Akana Testing
At Akana, your journey to health embracing the best of eastern and western medicine is evidence-based.
Testing provides our dedicated doctors and practitioners with the information needed to better understand your body and your health. It may pave the way for a diagnosis or powerfully inform your treatment pathway. Either way, we offer an extensive range of testing to support your essential healing.
Routine Medical Pathology & Functional Medical Testing
When ordered by a GP, all standard routine medical pathology will, in most instances, be covered by Medicare. Fortunately, much information can be gained through standard routine medical pathology testing when interpreted within an optimal range and health optimisation framework by those with nutritional training. This can minimise the need for additional expensive testing not covered by Medicare.
Further functional medical testing may, however, be advised at times to glean extra information to help with a diagnosis. This can be ordered by our integrative GPs and naturopaths and is not covered by Medicare.
Please note, if any routine medical pathology testing will incur an out-of-pocket cost, your practitioner will inform you. Likewise, you will be told if any recommended additional tests may incur out-of-pocket expenses.
Functional Medical Testing
Functional medical testing can be used to test for food intolerances.
When people experience lower grade reactions to certain food proteins, this can be tested for via a blood test analysed by a functional medicine laboratory.
True allergy and anaphylaxis testing will be dealt with via usual pathology testing and will include specialist immunological input.
Environmental/Toxin Exposures
Myriad substances found in our environment can impact our health.
When it comes to enhancing health, uncovering these environmental exposures and identifying toxins affecting our bodies can be critical.
Your Akana health practitioner will recommend the best testing for you to determine these potential and known exposures.
Gut Health & Microbiome
Human microbiome research – or research into the trillions of microorganisms on and in the human body and the role they play in disease and health – is a rapidly evolving landscape.
This is an exciting and fascinating area and gut microbiome testing is already yielding positive results for people through its ability to reveal further information and provide guidance in managing and treating a large range of diseases.
Hormonal Health
Alongside standard routine medical blood tests reviewing hormone levels, opportunities for further testing abound through functional labatories.
Your Akana health practitioner can explore these options with you with a view to uncovering any insufficiencies in the body and shedding light on fresh ways to support your hormonal health.
Mental Health Nutritional Testing
Emerging research is highlighting links between mental health and certain nutritional deficiencies, paving the way for a new approach to mental wellbeing.
Comprehensive testing can, therefore, allow for the gathering of further information to guide supportive nutrient therapy for mental health, in conjunction with standard approaches.
Nutrient & Gene Interaction
Bio-individuality recognises that each person has a unique biological makeup that leads to measurable genetic differences in our biochemical pathways.
These differences not only create the need for doses of certain medications to be adjusted for each individual but can also indicate other areas that may need a more personalised approach. This can include highly individualized advice regarding food, exercise and dietary supplements.
Cardiovascular Testing
The standard lipid profile is an important test assessing cardiovascular risk, however, it’s not the only one available.
Further, more detailed information can be gleaned by looking at ApoB, Lipoprotein(a), hs-CRP, LDL particle size, and many more markers. These other markets help further clarify risk and aid in revealing the best treatment moving forward for patients with these concerns.
Comprehensive Nutritional Analysis
When it comes to nutritional analysis, further testing – above and beyond that showing what is circulating in the blood – can be powerful.
Additional tests can disclose more information about nutrient stores in the body, enabling our team to more deeply consider what is needed to further support a person’s body to optimise function and wellbeing.
Testing helps our holistic health practitioners know how to best support your healing journey and paves the way for them to provide powerful personalised guidance.
To arrange your health testing, please book a consultation with one of our experienced team members and if you need further details, please call our knowledgeable reception staff.