Start with what the result would change
Testing may help investigate a symptom, assess a particular health concern, or monitor an established condition. Bring previous results so the clinician can consider what is already known before discussing additional testing.
Ask what each proposed test can reliably measure and how different results would affect the next step. A broad panel does not automatically give a clearer explanation, and a result outside a reference range is not a diagnosis on its own.
Testing areas offered through Sante
The clinic's laboratory service includes the following testing areas. The specific test, sample type, and laboratory depend on your clinical needs and current availability. A listing here does not mean every test is appropriate for every patient.
- Routine laboratory work: complete blood counts, metabolic panels, cholesterol testing, and selected thyroid or other health markers.
- Digestive testing: selected stool studies and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth testing when indicated.
- Hormone assessment: selected blood or dried-urine hormone testing, including discussion of DUTCH testing when relevant.
- Selected nutrient and cardiovascular assessments, based on the question being investigated.
- Lyme and other tick-borne infection testing when the history and clinical assessment support it.
- Hair mineral analysis, with a separate discussion of its substantial interpretation limits.
Understand the limits before choosing a specialty test
Different tests have different levels of evidence. Food-specific IgG panels are not recommended by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology to diagnose food allergy or intolerance. A positive IgG result should not be treated as a list of foods you must remove. Suspected allergy needs an appropriate clinical assessment.
Hair mineral results do not independently diagnose nutritional deficiency, food allergy, or a whole-body toxic burden. For Lyme disease, CDC recommends FDA-cleared antibody testing in a two-step process when testing is indicated. The right testing method matters as much as the decision to test.
Prepare for the test you are actually having
Preparation can differ between blood, urine, stool, breath, and hair samples. Follow the instructions supplied for your particular test and ask about anything unclear before collecting the sample.
Share your prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements. They may affect some results. Do not stop a prescribed medicine or start a restrictive diet on your own to prepare for testing. Ask the ordering clinician for instructions.
Turn the report into an understandable next step
A laboratory report is one part of your health picture. Results need to be considered with symptoms, examination findings, history, the laboratory's methods, and the reference range printed on that report. A value within the range does not explain away symptoms, and an unusual value may need confirmation or further assessment.
Before testing, ask who will review the report with you, when to expect communication, and whether a follow-up appointment is included. The goal is a clear explanation of what the result supports, what remains uncertain, and what to do next.
Clarify costs and the care pathway first
Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by test, laboratory, insurer, and ordering requirements. Ask the clinic and the performing laboratory for current details before collection. Insurance submission is not a guarantee of payment.
A free 15-minute initial consultation is a starting point for discussing your concerns and whether Sante's services fit your needs. It does not replace a medical evaluation or mean laboratory testing is free.
Your questions, answered
Do I need the same lab panel as every other patient?
No. The clinic describes individualized test selection. Discuss the question being investigated, prior results, the evidence for the test, and how the result could change your plan.
Does Sante offer functional medicine lab testing?
Sante's published services include routine laboratory work and selected digestive, nutrient, hormone, and other specialty assessments. The term functional medicine does not by itself establish that a test is useful. Ask about the exact test and its clinical purpose.
Can one test reveal every root cause?
No. No single laboratory panel provides a complete explanation for all symptoms. A clinician needs to interpret relevant results with your history and other findings, and some questions require a different form of evaluation.
Will insurance cover my laboratory testing?
Confirm coverage for the specific test with your insurer and performing laboratory. Ask about the ordering requirements, estimated cost, and any cash-pay option before the sample is collected.
Can I bring results from another clinician?
Yes, bring the complete reports and collection dates for discussion. Include any related diagnoses, treatment history, and your current medicine and supplement list so the existing information can be considered in context.
Related care and useful next steps
Care shaped around you.
Tell our team what has been affecting you and what you want to work toward. Start with a free 15-minute introductory consultation at The Sante Center in Hampton, New Hampshire.
861 Lafayette Road, Suite 3 · Hampton, NH 03842. Continue care with your primary care provider and other treating clinicians.
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Sources and further reading
Clinic service information and independent resources used to explain the topic. These sources do not establish that a particular treatment is right for you.
