Comprehensive Blood Work
Written by Dr. Arik Naylous DAcCHM, L.Ac
 

Blood work can be used for much more than simply checking whether a few standard markers fall outside a laboratory reference range. In a functional medicine evaluation, we use a broader set of labs to look for patterns that may help explain why a patient is experiencing certain symptoms in the first place. Rather than stopping at a basic CBC or metabolic panel, we may examine areas such as nutrient status, iron metabolism, blood sugar regulation, thyroid function, inflammation, liver and kidney function, and other relevant markers based on the patient’s history. By looking at how these results interact with one another, we can investigate potential contributors to fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, hormonal concerns, poor recovery, and other chronic symptoms. The goal is to use blood work as a tool for investigation—not just to rule out disease, but to better understand what may be driving the patient’s overall health picture.
 
Looking Beyond the Standard Reference Range

Laboratory reference ranges are generally designed to identify values that fall outside what is commonly seen in a broad population. In a functional medicine evaluation, we may also look at where a result falls within that range, how multiple markers relate to one another, and whether patterns in the blood work align with the patient’s symptoms and health history.

A More Complete View of Your Health

Comprehensive blood work can provide insight into several systems at the same time. Depending on the patient, testing may include markers related to blood counts, iron status, vitamin and mineral levels, thyroid function, blood sugar regulation, inflammation, liver and kidney function, cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, and other areas that may be relevant to the clinical picture.

Personalized Testing, Not a One-Size-Fits-All Panel

Not every patient needs the same laboratory workup. Testing is selected based on symptoms, medical history, diet, lifestyle, medications, supplements, previous laboratory results, and other factors that may influence health. This helps keep the evaluation focused on the areas that are most relevant to the individual.

Connecting the Results Back to Your Symptoms

A single laboratory marker rarely tells the entire story. Dr. Naylous reviews results in context, looking for relationships and patterns that may help explain why a patient is experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, weakness, poor exercise tolerance, digestive concerns, sleep issues, or changes in overall well-being.

What May Be Included

Depending on your individual needs, comprehensive blood work may evaluate areas such as:

• Complete blood count

• Iron, ferritin, transferrin, and iron saturation

• Vitamin B12 and folate

• Vitamin D

• Blood glucose, insulin, and hemoglobin A1c

• Thyroid markers

• Liver and kidney function

• Electrolytes and minerals

• Lipid and cardiovascular markers

• Inflammatory markers

• Additional nutrient or metabolic markers when appropriate

The goal is not to order more testing simply for the sake of testing. It is to gather the information that may be most useful in understanding your health and guiding a more individualized plan.
 
How It Works

After your consultation, Dr. Naylous will determine which laboratory tests are appropriate based on your symptoms, health history, and clinical needs. He will then place the lab order, and you can have your blood drawn at a participating laboratory such as Quest Diagnostics or another designated lab location.

Once the results are available, Dr. Naylous reviews them in the context of your symptoms, history, nutrition, lifestyle, and overall health picture. Your results are then discussed with you during a follow-up visit, where he can explain relevant findings, identify patterns that may warrant attention, and develop a personalized plan based on the information gathered.

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