Saliva Testing for Hormones

This test looks at the levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and cortisol in your saliva. Based on these results, your doctor can then dose bioidentical hormones specifically to your needs, Every woman’s hormone replacement needs are different. A “shotgun” approach with standard medications often does not relieve all of the symptoms of menopause and other hormonal imbalances. By combining estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, many women achieve greater symptom relief. You will be given a collection kit to take home for the test. Results will come back to the doctor in 3 weeks. You will then be called to come in to review the testing. Compounded hormone prescriptions generally cost $25- $45 per month. We normally refer to Lakeside Pharmacy unless you prefer to use a different compounding pharmacy.

Cost is $150-$240 or may be covered by your insurance.

Vitamin, Mineral, and Antioxidant Testing

This test, done through SpectraCell Laboratories, analyzes selected vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants over a 4-6 month period in one blood draw. The results can uncover deficiencies that, if not corrected, could impair your health by contributing to the development or progression of chronic disease. This will tell you if additional vitamin supplementation is needed, if you are absorbing the vitamins that you are taking, and what your antioxidant status is. The blood is drawn in our office and then sent to a laboratory for analysis. SpectraCell Laboratories will then bill your insurance the remainder of the bill-YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGE no matter what an explanation of benefits from your insurance company shows. Results will come back to the doctor in 3 weeks. You will then be called to come in to review the testing.

Cost depends on your insurance $50-$170

Advanced Lipid Panel

Fifty percent of people who have a heart attack have normal cholesterol levels. Standard cholesterol tests do not test the latest emerging risk factors putting patients at risk for cardiovascular disease. The SpectraCell laboratory test is a Lipoprotein particle profile. This test doesn’t just break the cholesterol down into “good” and “bad” cholesterol; it goes one step further, measuring each sub-group. Measuring the lipoprotein subgroups is the only way to accurately assess cardiovascular risk. The blood is drawn in our office and then sent to a laboratory for analysis. SpectraCell laboratories will then bill your insurance the remainder of the bill-YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGES no matter what an explanation of benefits from your insurance company shows. Results will come back to the doctor in 3 weeks. You will then be called to come in to review the testing.

Cost depends on your insurance $70

Food Allergy Testing

The ALCAT test measures personalized nutrition at the cellular level. A blood test is drawn to measure the body’s cellular response to challenges from a wide variety of substances including various foods, additives, colorings, and chemicals. The results are in an easy to understand color-coded chart format which grades the level of foods and your reaction. For over twenty years the ALCAT testing has helped manage a wide variety of conditions such as: digestive disorders, migraines, obesity, chronic fatigue, aching joints, skin disorders, autism, premature again, and many more.

Cost can be $75 - $625 depending on the test if insurance does not cover.

Essential Estrogens

High levels of estrogen as well as impaired estrogen metabolism can increase the risk of breast cancer. This test provides a focused overview of estrogen balance in both pre- and post-menopausal women. It uses a single urine sample to evaluate dynamics of sex steroid metabolism that can profoundly affect a woman’s health throughout her lifetime.

Cost is $0 for medicare patients, $130 for all other insurances, and $266 for self-pay patients. This test is not covered by Aetna, Principal, Humana, Kaiser, or Tufts. Those patients would pay at the self-pay rate.

Breast Thermography

A safe inexpensive alternative to mammography, thermography reveals the earlist stages of heart and breast disease. A special high definition infrared camera is used to capture thermal information that cannot be seen by the human eye and is even invisible in x-rays. This is done in our Dawsonville office.

Full body scan $500; breast scan $185 – may be covered by insurance