What Does the Functional Health Assessment Test?
The assessment covers a comprehensive panel of over 100 biomarkers across multiple body systems. This includes a full thyroid panel (not just TSH, but Free T3, Free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies), a complete metabolic panel, liver and kidney function, iron studies, vitamin D, B12, folate, and a range of inflammatory markers.
Crucially, the assessment also includes markers that reveal how your gut health is affecting the rest of your body. Inflammation markers, nutrient absorption indicators, and metabolic patterns often point to underlying gut dysfunction — even when digestive symptoms are not the primary complaint.
Why Standard Blood Tests Miss Root Causes
NHS blood tests use reference ranges based on population averages. If your results fall within these ranges, you are told everything is 'normal'. However, these ranges are designed to detect disease, not to identify the functional imbalances that cause symptoms.
For example, the NHS reference range for TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is approximately 0.27–4.2 mIU/L. A result of 3.8 would be considered 'normal' by NHS standards, but in functional medicine, this level often indicates subclinical hypothyroidism — a condition that can cause fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and cold intolerance. By using optimal functional ranges, these patterns are identified early.
Similarly, standard blood tests rarely include a full iron panel, vitamin D, B12, or inflammatory markers unless specifically requested. The functional health assessment includes all of these as standard, providing a complete picture rather than a limited snapshot.
How the Assessment Works
Step 1: Pre-assessment questionnaire — You complete a detailed health history questionnaire covering your symptoms, medical history, diet, lifestyle, and health goals.
Step 2: Blood and urine collection — Blood samples are collected at a convenient location (home visit or clinic). The urine sample is collected at home.
Step 3: Laboratory analysis — Your samples are analysed for 100+ markers. Results are typically available within 2–3 weeks.
Step 4: 75-minute interpretation consultation — Elena reviews every marker, identifies patterns and interactions between systems, and explains what your results mean in plain language.
Step 5: Personalised health strategy — You receive a clear, prioritised plan covering nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle changes tailored to your specific imbalances.
Who Benefits Most from a Functional Health Assessment?
This assessment is particularly valuable for people who have been told their tests are 'normal' but continue to experience symptoms. It is also ideal for those who want a proactive, preventive approach to health — identifying and correcting imbalances before they develop into chronic conditions.
Common reasons clients choose this assessment include persistent fatigue and low energy, unexplained weight changes, hormonal symptoms like PMS or perimenopause, thyroid concerns, and chronic digestive issues that have not responded to standard approaches.
The assessment can be combined with gut microbiome testing for a truly comprehensive picture of your health, or it can serve as the starting point before progressing to a targeted gut reset programme.
