IIFP - Institute for Integrative and Functional Pathology

19/08/2025

It seems that even medical health practitioners don’t understand anaemia and interpreting blood test results!

In a recent patient I found they had unknown/undiagnosed anaemia, which explained a lot of their symptoms of poor memory and concentration, inability to focus on things, headaches, and anxiety – all because the brain wasn’t getting enough blood or oxygen.

With there being hundreds of types of anaemia, it is important to understand what type of anaemia someone has, and what might be causing it. Anaemia is not all about iron!

This same patient had a B12 deficiency anaemia and a folate deficiency anaemia, called Macrocytic Anaemia from their high MCV results, which was confirmed with low B12 and folate. They were also a long-term vegetarian, and the diet was lacking in protein and together with low stomach function, had caused low Total Protein results. This was also likely causing the low production of haemoglobin, hence the anaemia.

But the iron results were very interesting! See the attached pic of the results.

Almost all of the iron results showed an iron overload in 2 previous sets of results! High serum iron and very high TS. But nothing was mentioned or done about this by the patient’s medical practitioner in the last 2 years and many blood tests in this time.

It actually gets worse… that the patient’s doctor recommended several iron infusions based on the patient having low ferritin. Even though the other iron studies results suggested they were in an overload situation! The existing iron overload and the additional high iron dose from the infusion would have doubled the oxidative damage being done to the body, and worsening the physical and mental health symptoms.

As the last blood results were from 8 months ago and I wanted to see some more current and some additional test results, the patient went back to their doctor to ask for these tests, including the genetic testing for haemochromatosis. I heard later from the patient that the doctor was in disbelief that I was suggesting that they had iron overload and anaemia at the same time. I’m in disbelief that the doctor couldn’t see the iron overload problem and still recommended and iron infusion!

Some lessons to learn in this example:

1. Anaemia is not just about iron, but about zinc, protein, thyroid function, stomach function, blood loss, parasites, and other causes and factors. Find what type of anaemia someone has and the causes and factors in each person

2. Do not just test for ferritin, or look at ferritin alone as a marker of iron sufficiency or deficiency! You can have low ferritin even in iron overload situations, or have high ferritin with low iron results.

3. And yes you CAN have anaemia AND an iron overload (haemochromatosis) issue at the same time!

More info on pathology analysis training courses and more can be found on the IIFP website here - www.pathologyanalysis.com

16/08/2025

The following vitamin B12 results, which I often see, shows why the believed "Active B12" test is not the best test for B12 status at all.

The Active B12 result was optimal, but the Total B12 result is very low, and only 1/2 of what it should be as an optimal minimum.

Hence this is still a picture of a B12 deficiency, whereas if you only got the Active B12 test done, you wouldn't see the problem and likely wouldn't have investigated why the B12 is low or recommended anything for this to help the patient.

This is why I recommend the Total B12 test and not the Active B12 test to be done.

More info on pathology analysis training courses and more can be found on the IIFP website here - www.pathologyanalysis.com

15/06/2025

I've had a huge response and amazing feedback from practitioners who have done my pathology analysis training (through the Institute for Integrative and Functional Pathology) and the pathology analysis and reporting software!

As it's the shopping time of "the end of the financial year" or "EOFY" sales, I'm offering some big deals on the IIFP training courses and software, so you can claim some last minute expenses and reduce your tax bill, and get some more CPE points too!

Here's the special deals available only until end of June 2025:
1. EOFY Deal 1: Level 1 pathology analysis training + IIFP Software bundle - $193 (normally $254 individually, so you save $59!)
2. EOFY Deal 2: Level 2 pathology analysis training + IIFP Software bundle - $202 (normally $264 individually, so you save $62)
3. EOFY Deal 3: Level 1 + Level 2 pathology analysis training - $143 (normally $188, so you save $44!)
4. EOFY Deal 4: Level 1 + Level 2 pathology analysis training AND the IIFP pathology analysis and reporting software - $253 (normally $353, so you save $98!)
5. EOFY Deal 5: Level 1 + Level 2 + Level 3 pathology analysis training courses - $206 (normally $287, so you save $81!)
6. Deal 6: Or if you are really keen! The complete bundle of Level 1 and Level 2 and Level 3 pathology analysis training courses AND the IIFP pathology analysis and reporting software - $323 (normally $452, so you save $126!)

You save even more on the already discounted bundle deals!
Learn how to use more complete and holistic techniques for analysing clients' pathology test results to find organ dysfunctions, nutrient deficiencies, and more, even if the GP says "everything is normal" when it's obviously not the case. With the IIFP software you can generate several reports to go through with clients as additional services you provide! Learn how to use these techniques to get more clients and have clients keep coming back for analysis of their pathology results! The training and software will pay for itself quickly and over and over!

For more information on the IIFP pathology analysis training, please visit our website:
https://www.pathologyanalysis.com/training.html

If you have been looking for additional training for CPE points, or to reduce your tax, this is a great time to do it! Look for the specials on this website and click through to get your EOFY now!

The EOFY deals for the Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 training courses are NOT available to purchase from the IIFP website link above. If you are interested in these special EOFY bundle deals, please email me on ross@rosswalter.com.au and let me know which deal you are interested in, and I’ll email you the invoice and special payment link.

Happy EOFY!

03/05/2025

Dr Norman Swan, a so-called celebrity doctor is often on the ABC as a medical advisor. He was the federal government's main health spokesman during the covid years, where he was (and still is) pushing the you-know-what as being "safe and effective". Despite all the science to the contrary.

In his almost 50 years as a doctor, he seems to have learnt something shocking today!

Dr Swan had an interview with a fellow doctor about blood tests for liver function and fatty liver disease. She explained how she quickly skims through pathology results which have come in from the labs each day, which is a concern. She was just looking for highlighted or bolded results for patients which fall outside of the reference range, and nothing else!

Dr Swan told a story from a listener about her husband's blood test results, and in particular the liver function markers, which were in the "normal" range but he in fact had a fatty liver. He spoke with a liver specialist doctor who said that the pathology lab's reference ranges (she called them the "normal ranges") are lab-specific, even when labs use the same equipment! If the normal ranges are lab-specific, they are also location-specific too, as population centres with more cases of fatty liver will have different reference ranges to other locations. Dr Swan was "gobsmacked" when he learnt this!

I could have told him 10 years ago!

I wonder what Dr Swan will say when he finds out that the reference ranges for ALL blood pathology results are just a statistical average of unhealthy peoples' results! This is not a great way at all to interpret patients' blood test results.

It seems that all the doctors in this chat need to do the IIFP pathology analysis training courses, and to learn how to properly interpret all blood test results!

Here's the link to the ABC interview with Dr Swan:

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/healthreport/fatty-liver-function-alt-test/105234594

For more info on the IIFP pathology analysis training courses, please see the link here:

www.pathologyanalysis.com/training.html

Liver disease is becoming more common, in particular fatty liver disease. It affects up to 1 in 3 Australian adults. A common test – ALT or alanine transaminase – is used as a measure of liver health. However there’s huge variation in what different labs considered concerning, meaning some peo...

05/04/2025

Amazing breaking news!

The next generation of the IIFP pathology analysis software is underway! It will be an online, operating system and browser-independent web-based platform, to replace the current spreadsheet file!

This will give practitioners a LOT more functionality, more features, more reports, and being easier and quicker to access from any browser or operating system or online device.

We have a team of developers starting on this project this month! There is going to be a huge amount of work to develop this new service, and will likely be ready later this year!

I would like to get some ideas from the practitioners who have done the IIFP training and using the current software, of any thoughts, requests or suggestions for features that you would like to see in this online pathology analysis service?

Please add your thoughts and ideas in the comments!

14/06/2024

IIFP Pathology Analysis training courses - special EOFY deals!

I've had a huge response and amazing feedback from practitioners who have done my pathology analysis training (through the Institute for Integrative and Functional Pathology) and the pathology analysis and reporting software!

As it's the shopping time of "the end of the financial year" or "EOFY" sales, I'm offering some big deals on the IIFP training and software, so you can claim some last minute expenses and reduce your tax bill, and get some more CPE points too!

Here's the special deals available only until end of June 2024:

1. Deal 1: Level 1 pathology analysis training + IIFP Software bundle - $172 (normally $254 individually, so you save $81 or 32%!)
2. Deal 2: Level 2 pathology analysis training + IIFP Software bundle - $180 (normally $264 individually, so you save $85 or 32%!)
3. Deal 3: Level 1 training only - $71 (normally $89, so you save $18 or 20%!)
4. Deal 4: Level 2 training only (need to have completed Level 1 already) - $80 (normally $99, so you save $20 or 20%!)
5. Deal 5: IIFP pathology analysis and reporting software only - $132 (normally $165, so you save $33 or 20%!)
6. Deal 6: Or if you are really keen! The complete bundle of Level 1 and 2 pathology analysis training AND the IIFP pathology analysis and reporting software - $223 (normally $353, so you save $126 or approx 37%!)
7. Deal 7: Get the earlybird ticket for the new and forthcoming Level 3 pathology analysis course! This will be coming in September 2024 and will introduce new techniques for analysing and interpreting pathology tests, covering many new tests not mentioned in the Level 1/2 courses, new research, and much more! $59 (Normally $99, so you save 40%!).

Save even more on the already discounted bundle deals!

Learn how to use more complete and holistic techniques for analysing clients' pathology test results to find organ dysfunctions, nutrient deficiencies, and more, even if the GP says "everything is normal" when it's obviously not the case. With the IIFP software you can generate several reports to go through with clients as additional services you provide! Learn how to use these techniques to get more clients and have clients keep coming back for analysis of their pathology results! The training and software will pay for itself quickly and over and over!

For more information on the IIFP pathology analysis training, please visit our website:

https://www.pathologyanalysis.com/training.html

If you have been looking for additional training for CPE points, or to reduce your tax, this is a great time to do it! Look for the specials on this website and click through to get your EOFY now!

The EOFY deals for the Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 training courses are available immediately from the IIFP website link above. If you are interested in these special EOFY bundle prices or the IIFP software, please email me on ross@rosswalter.com.au and let me know which deal you are interested in, as the bundle deals are not available to purchase directly on the website!

24/11/2023

EOY/Black Friday/Xmas Sale!

I've had a huge response and amazing feedback from practitioners who have done my pathology analysis training (through the Institute for Integrative and Functional Pathology) and the pathology analysis and reporting software!

As it's the shopping time of "Black Friday", but also coming up to Xmas, I'm offering some big deals on the IIFP training and software, before the prices go up in 2024!

Here's the special deals available only until end of December 2023:
1. Deal 1: Level 1 pathology analysis training + IIFP Software bundle - $136.50 (normally $204, so you save $67.50 or 30%!)
2. Deal 2: Level 2 pathology analysis training + IIFP Software bundle - $156.50 (normally $224, so you save $67.50 or 30%!)
3. Deal 3: Level 1 training only - $45.00 (normally $69, so you save $24 or 35%!)
4. Deal 4: Level 2 training only (need to have completed Level 1 already) - $58.00 (normally $89, so you save $31 or 35%!)
5. Deal 5: IIFP pathology analysis and reporting software only - $95 (normally $135, so you save $40 or 30%!)
6. Deal 6: Or if you are really keen! The complete bundle of Level 1 and 2 pathology analysis training AND the IIFP pathology analysis and reporting software - $193 (normally $293, so you save $100 or approx 35%!)

Learn how to use more complete and holistic techniques for analysing clients' pathology test results to find organ dysfunctions, nutrient deficiencies, and more, even if the GP says "everything is normal" when it's obviously not the case. With the IIFP software you can generate several reports to go through with clients as additional services you provide! Learn how to use these techniques to get more clients and have clients keep coming back for analysis of their pathology results! The training and software will pay for itself quickly and over and over!

For more information on the IIFP pathology analysis training, please visit our website:

www.pathologyanalysis.com/training.html

If you have been looking for additional training for CPE points, or to reduce your tax, this is a great time to do it! Look for the specials at the bottom of this website and click through to get your EOY/Black Friday/Xmas specials now!

If you are interested in these special prices, please email me on ross@rosswalter.com.au and let me know which deal you are interested in! Don't use the "buy now" buttons as these special bundles and discounts are not available to purchase directly from the above website.

12/06/2023

I've had a huge response and amazing feedback from practitioners who have done my pathology analysis training (through the Institute for Integrative and Functional Pathology) and the pathology analysis and reporting software!

After reaching a couple of milestones with the number of practitioners doing the IIFP pathology analysis training and using the software, and that it's "business expenses month!" (also known as "EOFY" or end of financial year) to reduce your tax to the government, I'm offering some big deals on the IIFP training and software!

Here's the special deals available only until end of June 2023:
1. Deal 1: Level 1 pathology analysis training + IIFP Software bundle - $136.50 (normally $204, so you save $67.50 or 30%!)
2. Deal 2: Level 2 pathology analysis training + IIFP Software bundle - $156.50 (normally $224, so you save $67.50 or 30%!)
3. Deal 3: Level 1 training only - $45.00 (normally $69, so you save $24 or 35%!)
4. Deal 4: Level 2 training only (need to have completed Level 1 already) - $58.00 (normally $89, so you save $31 or 35%!)
5. Deal 5: IIFP pathology analysis and reporting software only - $95 (normally $135, so you save $40 or 30%!)
6. Deal 6: Or if you are really keen! The complete bundle of Level 1 and 2 pathology analysis training AND the IIFP pathology analysis and reporting software - $193 (normally $293, so you save $100 or approx 35%!)

Learn how to use more complete and holistic techniques for analysing clients' pathology test results to find organ dysfunctions, nutrient deficiencies, and more, even if the GP says "everything is normal" when it's obviously not the case.With the IIFP software you can generate several reports to go through with clients as additional services you provide! Learn how to use these techniques to get more clients and have clients keep coming back for analysis of their pathology results! The training and software will pay for itself quickly and over and over!

For more information on the IIFP pathology analysis training, please visit our website:
www.pathologyanalysis.com/training.html

If you have been looking for additional training for CPE points, or to reduce your tax, this is a great time to do it! Look for the specials at the bottom of this website and click through to get your EOFY specials now!

If you are interested in these special prices, please email me on ross@rosswalter.com.au and let me know which deal you are interested in!

21/10/2022

I had a great response to the new Institute for Integrative and Functional Medicine pathology analysis for health practitioners (Level 1) training recently! See the attached link for more info on the new Level 2 training!

This is a final reminder of the new IIFP Level 2 pathology analysis training course coming LIVE very soon!

IIFP Level 2 training - Saturday 22nd Oct 2022 at 12pm (Bris time)
Tickets for the events are available from the linked article.
Practitioners who have already done my Level 2 training previously will be invited to attend this new live event at no charge!

If you cannot make this live event, do not worry! You will get access to the full recording (expected 5+ hours), plus detailed PDF notes and other resources ASAP after the event!

Being able to understand and interpret pathology analysis in a more holistic and nutritional way is a very important and useful skill to have in your clinical practice - especially when clients come to see you with previous blood test results that the GP said "everything was normal", which clearly isn't possible!

This Level 2 practitioner training on pathology analysis goes into more detail on some common blood tests including the B12/folate tests, iron studies, thyroid tests, and more. This training covers a lot on different types of anaemia, including megaloblastic anaemia, iron deficiency, thalassaemia, haemochomatosis. There is some explanation of methylation pathways and how various nutrient deficiencies can make common symptoms worse, or how to prevent them. The pathology of many common (and some uncommon!) conditions is explained, with case studies and many examples of pathology results. There will also be a demonstration of the new and updated IIFP pathology analysis software, to help you in your analysis of pathology results, and explaining how this can be used to offer pathology analysis services in your clinic to get more clients!

Understanding pathology results has significantly improved my clinical practice and clients' outcomes!

I look forward to seeing you there!

More details on the IIFP pathology analysis training for health practitioners, and tickets for the Level 1 or Level 2 courses, can be found from this website:
www.pathologyanalysis.com/training.html

11/10/2022

The Pathology Analysis training developed by Ross Walter (Clinical Nutritionist and Naturopath) is being rebranded and will continue to be developed and taught through the IIFP - The Institute for Integrative and Functional Pathology!

To launch the IIFP, we will be running the Level 1 and Level 2 Pathology Analysis for Practitioners trainings very soon and LIVE!

The Level 1 will be on Friday October 14th at 10am (Brisbane time)
The Level 2 will be on Saturday October 22nd at 12pm (Bris time)

Tickets for each event are available from the following link:
https://www.pathologyanalysis.com/training.html

If you cannot make the live events, you will get the recordings, and full PDF notes and other resources ASAP after the event!

Practitioners who have already undertaken the Level 1 or 2 training will get invitations to the new IIFP training at no cost.

There will be some additional info in the IIFP training over the previous courses, including the many new changes and improvements to the Pathology Analysis software! The details are in the link above.

There are some exciting new developments coming from the IIFP, including a Level 3 training course, and IIFP Practitioner certification, and more!

We look forward to seeing you there!

14/09/2022

When I see new clients for the first time and they bring in their pathology results from their GP/doctors, 99% of the time they were told by their doctor that the results "were all normal". Clearly the results are not normal, or they wouldn't go to see the doctor!

Why do doctors typically never find issues in the pathology results?
Because they simply compare your latest result to the "Reference Range" from the lab. The Reference Range is sometimes called the "normal range" or "standard range" when it is nothing of the sort!
As you can see in the attached pic, this is the same test from the same client at 2 different labs, admittedly at different times, showing very different "reference ranges" for the same test markers. This is because the reference range is the lab's own statistical average, of people who get that test at that lab.

So a question to think about - "Do healthy people get blood tests?"!

Do you get it? Do you now understand why doctors almost never find issues in your blood tests?

The reference range is just a statistical average of UNHEALTHY people who get blood tests!

That is NOT the way to correctly use or interpret blood tests.

This frustrated me so much in the past that I spent a lot of time and money on training courses to learn more about pathology tests and analysing the results, on textbooks and reading many studies, and I have developed my own unique way of analysing and interpreting blood test results, and reporting software, to provide this as an extra service for everyone. I have even developed 2 training courses for other practitioners to learn this new method of pathology analysis which many hundreds of Nutritionists, Naturopaths and other practitioners have done.

Just yesterday I had a new client with major mental health symptoms which recently started, including severe anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, mood swings, being very emotional for no reason, and fatigue. She had new blood test results from her GP and she was told that everything was "normal". So the GP couldn't (and didn't) do anything to help, because there was apparently nothing wrong in the test results. Truly pathetic.

I found in her results that there were several major nutrient deficiencies which directly cause mental health symptoms, even though her diet is very good. She had also results clearly showing major anaemia, low immune system function, reduced kidney function, low thyroid function, and probable haemochromatosis (a hereditary blood condition, to be tested to confirm), all missed by the doctor.

For other clients I have found very obvious signs of chronic health conditions, and including cancers, again missed (or ignored) by the doctor. I would say that I have always found something in the blood test results which explains the symptoms and conditions, when clients were told that everything was ok.

I analyse pathology results in a different way:

• By not using the useless statistical ranges which are the lab reference ranges, and using "optimal ranges" which are based on healthy people instead
• Looking for confirmations across multiple test results
• Looking for combinations of results which can point to causes of the symptoms and conditions
• Understanding the nutritional factors and co-factors which can affect results, and especially looking for nutrient deficiencies in the results
• Interpreting the results as a whole
• Looking for organ dysfunctions which can be causing or contributing to symptoms and conditions.

By all means get pathology tests done with your GP/doctor, but if you are told that everything is normal when you clearly have some symptoms or are unwell, get a second opinion!

More information on this in this link:
http://www.rosswalter.com.au/pathology.html

I provide a short consultation to review blood test results, and a report on my analysis, and recommendations for action and further tests if appropriate. This service can also be used for those who think they are healthy, for prevention purposes, or to find issues before they become a major problem.

Stay healthy!