Functional Diagnostic Testing

Going Beyond Standard Labs

Standard bloodwork has its place — but it often misses the deeper picture. At NPS Wellness, Stephanie Kertes, NP-C uses advanced functional diagnostic tests to look at how your gut is functioning, how your hormones are being produced and metabolized, how your immune system responds to foods, and whether your body has the nutrients it needs to thrive.

These tests are ordered as part of your Wellness Consult (Root-Cause) or other personalized health programs — not as isolated tests, but as tools that inform a comprehensive plan.

Gut Health

GI-MAP® Stool Test

The GI-MAP® (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus) from Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory is a comprehensive stool test that analyzes microbial DNA in the gastrointestinal tract using quantitative PCR (qPCR) technology. From a single stool sample, this advanced test identifies microorganisms and key markers related to digestion, immune activity, inflammation, and gut barrier health.

We also offer the GI-MAP + Zonulin upgrade, which adds an intestinal permeability marker — useful for evaluating what’s sometimes referred to as “leaky gut.”

What the GI-MAP Evaluates

Hormone Health

DUTCH® Hormone Testing

The DUTCH® Test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) evaluates sex hormones, adrenal hormones, and their metabolites using dried urine samples collected throughout the day. Unlike a single-point blood draw, DUTCH testing reveals how hormones are produced, metabolized, and eliminated over a 24-hour period.

Stephanie uses DUTCH testing to evaluate hormonal balance, adrenal function, circadian rhythm patterns, and key metabolic markers — particularly for clients experiencing fatigue, mood changes, PMS, perimenopause or menopause symptoms, fertility concerns, sleep disruption, or unexplained weight changes.

What DUTCH Testing Measures

Immune Response Testing

IgG Food Sensitivity Panel

Food sensitivity testing from Alletess Medical Laboratory measures IgG antibody reactions to specific foods. Unlike a true food allergy (IgE-mediated), food sensitivities involve a delayed immune response — symptoms may appear hours or even days after exposure, making them difficult to identify without testing.

Results are reviewed with Stephanie and used to guide a personalized elimination and reintroduction approach as part of your overall wellness plan. IgG testing is used as a functional tool within a broader clinical assessment — not as a standalone diagnosis.

Nutritional Status

Hair Nutrient & Toxic Element Analysis

Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) uses a small sample of hair to evaluate long-term nutritional status and exposure to toxic elements. Unlike blood tests that capture a single moment in time, hair analysis reflects mineral levels and toxic metal accumulation over the past 2–3 months — providing a broader picture of what your body has been exposed to and storing.

At NPS Wellness, hair nutrient analysis is particularly useful for evaluating contributors to hair loss or thinning, chronic fatigue, cognitive concerns, or as part of a comprehensive root-cause wellness evaluation.

Hormone Health · Saliva Testing

Saliva LCMS Hormones 5 with 4-Point Cortisol

ZRT Laboratory — This saliva-based hormone panel uses Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) to measure five key sex hormones with high precision, alongside a 4-point cortisol curve that captures your cortisol pattern across the day — morning, noon, evening, and night.

Saliva testing offers a direct measure of the free, bioavailable fraction of hormones — the portion that is actually active in your tissues. This makes it especially useful for assessing how hormones are functioning at the cellular level, not just what’s circulating in the blood.