Estimated Read Time: 14 minutes
Full interview with Dr. Dicken Weatherby here
If you’re a health practitioner who’s ever had a client come to you saying, “My doctor told me my blood work is normal, but I don’t feel normal,” you know exactly what we’re talking about.
This scenario plays out in practices across the country every single day. Clients struggling with fatigue, digestive issues, hormone imbalances, and chronic symptoms—yet their “normal” lab results suggest everything is fine.
Here’s the problem: Standard lab ranges aren’t designed to identify optimal health. They’re designed to identify disease.
Today, I’m sharing insights from my conversation with Dr. Dicken Weatherby, world-leading expert in functional blood chemistry analysis and founder of Optimal DX. You’ll discover how functional blood analysis can transform your practice by revealing the hidden health insights that conventional testing misses.
Why “Normal” Lab Results Don’t Mean Optimal Health
The Mathematical Problem with Standard Ranges
When Dr. Weatherby explains how lab ranges are created, it’s eye-opening:
“When you really look at how labs work out what something is high and what something is low, it’s mathematical. It’s not done on health—it’s absolutely completely divorced from health. It is a mathematical statistic.”
Here’s how it actually works:
- Labs collect 30,000 blood tests for a specific marker
- They throw out the outliers (high and low extremes)
- They designate 2.5% as “high” and 2.5% as “low”
- The remaining 95% are considered “normal”
The crucial flaw: These 30,000 tests come from an unhealthy population. We’re basing “normal” ranges on people who are already sick.
The Geographic Absurdity
Dr. Weatherby shares a perfect example of how arbitrary these ranges really are:
“You could be in Boston, Massachusetts, get a nice blood draw in Boston, LabCorp tests your blood there. That vial of blood travels to Los Angeles and Quest does the testing in Los Angeles. Your blood glucose could be normal in Los Angeles and abnormal in Boston—and it’s the same blood.”
This is why we need standardized optimal ranges that focus on health, not just the absence of disease.
The Functional Approach: From Disease Detection to Health Optimization
What Functional Blood Analysis Actually Measures
Functional blood chemistry analysis uses optimal ranges instead of standard ranges. These tighter parameters help identify dysfunction before it progresses to pathology.
As Dr. Weatherby explains: “If the range is this broad, we tighten it up a little bit and we go, there is a subset within that normal range that is considered out of optimal high and low.”
The goal: Catch imbalances when they’re still reversible through nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation—instead of waiting for the “nightmare of yet.”
The Nightmare of Yet
Dr. Weatherby learned this concept from his mentor Graham at the Nutritional Therapy Association:
“It’s like you don’t have diabetes yet, so we’re going to wait until you do, and then we’ll treat you because we know exactly what to do. We’ll give you drugs and we’ll shoot you up with insulin.”
The functional approach: Identify dysfunctional states early and use diet, lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, proper sleep, and supplementation to bring people back to optimal wellness before it’s too late.
Want to master functional lab interpretation like this? Check out my comprehensive Functional Lab Modules where I teach practitioners the exact protocols I use to uncover hidden health insights and create targeted treatment plans that get results.
Essential Patterns Every Practitioner Should Know
The 10 Essential Blood Tests
Dr. Weatherby teaches practitioners to look for patterns rather than individual markers. Here are key areas to focus on:
1. Protein Patterns (Liver Function)
Key markers: Albumin and globulin
- Both are synthesized in the liver
- Low albumin levels = early warning sign of liver dysfunction
- Often shows up before traditional liver enzymes are affected
- Can indicate digestive dysfunction, particularly low stomach acid
2. Liver Enzyme Ratios
Key markers: ALT, AST, and GGT
Quick interpretation rules:
- If AST is highest: Consider involvement outside the liver (skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle)
- If ALT is highest: Problem likely within the liver itself
- If GGT is elevated: Probably gallbladder-related
3. CBC Analysis for Anemia
The problem: Many practitioners conclude anemia based solely on CBC results.
The solution: Run a complete iron panel including ferritin and total iron binding capacity.
“So many women are iron deficient, and if you can start correcting that early—don’t wait till it’s off the charts deficient—start early and get them some good food-based iron, make a huge difference with energy.”
Important note: Don’t assume iron deficiency. Dr. Weatherby has seen many men with undiagnosed hemochromatosis because practitioners don’t think to test iron levels in men.
Tired of feeling uncertain about lab interpretation or missing key patterns in your clients’ results? My Functional Lab Modules give you the clinical confidence to identify dysfunction before it becomes disease and create protocols that actually move the needle.
Advanced Functional Analysis Techniques
Digestive Dysfunction Patterns
One of the most prevalent issues Dr. Weatherby sees is hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), often misinterpreted as acid reflux.
Blood markers that may indicate low stomach acid:
- Elevated total globulin levels
- Shifts in total proteins and albumin
- BUN levels creeping above 16
- Phosphorus levels decreasing below 3
- MCV above 90 (indicating B12 issues)
- Low calcium levels (below 9.2)
- Low serum iron levels
- Low CO2 levels
- Low chloride levels
- Anion gap above 12
Why this matters: Stomach acid is essential for releasing and absorbing iron, B12, calcium, and other nutrients from food. Without adequate stomach acid, you get a cascade of nutrient deficiencies.
The Gateway Testing Concept
Dr. Weatherby introduces the concept of using basic labs as “gateway testing”:
“Sometimes the chemistry screen and the CBC can give you some really great information… but also [help identify] specialized lab testing as well.”
Examples:
- Adrenal dysfunction patterns → Order 4x salivary cortisol with DHEA
- Strong digestion markers → Order comprehensive digestive stool analysis
- Cardiovascular patterns → Deep dive into lipid panels and inflammatory markers
This approach helps you use basic testing strategically before investing in expensive specialty labs.
Ready to become the practitioner who finds answers when others say “everything’s normal”? My Functional Lab Modules teach you to interpret labs through a functional lens and build treatment plans that transform your clients’ health outcomes.
Essential Advanced Markers for Comprehensive Assessment
Blood Sugar Regulation Beyond Glucose
Basic markers: Fasting glucose, HbA1c, estimated average glucose (eAG)
Advanced markers: Fasting insulin and C-peptide
Game-changer: HOMA-2 calculations from Oxford University that analyze fasting glucose with insulin or C-peptide to assess:
- Insulin resistance levels
- Pancreatic output function
- Tissue sensitivity to insulin
“Even patients that are sort of sub-threshold with fasting insulin and fasting glucose levels, you can start to see, wow, if we keep this up, you’re moving in the direction of insulin resistance.”
Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk
Key markers:
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (inflammation)
- Homocysteine (methylation and cardiovascular risk)
- Fibrinogen (endothelial dysfunction)
These markers provide a window into endothelial dysfunction, which is the early stage of cardiovascular risk.
Complete Thyroid Assessment
The problem: Most patients only get TSH tested.
The solution: Comprehensive thyroid panel including:
- TSH (pituitary output)
- Free T4 and Total T4 (thyroid hormone production)
- Free T3 and Total T3 (active hormone conversion)
- Reverse T3 (thyroid hormone resistance)
- Anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (autoimmune component)
Dr. Weatherby’s insight: “TSH is really primarily used for what they call primary hypothyroidism… if there is damage or destruction or an issue actually in the thyroid gland itself. For any other type of thyroid stuff, it’s not that helpful.”
Implementing Functional Blood Analysis in Your Practice
Start with Basic Panels
You don’t need expensive testing to begin functional analysis:
Minimum effective dose:
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14)
- Complete Blood Count with differential
- Cost: As low as $14 total through companies like Accesa Labs
Dr. Weatherby’s advice: “If a patient is struggling [financially], they may even have scholarships. Some of these companies do have a pool of money that they put aside.”
Essential Nutrients to Add
High-impact additions:
- Vitamin D (“should be on every screen”)
- Magnesium (serum and red blood cell)
- B12 (especially for energy and neurological function)
- Complete iron panel (not just CBC)
The Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (NAQ)
Dr. Weatherby emphasizes pairing objective lab data with subjective symptom tracking:
“The NAQ is really important for looking at symptom change because patients are experiencing these symptoms and these symptoms are impacting their lives.”
Use the NAQ:
- At baseline
- Every 3 months during treatment
- At program completion
Why this matters: Clients often forget how bad they felt initially. The NAQ provides concrete evidence of progress.
If you want to dive deeper into functional lab analysis beyond what’s covered here, I’ve created comprehensive Functional Lab Modules that walk you through my complete system for interpreting labs, identifying patterns, and creating targeted protocols that get lasting results.
Real Client Transformations Using Functional Analysis
The Power of Historical Tracking
Dr. Weatherby’s software now contains over half a million blood tests, allowing practitioners to track changes over time:
“We’re looking for change. How is this biomarker changing over time? Because if it’s slowly starting to go up, in that moment of time, yeah, it’s suboptimal… but if you’re looking at it over a year or two, you realize, oh my gosh, this is starting to climb up.”
Success Patterns
Common improvements practitioners report:
- Identifying iron deficiency before severe anemia develops
- Catching thyroid dysfunction with comprehensive panels instead of just TSH
- Recognizing digestive issues through protein and mineral patterns
- Detecting early insulin resistance through HOMA-2 calculations
Your Three-Step Implementation Plan
Master the Basics
- Learn to interpret protein ratios (albumin/globulin)
- Understand liver enzyme patterns (ALT, AST, GGT)
- Practice CBC analysis beyond just “normal” ranges
- Begin using optimal ranges instead of standard ranges
Add Key Nutrients
- Include vitamin D in all panels
- Add iron studies for both men and women
- Consider magnesium testing for energy and mood issues
- Implement NAQ for symptom tracking
Expand to Advanced Markers
- Add fasting insulin to glucose testing
- Include thyroid antibodies in thyroid panels
- Consider inflammatory markers for chronic conditions
- Use results to guide specialty testing decisions
Common Mistakes That Limit Results
Relying on Single Biomarkers
Problem: Looking at glucose alone instead of glucose + HbA1c + insulin + C-peptide
Solution: Build patterns with multiple related markers
Accepting “Normal” as Optimal
Problem: Missing subclinical dysfunction that’s correctable
Solution: Use functional ranges and track trends over time
Not Pairing Labs with Symptoms
Problem: Missing the clinical picture that makes lab values meaningful
Solution: Always use symptom questionnaires alongside objective testing
Waiting for Pathology
Problem: Only acting when markers are clearly abnormal
Solution: Address suboptimal patterns before they become disease
Advanced Practitioner Insights
When Vegan Diets Affect Labs
Interesting finding: Dr. Weatherby notes consistently seeing low white blood cell counts in long-term vegans.
“It is definitely something that I have seen a lot. It’s actually the very first question that I ask if I see someone with an unexplained low white count… I think they are perfectly healthy, I don’t think there’s any need for stimulating white blood cell production.”
The Virtual Practice Advantage
Dr. Weatherby has been virtual for 20 years and notes: “You’re primed for that… you now can do Zoom calls just like we’re doing and share your screen and you can actually walk through a blood report and show the meanings that you’re extracting from it.”
Benefits for practitioners:
- Detailed report reviews via screen sharing
- Ability to serve clients anywhere
- Easy integration with other practitioners for hands-on assessments
Resources for Continued Learning
Free Resources
- Download the NAQ at optimal-dx.com/resources
- Access Dr. Weatherby’s knowledge base at kb.optimal-dx.com
- Comprehensive tracking forms for manual analysis
Professional Development
- FBCA Mastery training and certification through ODX Academy
- Dr. Weatherby’s textbook: “Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis: Clinical Laboratory Testing from a Functional Perspective”
- Upcoming research publications on optimal ranges
Your Next Steps: From Basic to Functional
Functional blood chemistry analysis isn’t about replacing conventional medicine—it’s about catching dysfunction before it becomes disease.
When you implement these approaches:
- Clients get answers instead of being told “everything’s normal”
- You can address root causes instead of managing symptoms
- Your practice becomes known for getting results others miss
- You build confidence in your clinical recommendations
Start This Week:
- Review your last 5 client blood panels using optimal ranges instead of standard ranges
- Add the NAQ to your intake process
- Include vitamin D and iron studies in your next lab orders
- Look for patterns instead of individual biomarkers
Ready to Master Functional Blood Analysis?
If you’re ready to transform your practice with functional blood chemistry analysis, Dr. Weatherby’s ODX Academy provides comprehensive training in this approach.
But remember—the goal isn’t just better lab interpretation. It’s about building a practice that gives you the clinical confidence to help clients achieve optimal health while creating the freedom-based lifestyle you deserve.
Inside The WELLth Academy, I teach health practitioners how to integrate functional approaches like this into profitable online practices that serve clients at the highest level.
My clients learn to combine clinical excellence with business systems that create both impact and freedom.
Learn more about The WELLth Academy →
Because your expertise in functional medicine deserves to reach more people—and you deserve to build a practice that supports your ideal lifestyle.
Ready to dive deeper? Join our free Self-Led Online Practitioners community of 800+ health professionals where you get exclusive access to training sessions like this one, monthly coaching calls, practitioner spotlights, and first access to new programs and discounts. Join the community here – it’s completely free for verified practitioners.
About the Author: Michelle Rogers, ND, MSAOM, FDN-P, is a clinical mentor and founder of The WELLthy Woman™ movement. A practicing clinician since 2012, she pivoted to mentoring fellow practitioners in 2019 after experiencing her own transformation from clinic burnout to online business success. She has since guided hundreds of health professionals to build profitable online practices using her unique integration of functional medicine expertise and scalable business strategies.
Leave a Reply