Advanced diagnostic testing in San Diego: the data behind how you feel
You’ve had bloodwork before. Maybe it came back “normal” and you still don’t feel like yourself. Maybe it came back with a few flags and a portal message, and nobody walked you through it. Testing is only useful when someone reads it with you and helps you decide what to do next.
At Saffron & Sage, testing is ordered by our licensed medical team after an assessment, reviewed with you in plain language and built into a personal Holistic Health Plan. It is part of membership care, not a lab menu.
Already have recent bloodwork? Upload it for a free educational overview →
- Ordered and reviewed by our medical team
- In-house blood draws, plus at-home kits
- Results explained in plain language
- HSA and FSA welcome
Why people in San Diego book diagnostic testing
These are the reasons we hear most from people across San Diego, from Little Italy and Downtown to Mission Hills, Hillcrest and North Park. Your doctor will ask what is going on and recommend only the tests that fit.
“Normal” results, not feeling normal
Standard lab ranges flag clear problems. Our doctors also look at where you sit in the range and how markers relate to each other.
Why measuring beats guessing →
Fatigue you can’t explain
Tired all the time, even when you sleep, and tired of hearing that it’s just stress.
Cortisol testing, explained →
Digestion that is always “off”
Bloating, irregularity or food reactions that come and go without a clear pattern.
What microbiome testing shows →
Hormone and cycle changes
Perimenopause, cycle shifts, low drive or mood changes that you want to understand.
Hormone testing and perimenopause →
Heart health in the family
A parent or sibling with heart disease, and you want a closer look at your own markers.
Heart health lab markers →
Guessing at supplements
A cabinet full of bottles and no idea which ones you actually need.
Micronutrient testing →
Performance and longevity
You want a baseline now and a way to track how things change over the years.
Longevity biomarkers →
Possible environmental exposures
Concern about mold in a home or office, or other exposures you want to rule in or out.
Mold testing, explained →What is advanced diagnostic testing?
Advanced diagnostic testing uses blood work, at-home kits and non-invasive tools to give your doctor a more detailed picture of how your body is working, beyond a standard annual panel.
Depending on your history and goals, that might include a broad functional blood panel, micronutrient levels, a stool test for the gut microbiome, hormone testing or a vascular assessment. Every test is chosen for a reason. Your doctor explains why it is recommended, what it measures and what it costs before anything is ordered.
We don’t make promises about results. Lab tests show where things stand at one point in time. They don’t diagnose everything, and not every test is right for every person. What testing does well is replace guesswork with information, so the next decision you make about your health is a better-informed one.
How testing fits into membership care
Advanced testing at Saffron & Sage is available through membership. That isn’t a gate for its own sake. Results only help when someone interprets them, follows up and adjusts the plan over time, and membership is how we make room for that work.
Most people begin with an Integrative Physical, a 120-minute assessment that sets your baseline. Your results then shape a personal Holistic Health Plan, which can include nutritional therapy, acupuncture and other care, with check-ins typically every 90 days.
Waiting on answers? Use the time well.
Our free guide to the stretch between symptoms and a clear answer. What the tests tell you, what is within your influence, and how to arrive at every appointment prepared.
- What the tests actually tell you
- What is genuinely within your influence
- The questions worth asking, in order
10 pages. Instant download. Just your name and email, no health questions.
How results are shared with you
You won’t be left alone with a PDF full of numbers. Once your results are in, you sit down with your doctor for a lab interpretation session. They go through each result, explain what it measures, what may be worth watching and what they suggest you do next.
If anything needs faster attention or a specialist, your doctor will tell you directly and help coordinate with your primary care physician. Everything is ordered and overseen by our licensed medical team.
What you get with each round of testing
Every round of testing includes:
- A clear reason for each test before it is ordered
- Pricing up front, before anything is drawn or shipped
- In-clinic blood draws or at-home kits, whichever fits
- A one-on-one results review with your doctor
- An updated Holistic Health Plan
Your first diagnostic testing appointment, step by step
- Consultation. Start with a free discovery call or a first visit. We talk through your symptoms, goals and health history.
- Integrative Physical. A 120-minute visit with one of our doctors to set your baseline, including a full exam and history.
- Testing recommendations. Your doctor recommends specific tests, explains why, and gives you pricing before anything is ordered.
- Testing. Complete your in-clinic blood draw, usually within a week, and any at-home kits such as stool or hormone tests.
- Results and plan. Review every result with your doctor, receive your Holistic Health Plan and schedule a check-in, typically every 90 days.
Meet our San Diego diagnostic testing team
Testing is ordered and overseen by our licensed medical team and interpreted by doctors who spend real time with each result. They work alongside our acupuncturists and nutrition team, so your results inform the rest of your care.
Dr. John Kasawa
Medical Director, overseeing medical services at Saffron & Sage.
Dr. Alexander Aponte-Davila
Naturopathic doctor and nutritionist who works closely with labs, gut and hormone health.
Dr. Nazanin Ghetmiri
Naturopathic doctor with a focus on gut, endocrine and women’s health.
Dr. Kolin Durrant
Herbalist and functional medicine practitioner with a focus on optimization, chronic illness, biotoxin exposure, thyroid health and autoimmunity.
How much does diagnostic testing cost? Two ways to start
Your first visit is where the relationship starts. A first appointment runs much like any other: a short intake, your session, and a few minutes at the end to talk about what comes next. If you add a consultation, your practitioner takes a fuller history and reviews your labs, if you have them. Pick the way in that suits you.
First visit and consultation
Your first appointment and a full consultation together, for half the usual price.
Book your first visitNew patients. Through October 31, 2026.
Your first appointment
Start with a single first appointment, then decide what comes next.
Book my first appointmentNew patients. Through October 31, 2026.
Then, as a member
Monthly credits you can use for diagnostic testing and the rest of your plan. Doctor visits use medical credits. Lab pricing depends on the tests your doctor recommends and is shared before anything is ordered. Ask us about membership on your discovery call.
Use pre-tax dollars
HSA and FSA dollars can often be used for lab testing and medical visits. Check eligibility with your plan administrator. We're direct pay and don't bill insurance. How HSA, FSA and LSA work here Get our free HSA and FSA guide
Have your most recent labs? Upload them here for a free overview.
Upload a recent lab report and get a plain-language overview of what each marker measures. It helps you arrive with better questions, and it helps us avoid repeating tests you don’t need.
Upload my lab reportFree. Takes about a minute. Your file is processed in real time and is not stored. Educational only, not medical advice or a diagnosis.
- UploadA recent lab report, as a PDF or a photo.
- ReadA plain-language overview of what each marker measures.
- Talk it throughWith our team on a free discovery call, if you would like.
Diagnostic testing near Little Italy, San Diego
Saffron & Sage is on State Street, just north of Little Italy, a short drive from Downtown, Bankers Hill, Mission Hills, Point Loma and North Park. Many members come in before or after work.
Saffron & Sage
2555 State St, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 933-2340 · Get directions
Hours: Monday and Thursday 8 to 2, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8 to 8.
Advanced diagnostic testing FAQs
How much does advanced lab testing cost in San Diego?
It depends on which tests your doctor recommends. Most tests are around $500, with a range from about $250 to more than $1,000. You receive a detailed overview of testing and pricing at your consultation, before anything is ordered. New patients can start with a first visit and consultation for $300, normally $600.
Do I need to be a member to get tested?
Advanced diagnostic testing at Saffron & Sage is available through membership, because results are only useful with follow-up. You can start with a free discovery call to see if membership is right for you.
Which tests should I get?
That depends on your history, symptoms and goals, which is why testing starts with a consultation and usually an Integrative Physical. Your doctor recommends specific tests and explains why each one is worth doing.
Is diagnostic testing covered by insurance or HSA?
We’re a direct pay clinic and don’t bill insurance. HSA and FSA dollars can often be used for lab testing and medical visits. Check eligibility with your plan administrator.
How is this different from the labs my regular doctor orders?
Standard annual labs cover a core set of markers. Our panels can go broader, including micronutrients, the gut microbiome, hormones and vascular health, and every result is reviewed with you in a dedicated session.
Do blood draws happen at the clinic?
Yes. Blood draws are done in-house, usually within a week of your Integrative Physical. Some tests, such as stool or certain hormone tests, are at-home kits you return by mail.
Do I need to fast before a blood draw?
Some panels require fasting and some don’t. Your care team will tell you exactly what to do when your draw is scheduled.
Does the blood draw hurt?
Most people feel a quick pinch. If you get lightheaded around needles, tell us and we’ll have you lie down.
How long do results take?
It varies by test. Your team will give you a timeline when the test is ordered.
How often should I retest?
Functional blood work is often repeated every three to six months and microbiome testing every nine to twelve months, depending on your plan. Your doctor will suggest a schedule.
Is the Galleri test right for me?
It is a screening test that some adults choose alongside, not instead of, recommended cancer screenings. Our medical team will talk through whether it makes sense for you. It doesn’t diagnose cancer, and a signal would need follow-up testing.
Can I bring in labs I already have?
Yes, please do. It helps your doctor avoid repeating tests. You can also upload a report to our free Lab Overview Tool for a plain-language overview before your visit.
What happens if a result is concerning?
Your doctor will explain it clearly and, if needed, refer you to a specialist or coordinate with your primary care physician.
Where are you located?
2555 State St, San Diego, CA 92101, just north of Little Italy.
Ready when you are
Book your first visit and consultation for $300, normally $600. Not sure yet? Request a free discovery call. Our team will listen to what's going on and help you pick the right diagnostic testing session and practitioner. No cost, no pressure.
Or call (619) 933-2340
All medical services are provided by Kasawa Medical APC dba Saffron & Sage MD. Testing is ordered and overseen by our licensed medical team after an assessment, isn’t right for everyone, and doesn’t replace your primary care physician or age-appropriate screenings. Lab results are one part of a medical evaluation. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing or another emergency, call 911.
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