Through our experience building Rupa & helping hundreds of practitioners and patients, we’ve observed an increase in the use of specialty lab tests in patient care. We believe this is due to several factors:
- Technological advances in laboratory testing and the growth of lab testing companies.
- Increased patient interest in detailed lab tests, especially as Direct Access Testing (DAT) laws have allowed patients to purchase tests without needing a doctor’s order.
- Training institutes like IFM educating more providers on how to interpret these test results.
- The growing popularity of functional, integrative & naturopathic medicine.
From what we’ve seen, the average integrative practitioner has accounts with 5-10 lab companies and orders between 5-20 labs per week for their patients, depending on patient volume.
If you’re an integrative or functional practitioner, here are the top 10 companies you might want to know about.
1. Genova Diagnostics
Genova Diagnostics is a prominent lab test company for integrative and functional lab tests. They’re well-known for their GI Effects stool test, IGG & IGE allergic reaction tests, amino acids tests, and the NutrEval micronutrient testing.
2. Precision Analytical (DUTCH)
DUTCH tests are commonly used in functional medicine. Providers find the information from these tests helpful for gaining insights into hormone functioning, presented in a visual and easy-to-read format. The Dutch PLUS and Dutch Complete are frequently ordered.
3. Diagnostic Solutions
Their flagship test, the GIMap, is a significant competitor to Genova GIEffects. Providers often choose between the two based on factors like price and specific biomarkers.
4. Doctor’s Data
Doctor’s Data has been a longstanding player since 1972, offering a wide range of tests, including those for environmental toxins and gastrointestinal health. Their heavy metals test is particularly notable for its volume of processing.
5. Spectracell
Spectracell is a specialized lab with patented technology for micronutrient testing. Established in the 90s, their most popular tests include the micronutrient test and the cardiometabolic panel.
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6. Mosaic Diagnostics
Mosaic Diagnostics is known for their Organic Acids Test, and mycotoxin and environmental toxins testing. These tests are often considered when initial health plans are not effective, and environmental factors are suspected. Their OAT test is a common early choice in functional medicine.
7. ZRT
ZRT has been providing a variety of hormone tests for over 20 years. Their dried urine testing is similar to DUTCH, and they also offer saliva, blood spot, and serum hormone tests, along with neurotransmitter and heavy metals testing.
8. Cyrex Laboratories
Cyrex is recognized for its comprehensive testing system, which includes assessments for barrier integrity, reactivity to environmental triggers, autoimmune screening, cognitive health evaluation, and cell-mediated immunophenotyping, using serum, whole blood, and saliva samples.
9. LabCorp & Quest
Basic blood panels from LabCorp and Quest are foundational in lab testing and are widely ordered by both functional medicine and conventional practitioners. Functional medicine practitioners often customize panels to test for specific markers and use reference ranges that are considered optimal rather than average.
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