Can a naturopath order blood work in BC? Yes. According to the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHP BC), registered naturopathic physicians may order laboratory tests within their scope of practice. The key difference from your family doctor is cost: ND-ordered lab tests are generally not paid by MSP, so the community lab bills you directly. Ask for the test list and an estimate of lab costs before anything is ordered.
This guide from the Skin Art MD team in Burnaby (Metrotown) explains what can be ordered, who pays, which tests are commonly discussed, how to reuse results you already have, and how results are shared with your family physician. It is general information as of October 2026, not medical advice or a diagnosis.
Can a naturopathic doctor in BC order blood tests?
Yes, within limits. Naturopathic physicians in BC are regulated by CCHP BC, and according to the college, ordering and interpreting laboratory tests is part of their scope of practice when it is relevant to the person's care.
A few practical points follow from that:
- The ND signs the requisition. You take it to a community lab, the sample is collected there, and the results are reported back to the ordering ND.
- Not every test is available. Some tests, specialist referrals and many imaging studies go through a medical doctor. If something you need falls outside what an ND can order, you will be told so and pointed back to your family physician or a walk-in clinic.
- Ordering is a clinical decision. A test is ordered because the result could answer a question about your care, not because it appears on a standard menu.
You can confirm any naturopath's registration on the public registry at cchpbc.ca. At Skin Art MD, naturopathic visits are with Dr. Ekaterina Krantsevich Riehl, BSc, ND, a registered naturopathic physician in BC.
Who pays for lab tests ordered by a naturopath?
Usually you do. Tests ordered by a naturopathic physician are generally not funded by MSP, even when the same test would be covered if your family doctor ordered it. The community lab that processes the sample bills you for each test.
This is one of the most common surprises in naturopathic care. The visit is one charge, and the lab is a separate charge from a separate organization. A few things affect what you end up paying:
- Which tests are on the requisition. Each test is priced by the lab, so a short panel costs less than a long one.
- Your extended health plan. Some plans reimburse ND-ordered lab tests, many do not, and some health spending accounts are more flexible. Our guide to extended health coverage for naturopathic care lists the questions to ask your insurer.
- Whether you already have recent results. Reusing bloodwork your family doctor ordered may mean fewer new tests (see below).
We do not publish lab fees, because the lab sets them and they depend on the tests chosen. What you can expect is this: before anything is ordered, you get the list of tests, the reason for each one, and an estimate of the lab costs, so you can decide before you go to the lab.
Which blood tests are commonly discussed for fatigue, skin, hair or hormones?
The test list depends on your history, symptoms and existing results, so there is no single standard panel. The categories below are commonly discussed in general terms; none of them confirms or rules out a condition on its own.
Fatigue
Tiredness has many possible causes, so tests are chosen to narrow the question rather than to screen for everything. Commonly discussed tests include a complete blood count (CBC), ferritin and other iron studies, thyroid tests such as TSH, vitamin B12, and sometimes blood sugar markers. If low iron stores are part of the picture, our article on low ferritin and fatigue explains how oral and IV iron are approached in BC.
Skin and hair
Hair shedding or changes in skin can have nutritional, hormonal or other medical contributors. Depending on your history, tests such as a CBC, ferritin, thyroid tests or vitamin D may be discussed. Many skin and hair concerns are assessed clinically rather than through bloodwork, and a dermatologist referral through your family physician may be more appropriate for some.
Hormones
Hormone tests are timing-sensitive. For some, the result depends on the time of day or the phase of the menstrual cycle, and hormonal contraception or other medications can affect them. That is why hormone testing is planned around your history rather than ordered as a large panel.
Why reference ranges need interpretation
Every result is printed next to a reference range, and ranges vary by lab, by method, and sometimes by age or sex. A result inside the range is not automatically "fine", and a result slightly outside it is not automatically a problem. Results are interpreted together with your symptoms, history, medications and earlier results. Individual results vary.
Can I use recent bloodwork from my family doctor?
Often, yes. If your family doctor or another clinic ordered tests recently, bring a copy to your first visit. Depending on how recent and how complete they are, they may answer the question without new testing.
Ways to bring results:
- A printout or PDF from your family doctor's office or the lab
- BC's Health Gateway (gov.bc.ca), where many people can view lab results from community labs online
- The original lab report, if you received one
What counts as "recent" depends on the test and the question being asked. Some results change slowly; others, such as iron studies being used to plan treatment, are commonly expected to be within about three months. If a test does need repeating, you will be told why.
How are results shared with me and my family doctor?
The lab reports results to the practitioner who ordered them. You are entitled to a copy of your own results, and many will also appear in Health Gateway.
With your consent, results can also be shared with your family physician. You can ask, before the test, whether your family doctor can be named as a copy recipient on the requisition, or ask us to send a copy after the results are reviewed. Sharing works in both directions: telling your family doctor which tests were done avoids duplicate testing and keeps your record in one place.
Your health information is shared only with your consent, except where the law requires otherwise. If you would prefer results not be sent anywhere, say so when the tests are ordered.
What happens after the results come back?
Results are reviewed at a follow-up visit, where the ND explains what each one shows, how it relates to your symptoms, and whether it changes the plan.
A follow-up typically covers:
- each result in plain language, including what it cannot tell you
- whether anything should go to your family physician, or needs medical attention sooner
- whether a treatment visit, a change in approach, or no action at all makes sense
- whether and when any test should be repeated
If a result needs urgent medical attention, you will be advised to contact your family physician, a walk-in clinic or an Urgent and Primary Care Centre. HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1 offers nurse advice at any hour. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
How does bloodwork fit into a visit at Skin Art MD?
Bloodwork is never the first step. Your first visit is a 15-minute naturopathic consultation or screening, where your health history, current medications and supplements, and goals are reviewed, along with whether bloodwork is needed at all.
If testing is recommended, you will get the test list and the estimated lab costs explained before the requisition is written. Treatment visits, if any, are booked after that, followed by follow-up visits to review results and progress. Our front desk can assist in English and Chinese; naturopathic consultations are conducted in English. You can read more about how visits work on our naturopathic medicine page.
A naturopathic physician works alongside your family physician, not in place of one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to get bloodwork through a naturopath?
No referral is needed to book a naturopathic consultation. Whether tests are ordered depends on the assessment at that visit.
Does MSP pay for blood tests a naturopath orders?
Generally not. The community lab bills you, and some extended health plans may reimburse part of the cost. Check with your insurer.
Can I ask for a specific test?
You can ask. The ND will explain whether the test fits your situation, what the result could change, and the expected lab cost, and will tell you if it is something your family doctor should order instead.
Do I need to fast before my blood test?
Some tests require fasting and most do not. Follow the instructions on your requisition and from the lab.
How long do results take?
It depends on the test and the lab. Many routine results are reported within a few days; some specialized tests take longer.
Will my family doctor see the results?
Only if you consent. You can ask for your family physician to be copied on the requisition or sent results after review.
Booking
If you are wondering whether bloodwork makes sense for your concern, you can book a 15-minute naturopathic consultation at Skin Art MD in Burnaby (Metrotown), serving Greater Vancouver. Bring any recent lab results and a list of your medications and supplements. Before any test is ordered, we will go through which tests are being considered, why, and the estimated lab costs.
