progesterone: The progesterone test is used to help identify and manage certain causes of infertility.  Can also be valuable in diagnosing an early failing pregnancy, or evaluating fetal health during a high-risk pregnancy.

Galectin-3: For use in conjunction with clinical evaluation as an aid in assessing the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure. Galectin-3 levels >17.8 ng/mL are present in a proportion of patients with NYHA class II-IV. Such elevated levels are associated with a more progressive form of heart failure resulting in an increased hazard for death or hospitalization.

GlycoMark: GlycoMark® testing provides an estimate of the patient’s postmeal glucose over a one- to two-week period, making it ideal for intermediate term monitoring of glycemic control in diabetic patients. GlycoMark® testing can also help monitor the effectiveness of therapeutics targeting postprandial glucose (PPG) and is a useful adjunct to routine A_1c testing, because it responds more rapidly and sensitively to hyperglycemia than A_1c.

Homocysteine: This test is ordered for a variety of clinical purposes including heart conditions, and vitamin b12 or folate deficiency. Testing homocysteine can be effective in identifying abnormal levels of B12 and folate before symptoms are present. Practitioners will order this test on patients who may be malnourished or with poor nutrition.

C-Reactive Protein, hs: Increases when there’s inflammation in your body. This test can be used to evaluate your risk of developing coronary artery disease.

Vitamin D-25 Hydroxy: Vitamin D-25 Hydroxy is ordered when an individual has low calcium and/or symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. This can appear as bone weakness/softness, or fractures in adults, or as rickets (bone malformation) in children.

Free and Total Testosterone: Can be used in the evaluation of testicular function where the testosterone binding proteins may have been altered during treatment. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in males and is responsible for masculine features or characteristics.

Vitamin C: Used to determine Vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is needed for growth, development and repair of all body tissues. Vitamin C deficiency may be due to malnutrition (scurvy), malabsorption, alcoholism, kidney failure, hyperthyroidism and increased need due to pregnancy.

 

Functional Medicine Treatment of Cancer Using Vitamin D3

-One study of 125,000 people found 4,000 IU’s could reduce pancreatic cancer rates by 86%

-The Karolinska Institute found that Vitamin D reduces Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 46%

-High levels of vitamin D increase survival rates of colon cancer by 47%

-Lung Cancer survival increased by 47% with high levels of vitamin D

 

Modified Citrus Pectin-PectaSol-C (MCP) and Galectin-3

-MCP is a complex water soluble indigestible polysaccharide obtained from the peel and pulp of citrus fruits. MCP is modified by high pH and temperature treatment to create a molecule that is able to be better absorbed by the body. It has been shown to be effective in vitro and in vitro against prostate, breast, colon, melanoma, brain cancer and hemangiosarcoma. It is able to antagonize galetin-3 causing cancer cells to lose their ability to replicate.

In addition, MCP has also been shows to extract heavy metals from the body through the body’s natural chelation process. In another study patients were able to see their PSA levels decline by 70% in one year by taking 14g of MCP powder daily. In a third study, it was shown that MCP interfered with the ability of cancer cells to communicate with one another, thus interfering with the cancer cell reproduction process.

Other benefits: MCP also reduces galectin-3 levels causing less arterial hardening, reduced plaque and cholesterol levels. MCP also improves kidney function by reducing inflammation, fibrosis and cytokines in kidney tissues. The reduced levels of galectin-3 is the primary reasons for this improvement in a healthier kidney environment.