Gut Health
Gastrointestinal complaints are among the most common in medical care. Gut health plays a vital role in overall well-being, influencing digestion, immune function, and even mental health. Functional stool testing helps assess the microbiome, identifying imbalances or infections that could lead to issues like inflammation or nutrient malabsorption. Additionally, pinpointing food sensitivities and allergies through testing allows individuals to tailor their diets, promoting gut healing and reducing symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, or fatigue. This personalized approach can greatly improve quality of life and long-term health outcomes.
We offer: Stool Kits, MRT's, Food Sensitivity Testing, Food Allergy Testing
Let me tell you about our two favorite tests!
Below you can find details on all of our tests, you can pick a test without doctors orders. Give us a call if you have questions.
Stool Kits
Can be picked up at True North Health or shipped to your home.
Comprehensive Stool Analysis (CSA): $549, $349 Established Patients
The CSA profile helps pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic systemic conditions, and measures key markers of digestion, absorption and inflammation. It contains comprehensive bacteriology and yeast cultures to identify the presence of beneficial flora, imbalanced flora including Clostridium species, and dysbiotic flora, as well as the detection of infectious pathogens. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing to prescriptive and natural agents is also performed for appropriate cultured bacterial and fungal species at no additional charge.
Microbiology: $169
This test is basically a portion of the full CSA. The Microbiology profile includes comprehensive bacteriology and yeast cultures to identify the presence of beneficial flora, imbalanced flora including Clostridium species, and dysbiotic flora, as well as detection of infectious pathogens.
Parasitology: $191
While parasitic infection may be an underlying etiological factor in several chronic disease processes, doctors often do not consider the potential for parasitic involvement because signs and symptoms of parasitic infection often resemble those of other diseases. However, it has been shown that parasite testing is a reasonable approach to the detection of causative agents for chronic gastrointestinal disorders. Can be performed on a one-, two- or three-day collection, based on practitioner preference.
CSA + Parasitology: $688.85, $437 established patients
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Mediator Release Test (MRT)
MRT® is a simple but very powerful blood test. It quantifies the inflammatory response to foods and food-chemicals, letting you know not just which foods you should stay away from, but more importantly which foods are your BEST foods.
Studies show that MRT is able to distinguish between symptomatic and asymptomatic populations, that MRT correlates with inflammation and symptoms, and that diets based on MRT show significant symptom reduction.
This test requires a blood draw at True North Health (Bismarck) or Inner Reflections (Minot).
There is an additional lab draw fee is $30 / $20 for Established Patients.
What is mediator release?
Mediator release is the key event that leads to every negative effect your patients suffer. What matters clinically is that mediator release, and thus an inflammatory response has occurred – not that a potential mechanism is elevated.
It’s the release of cytokines, histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, etc., from neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils and, lymphocytes that lead to all the negative clinical effects a food-sensitivity sufferer endures.
Tests and Prices
MRT 176: $695
MRT 135: $545
MRT 88: $395
Additional Savings for Established Patients (contact for details).
What foods and chemicals are tested?
Sample MRT Test Results
Food Sensitivity Testing (IgG)
Food sensitivities are inflammatory responses of the immune system triggered by food allergens. Unlike food allergies, the symptoms of a food sensitivity often occur hours or even days after exposure, making it difficult to pinpoint the specific offending food(s). This delayed reaction is what causes the majority of the 12 million people estimated to suffer from food sensitivities unaware and blame things like aging for their chronic symptoms.
Panels can be run by a finger prick (home test) or blood draw at the clinic.
There is an additional lab draw fee is $30 / $15 for Established Patients.
* results do not changes for a home kit vs draw, the draw can be more convenient if adding other tests.
What IgG?
Immunoglobulin IgG
Tests and Pricing
IgG 240: $379
IgG 144: $299
IgG 96: $239
Sample Report (view what is tested)
Food Allergy Testing (IgE)
This test requires a Blood Draw at True North Health (Bismarck) or Inner Reflections (Minot)
What is IgG?
IgE is a true allergy; when IgE is released, there is an immediate (seconds to hours) reaction. IgE reactivity can persist for years or a lifetime due to the presence of B-memory cells in the bone marrow, even if the food has been avoided. Food allergies are recognized to trigger adverse reactions such as skin conditions, GI problems, anaphylaxis, and more. With proper identification and elimination of the offending foods, many experience symptom relief, and reaction evasion.
Tests and Pricing
96 IgE: $569 / $429 with Food Sensitivity Testing
50 IgE: $399 / $309 with Food Sensitivity Testing
44 IgE: $329 / $249 with Food Sensitivity Testing
27 IgE: $269 / $209 with Food Sensitivity Testing
Sample Reports (view what is tested)