The Organic Acid Test is an invaluable means of identifying certain bodily and microbial metabolites from a urine sample as well as break down products of certain vitamins and nutrients. It is a bit like taking your car to the garage, having it put up on the rolling road and having the exhaust materials analysed to work out how the engine is functioning. From a simple urine sample this test identifies 75 different compounds and their origins and interprets them, significantly aiding the clinician in diagnosis and therapeutic approach. These compounds include waste products from your own cellular functions, and from the cells of undesirable microbes that may have taken up residence in a patient, such as yeasts, fungi and bacteria. These microbes produce their own waste products and by identifying them one can obtain great insight into several key areas of health. It also identifies disruptions in the ability to produce certain neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which can guide treatment greatly.

I will often suggest this test in cases of autism and similar conditions in that spectrum, in chronic gut disorders, which often have tenacious yeast infections, or in certain other situations whereby symptoms persist and have not responded to sensible measures already taken. Diagnostic tests of this ilk are extremely useful in my experience.

Useful in:

• Autism and similar behavioural dysfunction
• Suspected fungal and yeast and bacterial infestation
• Chronic unexplained pain
• Metaboliic abnormalities
• Any unexplained confusing symptoms

We are very fortunate to have access to this state-of-the-art American laboratory. It has only been available in the UK since 2013 and has proved invaluable. Cyrex Laboratories specialise in autoimmune testing and food reactivity testing.

Over the past couple of decades there has been an alarming rise in the incidence of autoimmune diseases globally. The term ‘autoimmunity’ describes a pathological state in which the defensive immune system becomes offensive to an individual’s own tissue and attacks one or more organs, resulting in destruction of the tissue and derangement of that organ’s function (i.e. disease). This is what occurs in conditions as diverse as coeliac disease, psoriasis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Grave’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus (SLE), Sjorgren’s syndrome and many many others (the list is, unfortunately,  growing).

Cyrex Labs specialise in analysis of blood samples to identify a great many autoimmune antibodies, from those involving the neurological system, various joint tissues, is a warning of a disease process which will become increasingly

They specialise in identifying immune reactions to a huge range of foods (in both raw and cooked state) and autoimmune reactions to one’s own tissues.

The DNA testing I offer can provide unique insights into your health and opens the way to truly personalised medicine.

The testing I offer only checks for gene variants that can help uncover weaknesses in metabolism (e.g. vitamin B and folate cycles) that may help diagnosis or indicate simple lifestyle changes or specific supplements that would be impossible to identify otherwise.

For example, whilst salt is generally no problem in the diet, for a sub set of people it is more likely to contribute to raised blood pressure. Genetic testing could reveal this. Similarly, I generally recommend coffee drinking for it’s many health benefits, but for someone with the slow caffeine metabolism gene the opposite advice would be appropriate. Only with genetic testing can such advice be given confidently.

My DNA labs also offer specific testing for exercise related genes. These identify injury susceptibility, endurance and performance related genes, and those that indicate recovery potential. Such information can be invaluable for athletes and anyone trying to maximise the potential of their exercise regimen.

The test only requires a mouth swab to be sent to the lab so is non invasive. The lab returns a multi page report and I offer a consultation to go over the results and discuss possible interventions that are likely to be beneficial in light of this information.

I have access to a number of world-class laboratories through which I can arrange specific tests when appropriate. Many of these are rarely available on the NHS, even though they are all part of orthodox medical science. There are many benefits to undertaking private laboratory testing:

• Get the tests you want. You do not need to seek your GPs approval
• No waiting. There are no NHS queues.
• Your results are private – they don’t appear on your NHS records and you are not obliged to share them but if you wish to your doctors will recognise their validity

Some laboratories will send a test kit directly to the patient such that the sample required can be sent straight back to the lab in the specialist packaging provided. Examples are urine, stool, hair or saliva. Blood samples can be taken here at Rosemary Cottage Clinic as I am a trained in venipuncture and have a centrifuge for samples needing serum separation.

I have a good working relationship with my labs and have direct phone access to their biochemists who can provide me with their insights into the significance of any unusual results. I also attend the CPD lectures provided by certain labs and researchers ensuring that I keep abreast of progress in the field of sample analysis and clinical value. New and better testing methods of all sorts are being developed, some of which have revolutionised the accuracy and honing of treatment.

Please click on the articles below about the value of some of the tests that I find particularly relevant in my practice, and why.