Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — functional neurotransmitter testing

Neurotransmitter testing is one of the most powerful functional assessment tools available — but it requires a nuanced approach to interpretation. In this clinical overview, Dr. Kate Placzek of ZRT Laboratory outlines the key fundamentals every practitioner needs before reading a neurotransmitter report: from understanding patterns over numbers and treatment sequencing, to the clinical significance of low serotonin on SSRIs, GABA’s peripheral mechanisms, and when to run a diurnal catecholamine assessment.

Discover how certain foods rich in serotonin and dopamine — including bananas, walnuts, pineapples, avocados, and nut butters — can interfere with urinary neurotransmitter testing and lead to false-positive results. Learn why proper test preparation matters, how neurotransmitter urine analysis is interpreted, and how combined neurotransmitter and cortisol testing can provide deeper insight into mood, stress, brain chemistry, and hormonal balance.