LABORATORY TESTING
Specialist Lab Testing to discover the root cause of your Autoimmunity
Comprehensive Lab testing can be extremely useful to identify system imbalances and triggers that maybe dysregulating your immune system. Testing can help find the root cause of what is driving self-reactive T cells, autoantibodies and inflammation in Autoimmunity. A 'Full Blood Count' test, which you may already have from your GP, can be invaluable. In addition, a combination of the range of tests below may be both helpful and often necessary in understanding the complex mechanisms that may have led to your Autoimmunity.
Stool Testing
The Gastrointestinal (GI) system plays a central role in immune system homeostasis. GI complications are implicated in the pathogenesis of Autoimmune diseases. GI evaluation and treatment can have an important role in the management of these diseases. A comprehensive stool test can help to identify:
GI Inflammation
Maldigestion
Dysbiosis (imbalanced gut microbiome)
Infection
Immune issues in mucosal layer of intestine.
Nutrient Testing
(urine or blood)
It is well-established that nutritional deficiency or inadequacy can impair immune functions. For example deficiencies in Vitamin D, Zinc, Magnesium, Omega 3, B vitamins and Selenium have been well researched in Autoimmune diseases. Nutrient testing can help evaluate deficiencies for vital:
Vitamins
Minerals
Antioxidants
Fatty acids
Amino acids
Antibodies Testing
(blood)
Multi-tissue antibody testing for the early detection and monitoring of complex Autoimmune conditions can be very useful. Research suggests auto-antibodies involved in Autoimmune disease can appear in the blood years before symptoms develop. Antibody testing can help find the root cause of Autoimmunity due to identifying what the immune system is overreacting to and which tissues are impacted ie what is cross reacting with tissues in the body. Some examples include -
Gluten cross reactivity
Chemical cross reactivity
Pathogen cross reactivity
Food Sensitivity Testing
(blood)
Foods can trigger inflammatory or Autoimmune reactions. This is called loss of oral tolerance. Food sensitivity testing (IgG) can be very useful to help identify the exact foods that need to be eliminated. A targeted food plan can be developed and it will be infinitely better than having to follow a generic restrictive diet. Common inflammatory foods in Autoimmune conditions may include:
Gluten
Dairy
Eggs
Soy
Hormone Testing
(blood, urine, saliva)
Hormones impact inflammation and may be implicated in the root cause of an Autoimmune condition. For example, the stress hormone cortisol has been studied as a trigger for Autoimmunity. Hormones may also be a symptom of Autoimmunity such as thyroid hormones in Hashimoto's. Hormone testing can provide much insight into the biology of an individual especially in the early stages of Autoimmunity. Useful hormone tests include:
Sex hormones
Thyroid Hormones
Stress/Adrenal Hormones
Genetics Testing
(saliva)
When genetically predisposed individuals encounter environmental triggers, epigenetic changes occur and can result in autoimmune diseases. For example, the HLA gene is strongly associated with Coeliac Disease. Genetic testing can be very useful in understanding how the immune system has lost immune tolerance.  The CTLA4 gene codes for a protein in regulatory T cells. When researchers decreased the amount of CTLA-4 in mice, it caused Autoimmunity. Genetic testing can particularly be useful for individuals with a strong history of Autoimmune conditions in their family.