Diagnos-Techs Laboratory

John J. White received his MD, CM degree from McGill University in Montreal, spent 2 years active duty with the US Coast Guard (US Public Health Service) and thereafter qualified in general surgery and cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at the McGill University Teaching Hospitals. He further qualified in pediatric surgery at Johns Hopkins, spent 10 years on staff there, and finished his academic career as a professor of pediatric surgery at various institutions. White is the author of more than 175 peer-reviewed scientific publications as primary or coauthor. After retiring in Seattle near his children and grandchildren, White is pleased to have a second career at Diagnos-Techs. Recently, he was appointed medical director of the Medical Support Group for Diagnos-Techs.

 

 

 

Established in 1987, Diagnos-Techs™ Laboratory in Kent, Washington, is considered the leading saliva-based testing and research laboratory in the United States. In 1989 Diagnos-Techs™ was the first laboratory to introduce saliva-based hormone testing into routine clinical practice  — creating a powerful tool for evaluating stress- and hormone-related disease and illness. In 1995, Diagnos-Techs™ added saliva and stool-based gastrointestinal and food allergy testing. Diagnos-Techs™ has continued to refine and improve its testing standards, using cutting-edge technology and methods. Diagnos-Techs™ tests are considered the platinum standard for salivary testing worldwide. In addition, Diagnos-Techs™ offers other non-invasive lab testing such as stool testing for digestive functions and urine testing for bone health.

 

Saliva has proven to be an easy to collect and reliable sample source to measure a wide range of hormones, pharmaceuticals, antibodies and many other biological studies. In some cases, it is even superior to other body fluids for measuring biomarker levels. It contains many analytes of interest for screening, diagnosis and monitoring. Saliva, which offers a non-invasive and stress free alternative to serum, provides hormone levels that reflect the unbound active portion of the hormone while serum levels reflect the protein bound inactive concentration. Therefore, it can be used not only as a convenient inexpensive diagnostic specimen but also to provide information not readily available from serum testing.

 

The ASI™ Panel was first introduced in 1989 to evaluate stress, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Since that time, several additional tests have been added to evaluate glycemic control, and gluten sensitivity. This comprehensive panel is a great initial assessment to evaluate multiple body symptoms.

 

Bones reflect the aging process by exhibiting gradual loss of mass. In susceptible individuals, this can cause osteoporosis. Bone metabolism is a continuous, delicate process of balancing ongoing deposition and breakdown. Hormonal balance, nutrition, lifestyle, and genetics are all contributing factors to bone metabolism. This panel provides measurements of six key hormones in saliva—progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, cortisol, FSH, and DHEA/DHEA-S—as well as the specific bone metabolism marker, DPD, in urine.

 

The FHP™ is a dynamic mapping of the free-fraction levels of estradiol and progesterone throughout one cycle. This panel also includes cycle averages for free testosterone and DHEA/DHEA-S. It involves eleven samples collected every 2-3 days throughout a menstrual cycle. The expanded version of this panel (eFHP) includes seven additional FSH and LH measurements centered around the time of ovulation. This panel provides the most complete information of the dynamics of a woman’s cycle at any age during the cycling years. 

 

The PeriM /PostM Panels™, along with the expanded versions of both, provide measurements of six key hormones: progesterone, estradiol, estrone, estriol, testosterone, and DHEA/DHEAS. The expanded panels also measure FSH and LH to address pituitary involvement. In conjunction with an ASI panel, these panels can provide data about stress and hormone vagaries at the end-of-cycling age groups.

 

Andropause is characterized by lowered hormone levels and chronic stress. The MHP assesses testosterone and DHT, the antecedent hormones progesterone, DHEA/DHEAS and androstenedione, the controlling pituitary hormones, FSH and LH, and estrogens (often elevated).

 

Food intolerances can manifest clinically with bowel disturbances, pain, fatigue, and skin changes. On the other hand, some are clinically silent (but their long term effects can be significant). This panel can provide valuable information alone or as part of the GI Health Panel.

 

The prevalence of gastrointestinal complaints in general practice is high. The long-term clinical consequences of untreated complaints include impaired nutrient assimilation with reduced endothelial regenerative capacity. Screening for some common causes of these complaints can be done through the Gastrointestinal Health Panel™. This is a 15- or 22-parameter analysis that non-invasively evaluates gastrointestinal function and health using three stool and two saliva specimens.

 

 

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