ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL TESTING · ORDERED AND INTERPRETED BY A REGISTERED NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST
Functional Testing with a Nutritional Therapist - Find Your Root Cause
So your nutrition plan is built on evidence, not guesswork.
Why functional testing gives you a more complete picture
Standard NHS blood tests are designed to rule out disease. They're excellent at what they do, but they're not designed to detect the kind of subtle imbalances that sit beneath a diagnosis: suboptimal nutrient levels, early hormonal shifts, microbiome disruption, or genetic variations that affect how your body processes nutrients.
Functional testing fills that gap. As a functional nutritionist with a background in biochemistry, I use a small number of specialist tests which are selected based on your symptoms and health history. This is to get a clearer, more detailed picture of what's going on inside your body.
Testing isn't right for every client or every situation. But when it's the right tool, it can give us answers that would otherwise take months of trial and error to find.
Some of the functional tests I use in clinical practice
DUTCH Complete - Advanced Hormone & Cortisol Metabolite Testing
The DUTCH Complete (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) is the most detailed hormone test available outside of a hospital setting. It measures not just oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels, but also how your body metabolises these hormones. This is where the clinically important information often lies.
GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Test - Gut Microbiome & Digestive Analysis
The GI Effects is a comprehensive analysis of your gut microbiome, digestive function, and intestinal environment. It looks at the diversity and balance of your gut bacteria, markers of inflammation, digestive enzyme activity, and signs of dysbiosis, SIBO risk, or intestinal permeability (leaky gut).
NutrEval FMV - Comprehensive Nutrient Status & Organic Acids
The NutrEval FMV (First Morning Void urine + blood spot) is one of the most comprehensive nutrient status assessments available. It analyses over 40 nutritional biomarkers - including amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and organic acids. This gives a detailed view of how your body is actually using the nutrients you consume.
Lifecode Gx Nutrigenomics - DNA & Personalised Nutrition
Nutrigenomics is the study of how your genes interact with what you eat. As a qualified Lifecode Gx practitioner, I can analyse your DNA data to understand how your genetic variants affect your hormonal health, methylation, detoxification pathways, inflammatory response, and how you metabolise key nutrients.
Thyroid Full Panel - Comprehensive Thyroid Marker Testing
A full thyroid panel looks at the complete hormonal chain, from initial production through to active conversion in your cells. It measures, TSH, Free T4 (fT4), Free T3 (fT3), TPO antibodies and Thyroglobulin antibodies.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
Functional testing and your NHS care - how they fit together
Functional testing through a nutritional therapist sits alongside (not instead of) your NHS care. It is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace investigations ordered by your GP or specialist.
I always work in conjunction with any medical treatment or monitoring you're receiving, and will flag anything that warrants referral back to your doctor.
How functional testing works when you work with me
1
We assess whether testing is right for you
During your initial consultation I review your full health history. I'll only recommend testing if it gives us meaningful additional information.
2
You complete the test at home
Most tests use a urine, saliva, stool or dried blood spot sample. Kits are sent to you with clear instructions.
3
We go through your results together
Results arrive in 2–4 weeks. I interpret them in full clinical context and incorporate findings into a refined nutrition protocol.
Want to find out whether functional testing is right for you?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll talk through your symptoms and health history, and I'll tell you honestly whether any of the tests above would be helpful.