Your body's clues, decoded.
When patients first hear about the Root Cause Triad—Toxins, Microbes, and Stress Response—the next question is usually:
“How do we actually figure out which one is affecting me?”
That’s where Root Cause Clarity (RCC) Labs come in.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all panel. It’s a collection of targeted, high-impact tests that help us understand where your body is struggling, which systems are most affected, and what’s getting in the way of your recovery.
⚠️ First, a note on testing:
No lab test is perfect. Science evolves, and so do the tools we use to assess what's happening inside your body. The tests I recommend today represent the best available options based on current science and clinical experience—but they will change as better technologies emerge. We use them not as absolute answers, but as guiding lights in an often complex process of root cause healing.
🦠 Fungal Overgrowth:
Fungal overgrowth—especially yeast like Candida—is one of the most common microbial imbalances I see, and one of the trickiest to test for accurately.
Recommended Testing Options:
Doctor’s Data Stool Test
This test uses microscopic stool analysis to identify yeast and parasites. It’s helpful for confirming overgrowth, but doesn’t differentiate between yeast species (e.g., Candida albicans vs. glabrata). Still, if yeast is present here, it’s a solid finding.
Organic Acid Test (OAT)
I primarily use the Mosaic Diagnostics Organic Acid Test (OAT), which measures yeast and fungal metabolites in the urine. Unlike stool tests, the OAT can detect systemic fungal overgrowth—including infections outside the GI tract—and it can also help differentiate between Candida and Aspergillus, which is often crucial for guiding treatment decisions. I'm also evaluating the Genova OAT as a potential option for patients with insurance coverage. While it measures fewer fungal markers, it may still provide useful insights in less complex cases.
🔍 What doesn’t work well?
PCR for yeast species and fungal cultures are, in my experience, unreliable—they often come back negative even when clinical signs scream fungal overload.
🧬 Vector-Borne Infections (VBIs):
Tick-borne and stealth infections like Borrelia, Babesia, and Bartonella are often missed by standard labs. That’s why we focus on direct testing wherever possible.
Recommended Testing Options:
DNA Connexions Urine PCR
This is a direct detection test that identifies DNA fragments from 11 different vector-borne pathogens—including three strains each of Borrelia, Babesia, and Bartonella, as well as Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. Unlike antibody testing, it doesn’t rely on your immune system’s response—it looks directly for the presence of microbial DNA.
- Best practice: Collect your sample after a 30-minute session in a Relax Far Infrared Sauna, which increases microbial shedding and enhances detection.
- For menstruating patients: Timing collection 3–4 days before your expected period can also improve sensitivity, as VBIs tend to be more active in the premenstrual phase. (This isn’t possible for everyone, but it’s worth considering.)
- Other options: Mild provocation through exercise or massage may help increase detection, but in my experience, these are less effective than sauna-based provocation.
⚠️ Important caveats:
This test can still yield false negatives—either because the microbial load is too low at the time of testing, or because your body harbors a strain not included in the panel. Microbial levels naturally fluctuate with growth phases and tissue distribution.
That said, a positive result is highly meaningful. False positives are very unlikely, and even small amounts of microbial DNA are considered significant when present.
IGeneX Full Lyme Serum Panel
This is a comprehensive antibody-based panel designed to detect your immune system’s response to vector-borne infections—primarily Borrelias (Lyme), but also Babesias, Bartonellas, Rickettsias, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma.
Because this panel relies on indirect markers (your antibodies), results can sometimes be misleading. False negatives may occur if your immune system is suppressed or if the infection is compartmentalized in tissues. False positives can occur due to past exposure or cross-reactivity with other microbes.
That said, this panel can still offer valuable insight, especially for patients whose insurance may cover testing through IGeneX.
- Most valuable component: The FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization) test for Babesia and Bartonella stands out. Unlike the rest of the panel, FISH is a direct test—it detects the organisms themselves, not antibodies.
➤ A positive FISH result provides strong, actionable evidence of active infection and often plays a key role in guiding treatment decisions.
➤ FISH testing is not affected by immune suppression or antibody production, making it especially helpful in complex or long-standing cases.
🌫️ Mold Exposure: Identifying What’s in the Air (and in You)
We live in a world full of mold—some harmless, some highly toxic. Determining if you’re currently being exposed is critical to successful treatment.
Recommended Testing Option:
Mosaic Mycotoxin Urine Test
This test looks for mycotoxins—toxic byproducts of mold. One compound, Mycophenolic Acid, stands out: it’s a metabolite of actively growing mold and clears quickly from the body.
➤ If it’s in your urine, that means you’ve had recent exposure within the past 10 days.
➤ The other mycotoxins reflect past exposures and can still help guide binder and detox strategies.
⚠️ Important to note:
In my experience, we don’t need a perfect test to justify detox support. I assume that in today’s world, everyone is carrying a chemical and toxin burden to some degree. These tests just help fine-tune our strategy.
Why It Matters
Root Cause Clarity (RCC) Labs give us meaningful data to guide strategic decisions. They’re not magic—but they are maps—helping us identify where the terrain is most disrupted and where deeper work is needed.
These tests are valuable at the start of your healing journey to establish a baseline, and also at key checkpoints to track progress and see how things are shifting with microbes and toxins over time.
While other labs may offer clues or indirect signs, RCC Labs provide direct, actionable evidence—the kind that moves us forward with confidence and clarity.
They help us break free from the old “guess and suppress” model and move toward evidence-informed, root cause healing that works with your body—not against it.
Root Cause Healing: Where Real Recovery Begins