What Makes Functional Lab Interpretation Different?
Standard lab interpretation typically involves checking whether your results fall within the laboratory's reference ranges. If they do, you are told everything is 'normal'. If they do not, you may be prescribed medication to address the specific abnormality.
Functional medicine interpretation takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than viewing each marker in isolation, Elena analyses the relationships between markers — looking for patterns that reveal underlying dysfunction. A thyroid marker that is 'normal' by standard ranges but suboptimal when viewed alongside your cortisol, iron, and vitamin D levels tells a very different story.
This pattern-recognition approach often explains why people feel unwell despite 'normal' test results. The imbalances are real, but they exist in the spaces between individual markers — in the interactions and ratios that standard interpretation does not assess.
Types of Tests We Can Review
The lab interpretation service covers a wide range of test types, including standard NHS blood tests (full blood count, thyroid function, liver function, kidney function, lipid panels), private blood tests with extended panels, comprehensive stool analyses (GI-MAP, Microba, Genova, and others), SIBO breath tests, food sensitivity panels, organic acids tests, hormone panels, and nutrient status tests.
If you have results from multiple tests, Elena will review them together — looking for connections and patterns across different data sets. This integrated approach often reveals insights that reviewing each test in isolation would miss.
How the Service Works
Step 1: Submit your results — You send your existing lab results, medical letters, and a completed health history questionnaire before the consultation.
Step 2: Pre-consultation review — Elena reviews all submitted materials in detail before your appointment, ensuring the consultation time is used efficiently.
Step 3: Interpretation consultation — During the consultation, Elena walks you through your results, explains the patterns and interactions she has identified, and presents a clear health strategy with prioritised next steps.
Step 4: Written health strategy — You receive a personalised plan covering nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle recommendations based on your results.
When to Choose Lab Interpretation vs New Testing
If you already have recent, comprehensive test results (within the last 6 months), the lab interpretation service may be all you need. Elena can extract significantly more information from existing results than most standard interpretations provide.
However, if your existing tests are limited (for example, only basic NHS blood tests) or outdated, you may benefit more from a functional health assessment or gut microbiome testing, which provide fresh, comprehensive data. Elena can advise on the best approach during a free discovery call.
