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Lab Tests

Lab tests can determine how your body is functioning or if there is pathology. Dr. Stephen Wangen provides a wide array of laboratory testing to identify these specific problems.

Food allergies and food intolerances are a very common cause of IBS and the symptoms of IBS, as well as a variety of other symptoms. Although you may see no correlation between your symptoms and the food that you eat, it is generally extremely difficult to make this connection. (For more information on this problem see IBS Diet. In fact, a great majority of cases of irritable bowel syndrome involve a food allergy or food intolerance. Fortunately, the problematic food or foods can be pinpointed with the Comprehensive Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Panel. This panel also includes specific testing for Celiac Disease, a highly specialized type of food intolerance.

Click here to see a complete discussion of the Comprehensive Food Allergy & Food Intolerance Test, which is designed to identify "hidden" food allergies and intolerances.

Celiac Disease Test

Celiac Disease is a special form of gluten/wheat intolerance and should be ruled out when evaluating the cause of IBS. Although gluten and wheat allergy/intolerance is included in the Comprehensive Food Allergy and Intolerance Panel, Celiac Disease is a highly specialized diagnosis and cannot be ruled out based on the Comprehensive Food Allergy and Intolerance Panel alone. It is highly recommended that this panel be run in conjunction with the Comprehensive Food Allergy and Intolerance Panel. This test includes the IgA tissue Transglutaminase antibody and total IgA. If your total IgA is below normal then you may have a false negative IgA tissue Transglutaminase result.

Bacteria and Yeast Stool Analysis

The digestive tract contains over 1 trillion bacteria. Over time we have developed a symbiotic relationship with our gut bacteria, relying on them for proper digestive function and overall good health. The Bacteria and Yeast Stool Analysis is a microbiological profile of both the good bacteria and bad bacteria and yeast found in your digestive tract. It provides an excellent overview of the health of your digestive tract and the sample can be conveniently collected in your own home.

This test is very different from standard stool tests, which only evaluate parasites, and bacteria that cause potentially life-threatening bloody diarrhea. They do not cover the wealth of other bacteria covered in this analysis, whose presence or absence can lead to a wide variety of health problems, most notably digestive problems such as IBS, diarrhea, loose stools, gas, bloating, constipation and abdominal pain.

Bacterial problems are extremely common and include both deficiencies of good bacteria and the presence of bad bacteria. Just taking antibiotics can wipe out your good bacteria. Good bacteria include Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium, both of which are extremely important to proper gastrointestinal function. This test also detects the presence of bacteria that should not be found in your digestive tract, including Psuedomonas, Klebsiella, and Citrobacter, among others, as well as the presence of yeast/fungus or Candida, any of which cause a host of problems. Any problems detected with the bacterial or fungal content of your digestive tract are readily treatable and once corrected will result in tremendous improvement in your health.

Comprehensive Bacteria, Yeast, Parasite and Digestive Stool Analysis

This test is a combination of the Bacteria and Yeast Stool Analysis as well as a screen for parasites and a full examination of the digestive process. Breakdown products are measured in order to evaluate whether or not stomach acid and digestive enzymes are functioning properly. Inflammatory markers in the digestive tract are also measured. This test covers bacteria, yeast, parasites, digestion, absorption, pH, inflammation, blood in the stool, fats in the stool, mucous in the stool, color, gut immunology, and other metabolic processes. It is the most comprehensive analysis of digestive functioning available.

Parasites are more common than generally believed. Parasites affect millions of Americans--even those who never leave the country and don’t drink from mountain streams. Parasites can cause diarrhea, loose stools, gas, bloating, and indigestion as well as body wide problems such as fatigue and muscle aches and pains. Parasites can be difficult to detect and therefore samples must be collected on 3 consecutive days. This test covers all forms of parasites, including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis hominis, Tapeworms, Hookworms, and many others. It provides a complete evaluation for parasites and the sample can be conveniently collected in your own home. Once detected, parasites are readily treatable.

Hypothyroid Evaluation

If you're not sure of the lab test that you need, consult with our clinic and we will help you determine what test, if any, is most appropriate for you.