Functional Medicine Bloodwork

Functional Medicine in Dunedin, Florida & Virtual Care Nationwide.

Have you ever had bloodwork done and been told everything is “normal,” yet you still don’t feel well?
That’s because conventional medicine primarily uses lab work to diagnose disease or monitor a condition that already exists.

Functional Medicine uses bloodwork differently.

We use comprehensive testing to evaluate how your body is functioning as a whole and to identify patterns that point to root causes—including inflammation, blood sugar dysregulation, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, hormone imbalance, immune activation, and detoxification stress.

Just as important, we interpret results using optimal functional ranges, not simply “normal” reference ranges. Conventional ranges are based on population averages and often miss early dysfunction. Functional ranges allow us to identify imbalances earlier—often before symptoms progress into diagnosable disease.

Every new patient receives a complete Functional Health Report, where labs are interpreted together as a system. Rather than isolated numbers, you’ll clearly see what is optimal, what is suboptimal, and how these findings relate to your symptoms and health goals.

What Is Typically Ordered Through Insurance

Most primary care providers are limited to ordering a small group of screening labs, usually including:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)

• Basic or Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

• Lipid Panel

Occasionally, additional labs may be added only if a clear diagnosis is suspected, such as:

• TSH (as a basic thyroid screen)

• Vitamin D (often only if bone loss is suspected)

• Iron (if anemia is already present)

• A basic urinalysis

These labs provide limited information and are not sufficient to explain most chronic symptoms or complex health concerns, which is why many patients are told their labs are “normal” despite ongoing symptoms.

Functional Medicine Bloodwork Included in Most New Patient Panels

Core Blood Markers

CBC with Differential
Evaluates immune patterns, inflammation, anemia, nutrient deficiencies, and infection-related patterns that often point toward gut or immune stress.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14)
Assesses blood sugar regulation, electrolyte balance, kidney and liver function, and protein status, providing insight into metabolic health and detox capacity.

Mineral & Cellular Health

Magnesium
A critical mineral involved in over 600 biochemical reactions. Low levels are associated with anxiety, poor sleep, muscle tension, constipation, headaches, and blood pressure issues.

Phosphorus
Supports energy production, cellular repair, bone health, kidney function, and normal heart rhythm.

Cardiometabolic & Blood Sugar Markers

Advanced Lipid Panel with Ratios
Focuses on cholesterol patterns and ratios rather than total numbers. Cholesterol is the precursor to all hormones, and both low and high levels can be problematic depending on context.

Hemoglobin A1c
Reflects average blood sugar over the past three months.

Fasting Insulin
One of the earliest indicators of insulin resistance, often abnormal long before glucose or A1c changes.

Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Provides insight into cellular energy production and metabolic stress.

Iron & Oxygen Delivery

Iron, TIBC, and Ferritin
Ferritin reflects iron storage and often becomes abnormal before anemia appears. Iron imbalance is a common root cause of fatigue and may point toward gut or inflammatory issues.

Inflammation & Immune Markers

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
A sensitive marker of systemic inflammation linked to cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, and chronic pain.

Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
Another marker of chronic inflammation that often elevates before disease is formally diagnosed.

ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies)
A screening marker for autoimmune activity. Early identification allows us to calm immune activation through diet, lifestyle, and targeted support.

Thyroid Function (Complete Panel)

Rather than relying on TSH alone, we evaluate the full thyroid pathway:
TSH · Total T4 & Free T4 · Total T3 & Free T3 · T3 Uptake · Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibodies · Thyroglobulin Antibodies
Thyroid dysfunction is influenced by the gut, immune system, adrenal health, nutrient status, and inflammation. Antibodies often appear years before TSH changes.

Hormones & Adrenal Health

DHEA-S
Reflects adrenal health, stress resilience, energy, mood, immune support, and hormone balance.

Testosterone (Total & Free)
Important for muscle mass, bone density, metabolism, motivation, and vitality in both men and women.

Estradiol (E2)
Provides insight into estrogen balance, menstrual health, fertility, and hormone-related symptoms.

Nutrients & Methylation

Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy
Functions like a hormone and plays a major role in immune regulation, mood, inflammation, and bone health.

Vitamin B12 & Folate
Essential for nervous system function, energy production, and DNA synthesis. We assess these functionally, not just for deficiency.

Homocysteine
A functional marker of B-vitamin utilization and methylation. Elevated levels are associated with cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, osteoporosis, and chronic inflammation.

Additional Functional Markers

Histamine (Whole Blood)
Helpful for allergies, sinus issues, headaches, rashes, anxiety, and food sensitivities.

GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase)
A sensitive marker of liver detox capacity and oxidative stress.

Uric Acid
Provides insight into inflammation, metabolic stress, and oxidative burden.

Urinalysis with Microscopic Examination

Screens for hydration status, kidney health, blood sugar dysregulation, urinary infections, and early metabolic changes.

Ready to Get Started?

Functional Medicine bloodwork is customized to each individual. Your new patient consultation allows us to determine exactly what testing is needed to identify the root cause of your concerns.

I see patients in person in Dunedin, Florida, and also work with patients virtually nationwide wherever there is a LabCorp.

Click below to schedule your New Patient Consultation and take the first step toward answers—not just “normal labs.”