Functional medicine testing is an approach to managing mental health that takes the entire person into account. This testing looks at important biomarkers, like vitamin levels and gut health. These factors can dramatically influence baseline mental health as well as affecting the absorption of medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
About functional med testing
This testing offers potential benefit to any client, but clients who have tried multiple medications and therapies without relief are particularly good candidates.
For the most part, it is not covered. Your provider can work with you to be selective in testing, but casting as wide a net as possible is most likely to yield useful results. The full panel of testing ranges between $600-700.
The most common recommendations are addition of vitamin and mineral supplements to target identified deficiencies. In some cases, your provider might work with you to limit potential sources of inflammation or exposure to heavy metals.
Yes, we use pharmacogenetic testing to establish which medications are most likely to work well for you based on your genetics. This test can also identify an important marker affecting folate metabolism.
Yes! The MTHFR gene governs how we metabolize dietary folic acid. Mutations at this location can cause reduced folic acid conversion. This has implications for mood and anxiety, as well as for other spheres like maternal/fetal and cardiovascular health. An at home test kit will determine your MTHFR status, and you can meet with one of our skilled clinicians to review the results and what they mean for you. This service is $100 for the test kit, $200 for clinical review session. We also offer it in combination with APOE testing.
Cost: $100 for the test kit, $200 for clinical review session
Yes! The APOE gene governs the protein apolipoprotein E. Mutations at this site have implications for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. If you have other risk factors for Alzheimer’s such as head injury or family history and would like to know your APOE status, we can determine this with an at home test kit. Then, you can meet with one of our skilled clinicians to review the results and best practices moving forward to guard against cognitive decline.
Cost: $100 for the test kit, $200 for clinical review session
Absolutely not! At Harborside we want to maximize the number of tools in your toolbox. Functional medicine testing might reveal ways to help your existing medication work best, or might point to adjustments in your current regimen.
