Testing

Question 1

Functional testing

Answer 1

Focuses on how body systems are functioning

Question 2

Diagnostic testing

Answer 2

Looks for markers to diagnose an illness

Question 3

Reference vs optimal ranges

Answer 3

‘reference ranges’ are diagnostic, whilst ‘optimal ranges’ indicate a need for support to maintain homeostasis

Question 4

Functional testing: benefits

Answer 4

• Helps to uncover a deeper understanding of imbalances to help inform a naturopathic plan.
• Can make a plan more targeted and effective.
• Allows to quantitatively measure a client’s progress.

Question 5

Functional testing: downsides

Answer 5

• Functional tests are provided privately, and so can be expensive.
• They can sometimes be challenging to read and interpret.
• As they are not diagnostic, it can be difficult to communicate results to medical doctors.

Question 6

Interpreting functional tests

Answer 6

– A test is a snapshot in time, and to understand this you need the context.

– We are looking for patterns. One marker alone is less relevant, but an array of markers occurring in a pattern, and with context (symptoms) gives a clear guide as to the system under stress that requires support.

Question 7

Rule of 3

Answer 7

Always apply the rule of 3 — for example in the context of using functional testing for SIBO:

1. Clinical symptoms (e.g., bloating after eating, flatulence, constipation).
2. Stool test microbial findings (e.g., raised Methanobrevibacter bacteria).
3. Other stool testing findings indicating poor digestion (e.g., raised faecal fats).

Question 8

Reference range

Answer 8

Reference ranges are obtained by measuring a sample of the population and then setting the mean and standard deviation parameters of what is viewed as ‘normal’.

• Reference ranges and units of measurement can vary from lab to lab and in different countries (hence, re-test with the same lab).
• There can be variances in reference ranges for variabilities such as age, gender, ethnicity — the lab should give the parameters.

Question 9

Microbiomes

Answer 9

Microbiomes are complex microbial ecosystems that occur within different areas (known as niches) of the body (GI, vaginal, oral, skin, urinary etc):

• Microbiome balance can play a role in health and disease, and is key in relation to the concept of the terrain.
• The microbiome is dependant on cultural, dietary, environmental and familial aspects.

Microbiomes are ecological communities of microorganisms found in and on all multicellular organisms

Question 10

Microbiota

Answer 10

Microbiota includes bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi and viruses

Question 11

Commensal microbiome

Answer 11

Commensal — microbes that live in harmony with the host (us) and provide a benefit to us

Question 12

Pathogenic microbiome

Answer 12

Pathogenic — microbes that possess certain evolutionary advantages to invade our microbiome at a cost to our health

Question 13

Pathobiont microbiome

Answer 13

Pathobiont — microbes that live with us and normally don’t pose a problem unless there is clear opportunity

Question 14

Gram negative bacteria

Answer 14

Gram negative bacteria — bacteria that possess an outer cell wall, normally rich in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)

Question 15

LPS

Answer 15

LPS — the major component of gram-negative bacteria which have the ability to induce inflammation and immune responses