Modern laboratory services are available to assess a patient's health status
Dr. Fairman-Young makes use of standard medical blood laboratories, as well as the services of a number of certified specialty laboratories in Canada and the USA. At Alta Vista we have the facilities to perform some in-house labs.
Our Laboratory Services Include:
ABO Blood Typing
Blood-work
Breast Thermography
C Glucose Breath Test
Heavy Metal Assessment
Random Blood Glucose
Saliva testing
Stomach Acid Test
Stool analysis
Urinalysis
Zinc Tally
Specialized testing:
Biological terrain assessment (BTA)
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Blood type testing is used to determine whether a person falls into the A, B AB or O blood groups. This is to aid in determining blood types for diet and lifestyle factors.
Our lab uses anti-A and Anti-B serum to determine blood group based on an antibody/antigen reaction, which results in a distinctive agglutination reaction.
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Blood tests are used to determine physiological and biochemical states such as disease, mineral content, and organ function. The state of the bloodstream affects or is affected by many medical conditions, and therefore can provide a tremendous amount of information. Standard blood tests are performed as a screening. More specific tests can/will then be ordered if necessary.
Blood count, blood chemicals, lipids (cholesterol etc.), blood glucose, prostate specific antigen (PSA), iron levels, allergy testing, food allergy (IgG), vitamin and mineral status (including vitamin D status) and essential fatty acids.
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An approach to breast screening using digital infrared imaging that provides the earliest evidence of breast disease.
Tests for breast cancer are not 100% perfect. So, digital infrared imaging, mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not stand-alone tests. Each gives different information. Digital infrared imaging scan shows the function, the physiology, and the metabolism of breast tissue.
Major Benefits of Digital Infrared Imaging:
Timely: problems can be detected up to 8 years before abnormalities are seen with mammograms. Early detection provides the best outcome.
Inclusive: examines the entire chest, breasts and armpit areas.
All sexes and ages: puberty, breastfeeding, pre and post menopausal years, and YES even for MEN.
All breast types: dense, pregnant, breastfeeding, fibrocystic, enhanced (implants) and women on hormone replacement.
Painless: no squeezing, no pressure, no touching by equipment or technician.
Risk-free: no harmful rays are emitted so a digital infrared imaging scan can be done as often as necessary to monitor breast health and to guide treatment.
We do not perform this test on site at this time, but can book an appointment with the hosting clinic. These portable testing clinics are performed by Medical Thermography International Inc. (www.medthermonline.com), and testing is usually available every few months. Call 604-736-3800 now to book for the next available appointment.
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The C Glucose breath test is a functional test for insulin resistance: it measures how well insulin functions at delivering glucose to tissues. If insulin is functioning well, more glucose is delivered to tissues and the result is more CO2. If insulin is functioning poorly, less glucose is delivered to tissue and the result is less CO2.
Insulin resistance is strongly correlated with the development of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and women with PCOS are 7x more likely to have impaired glucose tolerance.
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The preferred method in our clinic is via urine analysis.
Toxic metals used in industrial processes have increased human exposure dramatically during the last 50 years. Toxic metals have detrimental effects, even at minute levels, but the effects vary with the mode and degree of exposure and with the individual metabolism and detoxification. The utility of tissue heavy metal analysis for diagnosis and treatment applications has been increasing as the medical understanding of the relationship between nutrient and heavy metal toxicity develops.
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This is the initial screen for determining if you may have Diabetes Mellitus.
The in-house evaluation of blood glucose levels is not as accurate as a venous blood glucose measure. This test can be used as a convenient initial screen for Diabetes, but cannot be used to diagnose or properly rule out diabetes based on the CDA guidelines.
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Saliva hormone testing is most useful for uncovering hormone imbalance. Once a hormone imbalance has been uncovered, nutritional or bio-identical hormone therapy can be instituted. Saliva collection is painless and more convenient for the patient, particularly when multiple samples are required. Saliva hormone levels measure delivery of hormone to tissue (cells) from the various reservoirs in the blood, and it may better reflect the actual tissue (bio-available) hormone levels.
Testing may include: Melatonin-Cortisol index, female or male hormone panels, adrenal function, 2-point and 4- point Cortisol, DHEA-S, Estrone.
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This test will help determine if you are producing stomach acid at appropriate levels, and can help determine if you have hyper or hypochlorhydria (too much or too little stomach acid), more specialized tests must be used to determine if you are achlorhydric (not secreting stomach acid at all.) Gastric acid secretion provides a number of functions including the breakdown of protein and provides non-specific protection of the upper GI tract from bacterial overgrowth and infection.
Hypochlorhydria can predispose a person to bacterial overgrowth, GI infections and is also associated with an increased incidence of gastric cancer. Some pathologies associated with hypochlorhydria are: Pernicious anemia, Atrophic gastritis, Gastric cancer, Thyroid disease, and Iron-Deficiency Anemia.
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A stool analysis is a series of tests done on a stool (feces) sample to help diagnose certain conditions affecting the digestive tract. These conditions can include infection (such as from parasites, viruses, bacteria), poor nutrient absorption, or cancer. The stool may be examined for hidden (occult) blood, fat, meat fibers, bile, white blood cells, and sugars. The pH of the stool is also often measured.
Stool analysis is done to:
- Help identify diseases of the digestive tract, liver and pancreas.
- Help find the cause of symptoms affecting the digestive tract, including prolonged diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, an increased amount of gas, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, abdominal pain and cramping, and fever.
- Screen for colon cancer by checking for hidden (occult) blood.
- Look for parasites, such as pinworms and Giardia lamblia.
- Look for the cause of an infection, such as bacteria, a fungus, or a virus.
- Check for poor absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract (malabsorption syndrome).
Tests include: Yeast culture, parasites(X3), comprehensive digestive stool analysis and hemascreen tests.
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This test is part of a routine medical work-up of patients.
Testing is done via dipstick to determine possible renal pathology, liver and gallbladder disease, vaginal infections, proteinuria, hematuria (blood), glucosuria (sugar), starvation and fever. Each of these results can help the ND determine if more tests are necessary.
The first morning urine sample is the ideal sample to test as it is the most concentrated and the most acidic which preserves the cells and casts in the urine.
Specialized Urinary tests are also done when necessary. These may include: heavy metal, hormones (male or female), adrenal stress, basic screen, estrogen metabolite ratio (16a-OH/2-OH for hormonal-related cancer risk), bone loss screening (DPD/NTX for osteoporosis monitoring), oxidative stress, vitamin C status, bowel toxicity, thyroid assessment.
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This is a functional test of zinc status in the human body.
The Zinc tally test is based on the concept that a loss of taste can be due to a zinc deficiency. This test is based on taste acuity as a measure of zinc status.
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Biological terrain assessment (BTA)
This is a computerized analysis of blood, saliva and urine specimens which provide your Naturopathic Doctor with the information needed to create a health and wellness program designed especially for you. The BTA provides a wealth of information about your internal biochemistry. You will find out, for example, if your system is too acidic or too alkaline for optimum health, and whether digestion and absorption of vitamins, minerals and nutrients are occurring properly. Information about the degree of oxidative damage present and gross mineral concentration of your samples is also provided.
BTA forms an important component of an anti-aging program and one of the key determinations is biological (vs. chronological) age.
Patients need to follow specific dietary instructions 14 hours prior to the test so please contact the office for more details.
