"It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data." — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Good testing answers a simple question: what is actually going on? When symptoms are vague, longstanding, or don't fit a tidy diagnosis, the right test can replace months of guesswork — and stop you spending time, money and effort on the wrong thing.
I use biochemical and laboratory testing as a precision tool, not a routine. With over 20 years in clinical practice in Fulham, London, I order tests only when the result will genuinely change your treatment plan.
Why test — and why only when it changes the plan
- "Normal" is not the same as "optimal" — NHS reference ranges are built to catch disease, not to flag the sub-optimal patterns that drive everyday symptoms.
- Pattern matters more than any single marker — tests are read together, and always against your history, never in isolation.
- A test you won't act on isn't worth doing — if a result wouldn't change the plan, we save your money for what will.
The tests I use most
Hormones
- DUTCH (Dried Urine Hormone Test) — a detailed map of oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and melatonin, including how you metabolise them. Central to perimenopause, menopause, PMS and hormone-related symptoms.
- Full thyroid panel — TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies — the complete picture the NHS rarely runs in full.
Gut and microbiome
- GI-MAP comprehensive stool analysis — bacteria, parasites, yeast, H. pylori, digestive markers and gut inflammation, by PCR.
- PCR microbiome testing (urinary or nasal) — identifies bacteria and fungi that standard culture misses; used in recurrent UTI and chronic sinusitis.
Metabolic and mitochondrial
- Organic Acids Test (OAT) — a broad metabolic snapshot covering mitochondrial (energy) function, yeast and bacterial overgrowth, neurotransmitter markers and nutrient status.
Mould and environmental
- Urinary mycotoxin testing — identifies mould toxins in suspected mould-related illness and CIRS.
- Home dust testing (ERMI / HERTSMI) — assesses the building itself where mould exposure is suspected.
Infection
- Tick-borne infection panels — specialist Lyme and co-infection testing for chronic and post-treatment Lyme.
- Viral serology — Epstein-Barr and other reactivated viruses behind post-viral fatigue.
Immune and nutritional status
- Iron studies and ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, zinc — the nutrient markers that sit behind fatigue, poor recovery and low immunity.
- Food-sensitivity and total IgE testing — used selectively, where the history points to food-driven skin, gut or inflammatory symptoms.
Genetic
- DNA / nutrigenomic testing — how your genes affect detoxification, methylation, hormone metabolism and nutrient needs. See the Nutrigenomics page for the full picture.
Other
- Hair mineral analysis — a screen of nutrient and toxic mineral status, used where the history warrants it.
The laboratories I work with
I order through accredited, practitioner-access laboratories — the same labs used in research and by integrative clinics internationally. Depending on the test, these include Mosaic Diagnostics, Genova Diagnostics, Diagnostic Solutions, Invivo Healthcare, Nordic Laboratories, Armin Labs, Lifecode GX, MTHFR Genetics and Randox Health, among others. The laboratory is always chosen to fit the test and your situation.
How testing works
We decide together which tests — if any — will genuinely move your treatment forward. Most are completed at home with a urine, stool, saliva or finger-prick sample and posted to the laboratory; a few need a blood draw, which is arranged locally.
When the results arrive, we go through them properly in a dedicated interpretation appointment — in plain language — and translate them into a clear, personalised plan. A test you don't understand isn't worth doing.
What it costs
Test costs vary widely by panel, so I don't list them here — quoting a figure before we know what you actually need would be guesswork. I recommend only what is clinically useful, and you will always have the cost before you commit to anything. If you already have recent results from elsewhere, a stand-alone interpretation appointment can be booked on its own.
FAQ
Do I need to be having treatment with you to order a test?
Usually tests are chosen as part of a consultation, so the results are interpreted properly and acted on. If you already have recent results from elsewhere, you can book a stand-alone interpretation appointment.
Can my GP do these tests?
A few overlap with NHS testing, but most — DUTCH, GI-MAP, the Organic Acids Test, mycotoxin and DNA panels — are not available on the NHS. Where the NHS can help, I'll always say so.
Will you explain my results?
Yes — fully, in plain English, in a dedicated appointment, with the findings translated into a practical plan.
Are these tests reliable?
I use accredited laboratories and choose tests with a sound clinical rationale. No single test tells the whole story — they inform clinical judgement, they don't replace it.