Your Questions About OptimalDx, Answered Simply

An OptimalDx (ODX) report is a health report tailored to you. It compares your blood test results to ideal ranges, not the wide ranges most labs use to spot serious problems.

Most lab reports only flag a result when it falls outside the normal range. By that point, something has often already gone wrong. ODX uses narrower, ideal ranges based on functional medicine research to pick up small shifts in your health early, while there is still time to act.

Your ODX report also pulls all your results together into one easy-to-read document. You get clear advice on food, lifestyle and supplements based on your numbers, instead of a long list of values you have to make sense of on your own.

Any blood, urine or other lab test we run at Epicentre, apart from our STI tests (those check for specific infections, so they work differently).

A typical ODX panel checks:

• Blood sugar and how your body handles it (glucose, insulin, HbA1c)
• Cholesterol and other fats in your blood
• How well your liver and kidneys are working
• Your thyroid (the gland that controls energy and metabolism)
• Sex hormones (oestradiol, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA)
• Stress hormones such as cortisol
• Iron levels and key minerals
• Vitamin D and B12
• Inflammation and oxidative stress (signs your body is working hard)

The exact mix depends on which package you book. The three main ODX packages are shown further down this page.

Yes, for most ODX panels. You will need to go without food for 8 to 12 hours before your test. This makes sure your blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol and certain hormone results are accurate.

You can drink water, and you should keep taking any regular medications unless your doctor has told you otherwise. The team will confirm what you need to do when you book.

No. You can book any Epicentre test on your own, no doctor's referral needed. If you would like help making sense of your results, book an ODX expert session at the same time as your tests or any time after.

Your report is built to be easy to read on its own.

Each marker is checked against an ideal range, not just the wide range most labs use. A simple visual shows you straight away which markers are fine, which are slipping and which need attention now. If you have shared past lab results with us, the report also shows how your numbers have changed over time, so you can see if things are getting better or worse. Each section ends with clear advice on food, lifestyle and supplements, based on your specific numbers.

If anything does not make sense, you can book an ODX expert who will walk you through your report and explain what to actually do day to day.

Your standard Epicentre lab results usually come back within 2 to 5 working days. Once we have those, our ODX experts type every value into the OptimalDx system by hand, which takes another 48 to 72 hours.

Most people get their full ODX report within a week of being tested.

For general health checks, once a year is usually enough to spot any changes early.

If you are working on a specific health issue, training hard or making big lifestyle changes, every 3 to 6 months gives you faster feedback on what is working. Your ODX expert can help you pick the right interval for your situation.

It depends on your scheme and plan. Some medical aids pay for specific blood tests when there is a clear medical reason for them, and part of your ODX testing might be covered this way. Tests done for general wellness are usually paid for out of your own pocket.

The good news is that you do not need to handle the paperwork yourself. We submit your tests to your medical aid for you and claim back anything they cover, so you only pay the difference (if any). All you need to do is bring your medical aid details when you book.

The most reliable way to know what your plan pays for is to phone your medical aid before your test.

Yes. We can take results from any lab and convert them into the OptimalDx format for R350 per report. If you book new Epicentre tests at the same time, your first 3 reports from other labs are imported free. Any past Epicentre results are imported free for life, no questions asked.

See the full process on our Import Past Lab Reports page →