Driip Offers Functional Medicine Testing!

At Driip, we care about finding the root cause of your ailments. To do this, we believe in testing every possible avenue that could lead us to the correct answer. We know how frustrating it is when you go to your doctor not feeling well and walk away with blood work that doesn’t show anything! We do the proper testing to find the correct answer to why you don’t feel well.

Dr. Frykman D.C., RN. provides individualized consults and can order blood, saliva, and urine testing and testing for hormones, nutrients, and food sensitivities. Driip can also order testing for autoimmune panels and pathogen panels. We are determined to help you get and stay healthy. Keep reading for more information about some of the specific tests we provide through our one-of-a-kind care.

In-Office Tests

Every Tuesday is Testing Tuesday at Driip. Come in, and one of our nurses will help you collect for one (or more) of the easy in-office tests we provide through our services. These tests measure multiple health factors. From your very important vitamin D levels to nutritional status and glycocalyx health, we look at various parts of your health to determine the best course of action.

Testing Tuesday offers:

Omega-3 Index Basic Test by OmegaQuant

This simple, $50 test utilizes a blood spot finger stick to measure the amount of EPA and DHA in the blood. EPA and DHA are omega-3 fatty acids linked to improved heart health, brain health, eye health, and overall longevity. Believe it or not, a 2016 study found that most people are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. The study concluded that regions that lacked fish in their daily diet were more susceptible to low levels of omega-3s.

Multiple, large-scale clinical studies have utilized OmegaQuant’s Omega-3 Index Basic Test. This means this test has clinical meaning. In other words, you know that a given Omega-3 Index level is linked with disease risk. You can’t necessarily trust an “Omega-3 Index” value from another lab because the said test may not have any clinical meaning. OmegaQuant’s Omega-3 Index Basic Test is the only internationally recognized and standardized omega-3 test.

The benefit of using this test is that it helps you personalize your omega-3 intake. Everyone is different, as everyone’s nutritional needs depend on their lifestyle, genetics, and diet. OmegaQuant trusts their test, and you should trust it too. Having collaborated with more than 50 research institutions in various studies, this test is sure to help indicate precisely how much omega-3 you need to keep your body running healthy for years to come.

Vitamin D Test by OmegaQuant

Just like their Omega-3 Index Basic Test, OmegaQuant’s Vitamin D Test is only $50 and completed with a simple blood spot finger stick. This test measures the amount of vitamin D in your blood. Now, you may be wondering, “why do I need to know that?” Well, vitamin D is an essential nutrient that many people are deficient in. A vitamin D blood level of 30-50ng/mL may help support metabolic, heart, brain, bone, and immune health. However, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Levels greater than 100ng/mL may lead to toxicity symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, and weakness. Not to worry, though, as vitamin D toxicity is extremely rare. Most people can achieve the perfect vitamin D levels through diet, sun exposure, and appropriate supplementation. Driip offers both oral and injections of vitamin D so you can achieve the right level for yourself.

The amount of vitamin D you need to raise the amount of vitamin D in your blood is dependent on several variables, such as age, sex, weight, genetics, geographical location, medications, skin pigmentation, and medical conditions. All those factors can influence how your body reacts to vitamin D. For this reason, we recommend you re-measure your vitamin D levels with the OmegaQuant’s test every three to four months while adjusting your intake until you reach the desirable range. Once you’ve reached a healthy vitamin D level, you should continue to test every six months to be able to adjust your intake accordingly.

Metabolomix+ by Genova Diagnostics

For $299 ($150 insurance initial payment), you’ll need to collect a urine sample at home while blood and buccal swab testing add-ons are available in-office. This non-invasive, patient-friendly test is an easy way to access the functional need for antioxidants, B-vitamins, minerals, digestive support, fatty acids, and amino acids. Common clinical indications warranting this test include mood disorders, mitochondrial dysfunction, fatigue, chronic stress, and inflammation. The insights gained from this test allow clinicians to target nutritional therapies to meet the exact needs of their patients. Nutrition plays a significant role in how our body functions. This test will help you realize if you’re getting what you need out of your diet and what you can change to help your body function the way it’s meant to.

This test provides a report that offers nutrient recommendations for crucial vitamins, amino acids, minerals, fatty acids, and digestive support. It will guide therapy around needs for methylation support, mitochondrial dysfunction, toxic exposures, fatty acid imbalances, and oxidative stress. In other words, it will offer nutritional suggestions for supporting disease control, longevity, and overall health that will have you feeling your best in no time.

NutrEval by Genova Diagnostics

This test requires blood and urine samples at $399 ($179 insurance initial payment). It evaluates your overall nutritional status to determine personalized supplementation needs for 40 antioxidants, B-vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, digestive support, and other select nutrients. This test is an advanced diagnostic tool that guides nutritional therapies, often augmenting and speeding the recovery of complex, chronic conditions. You can add select genomics biomarkers to the profile for even more enhanced personalization of therapies.

We utilize this test because it’s the most comprehensive functional and nutritional assessment available. As it evaluates over 125 biomarkers, NutrEval helps practitioners identify the root causes of bodily dysfunction and provide a systems-based approach to help patients overcome chronic conditions and live a healthier life. You need the proper nutrients to feed every cell in your body and ensure that all bodily systems function correctly. Testing for nutritional imbalances can unlock hidden answers to how and why your body operates the way it does, ultimately providing the knowledge needed to change your lifestyle for the better.

We consider testing when we believe malnutrition plays a role in your chronic health conditions. Three broad groups fall under malnutrition:

Undernutrition-underweight, wasting, stunting
Micronutrient-related malnutrition-results from inadequate or excess vitamins and minerals
Overweight, obesity, and chronic diseases-e.g., heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and diabetes

GlycoCheck

For $295, this easy, in-office test entails placing a microscope camera under the tongue. This non-invasive test measures and analyzes microvascular health by monitoring capillary density, capillary blood volume, blood flow, red cell velocity, and endothelial glycocalyx function. Scientists have linked low results to diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, kidney disease, septic shock, dementia, compromised immunity, inflammatory disorders, and cancer metastasis (uncontrolled growth of tumors).

The endothelial glycocalyx is a protective, micro-thin gel lining of all the capillaries that touch each of your trillions of cells. The capillaries in your body make up 99% of the circulatory system, so their health is paramount to your overall health. Specifically, the health of the glycocalyx structure and function is essential because of the continuous delivery of nutrients and hormones and the elimination of waste, which flows through the capillaries.

There are three ways that the glycocalyx keeps the body healthy:

It stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which is vital in controlling blood flow and blood pressure.
The glycocalyx allows the body to engage more capillaries in the microvascular system when blood flow increases (e.g., when you’re exercising). This engagement is critical to the regulations of the nutrients and oxygen and the removal of waste and carbon dioxide.
The non-stick properties of the glycocalyx prevent capillaries from sticking when unneeded and keep blood clotting and inflammation under control, ultimately avoiding the loss of capillaries.

Aging, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, genetics, and several other factors can compromise glycocalyx function. When it becomes compromised, it becomes leaky. This leaking can cause disease and other conditions, as organs begin to starve without the vital nutrients the capillaries are supposed to carry. By testing for the health of the capillaries and glycocalyx, you could be catching the onset of some severe conditions. Not to worry, though, as our trained staff can help you become as healthy as possible through our various nutrient-dense treatments.

Achieve Better Health with Driip!

At Driip, we pride ourselves on our functional medicine knowledge and ability to provide adequate care to our patients. Nutrition plays a vital role in how our bodies function. Unfortunately, it’s all too often that we see people lack the essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and more that help their bodies properly function.

These tests are tried and true; only the best will do for our patients. Our goal is to find the root cause of your health problems and treat the source. No more extra medications that simply combat your symptoms.

Do you have questions about our services or would like to schedule an appointment? Book your consultation today, and begin your journey towards a healthier life.