Functional Health Testing vs. Conventional Lab Work:
Functional Health Testing vs. Conventional Lab Work:
A Comprehensive Guide for Utah Men Seeking Optimal Health
By Courtney LaSumner Bass, NP | Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner | Military Veteran
Reading Time: 12 minutes | Last Updated: December 2025 | Medically Reviewed
Introduction: Beyond Normal Lab Results
Have you ever received lab results that came back "normal" while you still felt exhausted, struggled with low energy, or noticed changes in your body composition that didn’t match your efforts? You’re not alone. According to research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, up to 40% of men with symptoms of testosterone deficiency have levels that fall within conventional "normal" ranges—yet they continue experiencing significant quality-of-life impacts.
This disconnect between how you feel and what your lab results show reveals a fundamental limitation in conventional healthcare: the difference between disease detection and health optimization. At Arsenal Men’s Health, we believe Utah men deserve more than just confirmation that they’re "not sick." They deserve to understand their bodies at a deeper level and receive actionable insights that can transform their vitality, performance, and longevity.
This comprehensive guide explores the critical differences between conventional lab testing and functional health testing, examines the evidence behind optimal biomarker ranges, and provides you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your health journey.
Understanding Conventional Lab Testing
What Is Conventional Testing?
Conventional blood testing represents the standard laboratory assessments ordered during routine wellness visits or when you present with specific symptoms. Your healthcare provider reviews these results against established reference ranges designed to identify the presence or absence of disease states. The fundamental philosophy is diagnostic: "Do you have a medical condition that requires treatment?"
These tests serve as the foundation of primary care and have saved countless lives by detecting serious conditions early. They’re typically covered by insurance and provide reliable, standardized results that facilitate communication between healthcare providers.
Common Conventional Panels
Complete Blood Count (CBC): Screens for anemia, infection, and blood disorders by measuring red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Assesses kidney function, liver function, electrolyte balance, and blood glucose levels.
Lipid Panel: Measures total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, non-HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides to evaluate cardiovascular risk.
Basic Thyroid Function (TSH): Screens for thyroid dysfunction using thyroid-stimulating hormone as a proxy marker.
Fasting Glucose: Screens for diabetes by measuring blood sugar after an overnight fast.
The Reference Range Problem
Here’s where conventional testing reveals its most significant limitation. Reference ranges are derived from statistical analysis of large populations, typically representing the middle 95% of tested individuals. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Urology examined testosterone levels in 1,486 men aged 20-44 and concluded that age-indiscriminate reference ranges lead to underdiagnosis of testosterone deficiency in younger men.
Consider testosterone as an example: The conventional "normal" range of 300-1,000 ng/dL includes the 2.5th percentile—essentially excluding only the most severe deficiency cases. Research published in Diabetes Care demonstrates that men with testosterone levels between 300-400 ng/dL (the lower end of "normal") show significantly higher rates of metabolic dysfunction, unfavorable lipid profiles, and increased insulin resistance compared to men with levels above 500 ng/dL.
A landmark study of over 70,000 men found that cardiovascular and metabolic risk begins increasing when testosterone drops below 575 ng/dL—well within the conventional "normal" range. This means that by conventional standards, you could be told everything is fine while your body is already experiencing suboptimal function.
The Functional Health Testing Paradigm
A Different Philosophy
Functional health testing represents a fundamentally different approach to laboratory assessment. Rather than asking "Do you have a disease?", functional testing asks "What factors might be contributing to your symptoms or increasing your future health risks?" This proactive approach examines how your body’s systems work together, looking for patterns and imbalances that conventional testing might miss.
A groundbreaking 2019 study published in JAMA Network Open compared patients treated at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine with those receiving standard primary care. The results showed that patients in the functional medicine model demonstrated significantly greater improvements in health-related quality of life, with 31% achieving clinically meaningful improvements in global physical health compared to 22% in conventional care.
Optimal vs. Normal Ranges
The cornerstone of functional testing lies in the distinction between "normal" (statistically common) and "optimal" (associated with best health outcomes). While conventional medicine often waits until markers fall outside reference ranges to intervene, functional approaches identify opportunities for optimization when biomarkers drift toward the edges of normal—often before symptoms become severe.
Research published in Medicine examining 253 men found that free testosterone levels inversely correlated with blood pressure—those with levels below 52 pg/mL had the greatest hypertension risk, while those above 81 pg/mL had the lowest risk. Both groups might test "normal" conventionally, but their health trajectories differ significantly.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Aspect
Conventional Testing
Functional Testing
Primary Goal
Disease diagnosis and monitoring
Health optimization and prevention
Reference Philosophy
Population averages (middle 95%)
Optimal ranges based on health outcomes
Timing of Intervention
After disease develops
Before symptoms become severe
Scope of Analysis
Individual markers in isolation
Patterns across multiple systems
Testosterone Range
300-1,000 ng/dL
600-900 ng/dL (optimal)
Insurance Coverage
Typically covered
Often self-pay or HSA/FSA
Best For
Acute symptoms, disease screening, chronic condition monitoring
Prevention, performance optimization, root-cause investigation
Essential Biomarkers for Men’s Health Optimization
Understanding which biomarkers matter most for men’s health can help you have more informed conversations with your healthcare provider. Here are the key markers that functional testing evaluates for comprehensive male health assessment:
Hormone Panel
Total Testosterone: The sum of bound and free hormone. Optimal range: 600-900 ng/dL based on research correlating this range with improved cardiovascular health, better body composition, enhanced cognitive function, and reduced all-cause mortality.
Free Testosterone: The unbound, biologically active fraction. Optimal range: 15-25 pg/mL. Studies show free testosterone below 52 pg/mL associates with increased hypertension risk.
Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG): This protein binds testosterone, affecting how much is bioavailable. High SHBG can mean normal total testosterone but functionally low free testosterone.
Estradiol: The primary estrogen in men. Both high and low levels can cause erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and mood changes. Balance is critical.
LH and FSH: Pituitary hormones that signal testosterone production. Help differentiate between testicular and pituitary causes of low testosterone.
Prolactin: Elevated levels can cause low libido, erectile dysfunction, and suppress testosterone—even when total testosterone appears normal.
Metabolic Markers
HbA1c: Three-month average blood sugar. Optimal: below 5.5%. Men with diabetes are 3x more likely to experience erectile dysfunction, highlighting the testosterone-metabolic connection.
Fasting Insulin: Often elevated before glucose rises, making it an earlier marker of metabolic dysfunction than fasting glucose alone.
Advanced Lipid Panel: Beyond basic cholesterol, includes particle size and number, which better predict cardiovascular risk than LDL alone.
Inflammation and Cardiovascular Markers
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP): Inflammation marker that predicts cardiovascular events independent of cholesterol levels.
Homocysteine: Elevated levels indicate increased cardiovascular risk and may suggest B-vitamin deficiencies.
Hematocrit: Percentage of red blood cells. Important to monitor during testosterone therapy as TRT can increase hematocrit, potentially thickening blood.
Thyroid Function
Full Thyroid Panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Thyroid Antibodies): Conventional testing often only measures TSH, potentially missing subclinical thyroid dysfunction that affects energy, metabolism, and body composition.
The Research: Why This Matters
The evidence supporting functional approaches continues to grow. Here’s what peer-reviewed research tells us:
Cleveland Clinic Functional Medicine Study (JAMA Network Open, 2019)
This landmark two-year retrospective cohort study compared 1,595 patients at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine with 5,657 primary care patients. Using the NIH-validated PROMIS questionnaire, researchers found that functional medicine patients showed significantly greater improvements in physical health scores at 6 months—improvements that were sustained at 12 months. The study concluded that focusing on root causes rather than symptoms produced meaningful, lasting quality-of-life improvements.
Testosterone and Metabolic Health
Research in Diabetes Care demonstrates that testosterone levels in the lower-normal range correlate with increased insulin resistance, unfavorable lipid profiles, and higher rates of metabolic syndrome. A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that low free testosterone independently predicts cardiovascular mortality. These findings underscore why waiting until levels drop below 300 ng/dL may miss critical windows for intervention.
Age-Specific Reference Ranges
A 2022 analysis in the Journal of Urology challenged the one-size-fits-all 300 ng/dL cutoff for testosterone deficiency. After analyzing NHANES data from men aged 20-44, researchers proposed age-specific thresholds ranging from 409 ng/dL for men aged 20-24 to 350 ng/dL for men aged 40-44. This research highlights how conventional ranges may systematically underdiagnose younger men experiencing genuine hormonal deficiency.
Which Approach Is Right for You?
The choice between conventional and functional testing isn’t binary—most men benefit from both approaches used strategically.
Conventional Testing May Be Your Starting Point If:
You’re experiencing obvious, acute symptoms that need immediate diagnosis
You need to establish a baseline for comparison
You’re monitoring a known chronic condition (diabetes, thyroid disease, hypertension)
Insurance coverage is a primary concern
Functional Testing Becomes Valuable When:
Your conventional labs are "normal" but you still have symptoms (fatigue, brain fog, low libido, difficulty building muscle, unexplained weight gain)
You’re focused on prevention and long-term health optimization
You want to understand root causes rather than just treat symptoms
You’re an athlete or professional seeking peak performance
You have a family history of conditions you want to prevent
You value a comprehensive view of how your body’s systems interact
The Arsenal Men’s Health Approach
At Arsenal Men’s Health, we recognize that optimal male health requires more than checking boxes on a standard lab panel. Our evidence-based approach combines the diagnostic power of conventional testing with the optimization focus of functional analysis.
What Sets Us Apart
Comprehensive Assessment: We evaluate your complete hormonal picture—not just total testosterone, but free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, and pituitary hormones—to understand the full dynamics of your endocrine system.
Optimal Range Focus: We interpret results using evidence-based optimal ranges, not just population averages. A testosterone level of 350 ng/dL may be "normal," but research suggests levels of 600-900 ng/dL correlate with better health outcomes.
Provider-Led Care: Every treatment plan is developed by Courtney LaSumner Bass, NP—a board-certified nurse practitioner with military service background and specialized expertise in men’s health optimization.
Personalized Protocols: No cookie-cutter approaches. Your treatment is tailored to your specific biomarkers, symptoms, goals, and lifestyle.
Ongoing Monitoring: We track your progress with regular follow-up labs, adjusting protocols to ensure you’re achieving—and maintaining—optimal levels.
Utah-Based, Utah-Focused: As the only local premium men’s health telehealth clinic in Utah, we understand the unique needs of Utah men—from outdoor athletes to busy professionals to military veterans and first responders.
Taking the Next Step
Understanding the difference between conventional and functional testing empowers you to advocate for your own health. If you’ve been told your labs are "normal" but something still feels off, you’re not imagining it. The disconnect between how you feel and what standard tests show is real—and it’s often addressable with the right approach.
Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of low testosterone, struggling with energy and performance, concerned about long-term health, or simply wanting to optimize your vitality, Arsenal Men’s Health provides the comprehensive, evidence-based care you deserve.
Ready to Discover Your Optimal Health?
Book your free consultation with Arsenal Men’s Health today.
Our comprehensive assessment goes beyond standard labs to give you a complete picture of your health.
Call (385) 666-6292 or visit arsenalmenshealth.com
Trusted by 1,200+ Utah Men • HSA/FSA Accepted • Discreet, Confidential Care
References
Beidelschies M, et al. Association of the Functional Medicine Model of Care With Patient-Reported Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(10):e1914017.
Zhu A, et al. What Is a Normal Testosterone Level for Young Men? Rethinking the 300 ng/dL Cutoff for Testosterone Deficiency in Men 20-44 Years Old. J Urol. 2022;208(6):1295-1302.
Laaksonen DE, et al. Testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin predict the metabolic syndrome and diabetes in middle-aged men. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(5):1036-1041.
Hyde Z, et al. Low free testosterone predicts mortality from cardiovascular disease but not other causes: the Health in Men Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97(1):179-189.
Yang Q, et al. Association of total testosterone, free testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, and hypertension. Medicine. 2019;98(20):e15628.
Tyagi V, et al. Revisiting the role of testosterone: Are we missing something? Rev Urol. 2017;19(1):16-24.
Goldman AL, et al. A Reappraisal of Testosterone’s Binding in Circulation: Physiological and Clinical Implications. Endocr Rev. 2017;38(4):302-324.
Bland JS. What Is Evidence-Based Functional Medicine in the 21st Century? Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020;19(2):16-18.
Hanaway P. Functional Medicine Past, Present, and Future. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2022;21(2):16-19.
Biesiekierski JR, et al. Biomarkers for personalised prevention of chronic diseases: a common protocol for three rapid scoping reviews. Syst Rev. 2024;13(1):145.
Golubnitschaja O, et al. Digital biomarkers: 3PM approach revolutionizing chronic disease management—EPMA 2024 position. EPMA J. 2024;15(2):203-248.
Yuki A, et al. Low free testosterone is associated with loss of appendicular muscle mass in Japanese community-dwelling women. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2013;13(3):781-786.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All treatment decisions are made by licensed medical providers following comprehensive evaluation. Individual results may vary. If you are experiencing symptoms, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized recommendations.
────────────────────────────────────────
ARSENAL MEN’S HEALTH
Premium Men’s Health Optimization for Utah Men
489 South Jordan Parkway, Suite #254, South Jordan, UT 84095
(385) 666-6292 • info@arsenalmenshealth.com
Mon-Fri 8:00-18:00 • Sat 8:00-13:00
© 2025 Arsenal Men’s Health. All rights reserved.
