Functional Medicine Testing

Functional Medicine Testing

When standard labs don’t explain why you feel the way you do, functional testing helps fill in the gaps.

At Brain Body Health Alliance, we use targeted, evidence-informed testing to uncover underlying imbalances—from micronutrient deficiencies to nervous system dysregulation. These insights help us get to the root of your symptoms and design more personalized, precise treatment plans.

What Is Functional Testing?

Functional medicine testing looks beyond traditional disease markers. Instead of asking "Do you have a diagnosable illness?" it asks:

  • Is your body functioning the way it should?

  • Are there hidden imbalances contributing to how you feel?

We use functional testing when symptoms are real—but routine evaluations have come up “normal.” It’s particularly helpful in conditions like:

  • Fatigue and brain fog

  • ADHD, POTS, fibromyalgia, and other complex syndromes

  • Mental health difficulties

  • Headaches and chronic pain

  • Digestive issues

  • Mood changes

  • Sleep and stress difficulties

Types of Testing We Offer

We offer a select group of tests that provide high-value insight and are supported by clinical relevance. These include:

Neurotransmitter Testing

Organic Acid testing that evaluates metabolic activity and Neurotransmitter function. These urine tests measure the use of brain and blood chemicals related to mood, attention, environmental detoxification, mitochondrial activity, and physiologic stress.

Intracellular Micronutrient Testing

Identifies deficiencies in essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids that impact energy, cognition, and immune function. Most traditional tests measure the nutrients in the serum, which is the liquid, non-cellular part of blood. Whether those nutrients actually enter cells (where they work) is not measured routinely. Intracellular testing is a blood test that measures a host of vitamins in nutrients inside the blood cells to determine if there are actual deficiencies where they matter.

Circadian Stress Hormone Testing

Urine or mouth swab tests that assess cortisol and other adrenal markers over the course of the day to identify stress-pattern dysregulation (helpful in fatigue, anxiety, or sleep issues).

GI Map (Stool Test)

Analyzes the gut microbiome, inflammation, gut barrier function, enzyme function, and more—useful for IBS, immune issues, and brain-gut conditions.

Food Sensitivity Testing

Food Sensitivity testing doesn’t measure allergic responses, but it does give guidance on foods that might trigger an immunologic response and be contributing to your symptoms. Several elimination diets exist that can help alleviate symptoms without the need for additional testing. For those who find wide-ranging elimination diets too challenging, Food Sensitivity Testing can help identify the most important and specific foods to eliminate.

GenoMind Pharmacogenomic Analysis

Analyzes the genetic response to medicines that work on neurotransmitters, namely the medications used in pain, headache, mental health, epilepsy, and more. Some markers assess the likelihood of responding to those medications too including MTHFR and COMT polymorphisms.

CNS Vital Signs Neurocognitive Testing

CNS Vital Signs is a computerized neurocognitive testing platform that measures multiple domains of brain function including attention, multi-tasking, logic and reasoning, reaction time, and processing speeds. It is a well-validated and mainstream tool that is very useful for assessing ADHD, after effects of concussions and Covid, general brain fog, and the impact of medications on focus and reaction time.

How It Works

  • We’ll recommend testing only when it fits your symptoms and clinical goals.

  • Testing kits are sent to your home or we help you find a phlebotomist to obtain your samples.

  • Once results are back, we’ll review them with you in detail at your next appointment and translate the data into a clear action plan.

Functional testing is most useful when combined with clinical insight from true expertise and experience in the conditions being treated along with an ongoing partnership to assess response.

We don’t treat lab results—we treat people.

Cost & Insurance

Interpreting functional testing is much more time-consuming and nuanced than standard tests. We offer two routes for obtaining functional testing:

  1. Work and pay the lab directly after becoming a patient of our practice. We evaluate you and discuss whether any testing is needed, and recommend and order those labs. After the results return, we generate a written interpretation for you and schedule a visit to discuss. We write the report on the day of your visit, and the time spent writing the report is added to your visit charge for that day.

  2. Enroll in one of our Personalized Programs that include one or two functional tests (depending on the program). We order the lab kits to be sent to your home, and the written interpretation is bundled into the price. Additional testing can be ordered at any time for an additional charge.

Some tests may qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement or insurance coverage. The time spent writing lab reports is eligible for insurance reimbursement as part of the visit that day.

Is Functional Testing Right for You?

If you’ve been told everything looks “normal,” but you still don’t feel like yourself, functional testing may be the next step. It won’t give you quick fixes—but it can help you understand why you're feeling off, and what to do about it.

Request a consultation to learn more.