Tests We Use
The Stram Center for Integrative Medicine utilizes the most advanced and comprehensive testing available to assess root cause of illness for our established patients.A wide range of detailed and extensive diagnostic tests are accessible by the Stram Center and include highly sensitive and accurate testing . Aside from conventional medical testing, such as Complete Blood Counts, Metabolic Panels, Thyroid testing, A1C, or Lipid Panels, we offer more expansive conventional testing like MTHFR gene, Inflammatory markers, Celiac Disease, Lyme disease, mold, breath tests for small intestinal bowel bacteria overgrowth and advanced cancer testing along with various test kits.
Non-conventional tests we offer:
Comprehensive Stool Analysis:
A healthy gut is the starting point for all illness evaluation. Through measuring your volume of gut bacteria and markers for malabsorption and inflammation, our practitioners are able to evaluate the state of your gastrointestinal, hormonal, and immune functioning. This is essential information for those patients suffering with inflammatory issues, IBS, celiac, diabetes, autoimmune issues, weight problems and cardiovascular disease. In addition, many neurotransmitters begin their manufacturing through the gut and require a healthy gut flora to do so. Therefore, many mood disorders can be treated starting with a healthy gut. A wide range of detailed and extensive diagnostic tests are accessible by the Stram Center and include highly sensitive and accurate testing.
Nutritional Deficiency Testing and Food Sensitivity Analysis:
Ensuring you are meeting your body's nutrient needs is paramount to optimal wellness. Deficiencies of essential nutrients can be the root cause of various illnesses, such as: mood disorders, diabetes, chronic fatigue, autoimmune dysfunction and more. Full comprehensive vitamin and mineral profiles to assess nutrient deficiencies can be performed so that customized treatment plans can be pursued. Proper testing helps our practitioners to formulate the appropriate treatment plan to address the root cause of your symptoms. A wide range of detailed and extensive diagnostic tests are accessible by the Stram Center and include highly sensitive and accurate testing available through specialty labs.
Lyme Disease Testing:
Currently, available Lyme Disease testing is an indirect measure of your body's immune response to Lyme disease and co-infection exposure. Today's testing can result in false negatives as much or greater than 50% of the time and less frequently but as confusing, false positives. Our practice utilizes the best in Lyme testing through IGeneX and Galaxy Laboratories, and MDL along with other conventional testing to piece the puzzle of Lyme diagnosis together. Through the use of current Lyme testing, clinical symptoms, and other supporting clinical assessment, our practitioners are able to confidently diagnose Lyme disease, which is known as the "great imitator" of other chronic illnesses.
Throughout the many stages of life, our hormone levels change, leaving us, at times with imbalanced levels. This is something that both men and women, at different times may struggle with. Through the use of testing, our practitioners can ensure that you have the proper balance of hormone levels in the body, allowing for the best recommendations in supplementation, lifestyle changes and in some cases, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.
comprehensive Labs for cancer:
Comprehensive blood testing can provide a deeper understanding of each patient’s unique cancer profile. In addition to standard tests like imaging, biopsies, and basic lab work from your oncologist, our testing investigates metabolic, immune, and environmental factors that may influence cancer development and progression. Functional lab work may explore nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, hormonal imbalances, the gut microbiome, or toxin exposures that can affect the body’s terrain. The goal of comprehensive testing is to go beyond the tumor itself and look at the whole person—supporting a more personalized approach to cancer care.
Heavy Metal Testing:
Our bodies are continually processing the removal of foreign substances which invade us through living in a polluted world. This includes chemicals and organisms that are found in our air, water, food and homes. Our bodies have the resilient ability to process these environmental substances, but sometimes we need additional support for these processes. Heavy Metal testing can help to reveal if you have elevated levels of toxins, which may effect reproductive function, energy, risk of cancer, cognitive and immune functions and more. Please note, that this test is available to our VT patients.
Genomic Testing: IntellxxDNA
We test your genetic makeup that can affect your metabolism, inflammation, detoxification, fitness, weight, hormones, cognition, and response to your diet, and supplements. By understanding how your unique genetics impact these key processes, you can make smarter, more personalized decisions about your health.
The insights we glean from the IntellxxDNA test will allow our practitioners to make customized and detailed health recommendations in the areas of overall medical makeup, cognition and memory, all areas of mental wellness for all ages, women's and men's health, fitness optimization, proactive prevention of disease, and much more, based on your specific risk factors. This test goes far beyond standard DNA tests, giving your provider precise, evidence-based insights into how your genes may be influencing inflammation, hormones, detoxification, brain health and more. With this information, we can create a highly personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique biology. The power of knowing your genetic makeup has never been so accessible. These tools give the provider the functional information to form optimal treatment plans to help their patients heal more effectively and feel better long-term.
Folate Receptor Antibody Test
Folate (vitamin B9) is a necessary vitamin for proper neurological functioning. Folate receptors are responsible for transporting folate across the blood brain barrier and into the central nervous system (CNS). Unfortunately, blood tests for folate do not correlate with levels found in the CNS. Blood levels of folate can be normal while CNS levels could be deficient. Low folate levels in the CNS is the cause of Cerebral Folate Deficiency, or CFD, and is associated with many symptoms and conditions including anxiety, depression, tics, seizures, motor and movement problems, developmental delay, and autistic spectrum disorders.
Folate receptors may become “blocked” by folate receptor antibodies. When blocked, folate cannot enter the brain and CNS, leading to folate deficiency in the brain. This test measures the presence of folate receptor antibodies. If the test is positive, it is likely that folate levels in the CNS are low and specific therapies such as other forms of folate, can be recommended in order to avert this specific blockage of receptors.
Advanced Mitochondrial Test
Mitochondria are considered the “powerhouse” of our cells that constantly are creating energy from oxygen, sugar, and fat. Chronic inflammation, infections, and oxidative stress can damage your mitochondria leading to symptoms of fatigue, weakness, cognitive impairment, headache, and gastrointestinal problems including severe constipation. Conditions such as developmental delay, learning disabilities, autism and mental health and neurodegenerative disorders may also be related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Testing for mitochondrial dysfunction provides information to enable practitioners to use specific and targeted therapies to enhance mitochondrial function.
Progressive Cardiometabolic Testing
While traditional cholesterol testing is a good measure of metabolic health, it is not the best indicator for an individual's true risk for heart disease. Through the use of advanced testing, our practitioners can accurately evaluate and address a patient's true risk factor and suggest necessary lifestyle and/or supplement recommendations, or other interventions.
Coagulation Studies:
For patients with blood disorders or for our patients who are receiving long term intravenous therapies, who may require a PICC line, we ensure that you are a safe candidate. Coagulation studies will give our practitioners an assessment of your body's blood clotting abilities and blood flow rates.
Integrative Treatment Options
Supplements and Vitamins
Our natural remedies and supplements are carefully selected by our doctors and may be taken to promote natural healing and help treat a variety of conditions.Supplements and Vitamins
Chronic Illness
Nowhere is the need for an integrative approach more apparent than in the management of chronic illness. We are a synthesis of many systems all working together, and when one or more systems become diseased, all of the others will be stressed as well. From physical challenges, to the challenges of everyday living, to a satisfying quality of life, we have to go past seeing that illness in…Chronic Illness
Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment in Delmar NY and Burlington VT offices At the Stram Center we vow to continue our education on Lyme Disease research, stay up to date on the most effective testing and all the safe available therapies. Moreover, our years of experience in treating patients according to the whole person-integrative medicine approach allows us the most effective way to care…Lyme Disease
Cancer Care
Integrative Oncology at the Stram Center The Center offers a wide variety of cancer care treatments — including IV therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture, medical massage and clinical nutrition — to combat cancer cells, help boost your immune system, reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, increase your energy, reduce anxiety and…Cancer Care
Nutritional Counseling
The practitioners at the Center recognize that diet is often the basis for your heath and your potential to heal. Adopting a healthy diet is often the first step towards correcting health problems. Many medical conditions can be treated more effectively when the patient implements specific diets and uses nutritional supplements. These interventions afford fewer complications and side effects than…Nutritional Counseling
Women’s Health
Our reproductive health and fertility are a part, expression and source of our overall health. At The Stram Center we maintain that a broader understanding of the individual is just as essential as a focused examination of the reproductive system and it’s functioning within that person. Our integrative approach to women’s health provides holistic, balanced and effective care to achieve…Women’s Health
