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3. Get ResultsVitamin and Nutrition Testing Overview
Reviewed By: Dr. Kurt Kloss, MD
Last Reviewed Date: Feb 14, 2019
Last Modified Date: Feb 14, 2019
Published Date: Oct 17, 2017
Vitamin and Nutrition Blood Tests
Over the past few decades, a lot of information has emerged showing that good nutrition is essential to good health, along with plenty of evidence linking poor nutrition to greater risk of a long list of diseases and health conditions. For these reasons, many health-conscious people have been making a greater effort to ensure that they are eating healthy, well-balanced diets. If you are one of them, you may be wondering whether or not those efforts are paying off. Are you getting the right balance of nutrients to promote optimal health? These questions are quite common, and a vitamin test can help you answer them.
How do you test for vitamin deficiency?
A vitamin blood test measures the amount of a specific vitamin in your blood. Your personal level of that vitamin is then compared to a reference range that defines healthy levels of that nutrient. If your levels fall below that healthy range, vitamin deficiency is indicated.
A GUIDE: Vitamin Deficiencies And Nutrition Levels From Blood Testing
Vitamin and nutrition blood tests can provide you with detailed information on your nutritional status, letting you know where you stand in terms of levels of vital nutrients in your system. Those details may be collected via testing with vitamin test panels, which evaluate amounts of a number of vitamins in the body, or with tests designed to evaluate levels of individual nutrients. Here are some examples of commonly requested vitamin and nutrition blood tests:
Electrolyte Panel – Electrolytes are nutrients that conduct the electrical impulses that help muscles and nerves work. They also help maintain healthy fluid balance in the body, as well as balanced pH levels in the blood. This test measures levels of four electrolytes; carbon dioxide, chloride, potassium, and sodium to assess electrolyte balance.- Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy – This test evaluates levels of vitamin D in the body, a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for maintaining bone health and linked to many other aspects of health, including heart and immune system health. Testing is typically done to screen for vitamin D deficiency.
- Calcium – Calcium is an electrolyte and an important factor in bone strength. This test measures levels of this mineral in the blood.
- Magnesium – Magnesium is an electrolyte, as well as a mineral that plays a role in more than 300 essential chemical reactions within the body. This makes it important to many aspects of health, including the nervous system, heart, brain and metabolic health. Two types of magnesium tests are commonly done; a simple blood test that measures magnesium levels in the blood, and the magnesium RBC test, which measures the amount of magnesium in the red blood cells.
- Vitamin A, E, Beta Carotene – These nutrients are antioxidants, which help prevent oxidative damage in the body. Vitamin A is also important for eye health. Beta carotene helps maintain healthy vitamin A levels. Vitamin E is important for overall health and has been linked to cardiovascular health. This test evaluates levels of all three nutrients in the blood.
- Vitamin B12 – This vitamin is essential to the production of red blood cells and to the manufacture of DNA. It also supports healthy metabolism, nervous system function and energy levels. This test screens for B12 deficiency. Since B-12 deficiency can lead to pernicious anemia, this test is also commonly used as part of diagnostics procedures for this blood disorder.
- Vitamin Package – A panel of blood tests, the vitamin package assesses levels of vitamins A, C, E, D, B1, B6, B12, folate and beta carotene in the body.
- Vitamin K1 – This blood test evaluates levels of vitamin K in the blood. This nutrient helps maintain bone health, vascular health and immune system health.
Other tests that may be done as part of a nutritional workup include Anemia Package tests, which evaluate blood cell number and health, iron levels and iron binding capacity, and tests designed to detect problems like lactose intolerance, celiac disease, or sensitivities to wheat and other grains.
How a blood test is done?
Having a blood test done begins with having a blood sample drawn. The sample is generally taken from a vein in your arm. Your sample will then be processed and analyzed by lab technicians. Once analysis is complete, a lab report will be drafted that contains detailed test results. If your tests were ordered by your healthcare provider, results will be sent to his or her office. If you order your own blood tests, the report will be delivered directly to you.
How do you analyze blood?
That depends to some degree upon the specific blood test that is done. That said, blood is usually processed in a centrifuge to separate its various components. Then, lab technicians use various techniques to identify and measure the particular factors each test calls for. For nutritional profiles, those factors would be specific vitamins, minerals, fats, or amino acids. What do they look for in a fasting blood test?
Fasting blood tests are tests that require you to eat no solid food for at least eight hours before your blood is drawn. Examples include lipid panels, which measure levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, blood glucose tests, which measure sugar levels in the blood, and many vitamin and nutrition blood test types that measure levels of specific nutrients in the blood. The reason for fasting is to ensure an accurate result, since eating before these tests can temporarily alter those levels.
Featured Tests And Packages
This package includes tests used to evaluate and measure the levels of specific vitamins and nutrients in your body.
This package includes tests used to evaluate and measure the levels of specific vitamins and nutrients in your body.
The Comprehensive Wellness 1 Alcat Panel measured sensitivities to 250 items including: 200 foods, 30 Food Additives/Colorings, Environmental Chemicals, and 20 Molds.
The Comprehensive Wellness 2 Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 230 items including: 200 foods, 30 Food Additives/Colorings, and Environmental Chemicals.
The Comprehensive Wellness 3 Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 200 items including: 150 foods, 30 Food Additives/Colorings, Environmental Chemicals, and 20 Molds.
The Platinum Comprehensive measures sensitivities to 320 items: 200 foods, 50 Herbs, 30 Additives, Colorings, Chemicals, 20 Molds, and 20 Antibiotics/Anti-inflammatory Agents.
The Platinum Plus Package measures sensitivities to 370 items: 250 foods, 50 Functional Foods/Medicinal Herbs, 30 Food Additives/Colorings/Chemicals, 20 Molds, and 20 Antibiotics/Anti-inflammatory Agents.
Includes a complete blood count (CBC) of red and white cells, iron, iron-binding capacity, and reticulocyte count to screen for anemia
Detects antibodies to screen for celiac disease, other gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergy. TEST AVAILABLE AT LABCORP ONLY.
The Vitamin A, E, and Beta Carotene Package measures the levels of these three nutrients in the blood.
Lab Tests (A-Z)
The 100 Food Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 100 foods ranging from fruit, vegetables ,dairy, meat, seafood, legumes and spices. Also tests for sensitives to Candida Albicans, Gluten, Gliadin, Casein and Whey.
The 150 Food Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 150 foods ranging from fruit, vegetables ,dairy, meat, seafood, legumes and spices. Also tests for sensitives to Candida Albicans, Gluten, Gliadin, Casein and Whey.
The 150 Vegetarian Food Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 150 foods ranging from fruit and vegetables to dairy, legumes and spices. Also tests for sensitivities to Candida Albicans, Gluten, Gliadin, Casein and Whey.
The 20 Antibiotics/Anti-Inflammatory Panel will measure sensitivities to 20 Antibiotics and Anti-Inflammatory agents such as Acetaminophen, Amoxicillin, Naproxen, and Penicillin.
The 200 Food Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 200 foods ranging from fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, legumes and spices. Also tests for sensitives to Candida Albicans, Gluten, Gliadin, Casein and Whey.
The 200 Vegetarian Food Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 200 foods ranging from fruit and vegetables to dairy, legumes and spices. Also tests for sensitivities to Candida Albicans, Gluten, Gliadin, Casein and Whey.
The 21 Molds Panel will measure sensitivities to 21 Molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium.
The 250 Food Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 250 foods ranging from fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, legumes and spices. Also tests for sensitives to Candida Albicans, Gluten, Gliadin, Casein and Whey.
The 30 Food Additives,Colorings and Environmental Chemicals Panel will measure sensitivities to 30 Additives/Chemicals such as Acid Blue #3, MSG, and Sucralose.
The 40 Male Herbs Panel will measure sensitivities to 40 different herbs such as Alfalfa Leaf, Pumpkin Seed, and Saw Palmetto.
The 40 Preservatives and Additives Panel will measure sensitivities to 40 different additives such as Acacia Gum, Glycerol, Potassium Sorbate, and Soy.
The 50 Female Herbs Panel will measure sensitivities to 50 different herbs such as Alfalfa Leaf, Lavendar, Lemon Balm, and Red Raspberry Leaf.
The 50 Food Alcat Panel will measure sensitivities to 50 foods ranging from fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, legumes and spices.
The 50 Functional Foods and Medicinal Herbs panel will measure sensitivities to 50 different foods and herbs such as Bee Pollen, Glucosamine, St. John's Wart, and Milk Thistle.
Measures the level of calcium to assess general health or for parathyroid conditions
Detects antibodies associated with celiac disease
Erythrocyte cholinesterase is used to measure possible organophosphate and carbamate toxicity and to detect atypical forms of the enzyme.
This test measures the level of CoQ10, a vitamin-like compound that is found in the body.
Measures the amount of folate (folic acid) to screen for nutrition or absorption issues and certain types of anemia
Measures the amount of folate (folic acid) in the red blood cells as well as evaluated Hematocrit levels to screen for nutrition or absorption issues and certain types of anemia
Measures the amount of iron available to bind to proteins, providing additional information about possible iron deficiency or iron overload
Evaluates blood samples before and after lactose to assess for lactose intolerance. TEST AVAILABLE AT LABCORP ONLY.
This blood test is used to measure the amount of Methylmalonic acid in your body and to help detect Vitamin B12 deficiency.
This urine test is used to measure the amount of Methylmalonic acid in your body and to help detect Vitamin B12 deficiency.
This OmegaQuant at home test kit may be used to measure your Omega-3 index, Omega-6 : Omega-3 ratio, AA:EPA ratio, Trans Fat index and a full Fatty Acid Profile by a simple finger stick.
This is a blood test used to measure Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.AVAILABLE AT QUEST DIAGNOSTICS ONLY.
The Vitamin A, E, and Beta Carotene Package measures the levels of these three nutrients in the blood.
The Vitamin B1 blood test measures the levels of Thiamine in the blood.
Measures the amount of B12 to screen for nutrition or absorption issues and certain types of anemia
Measures the amount of B12 and folate (folic acid) to screen for nutrition or absorption issues and certain types of anemia
The Vitamin B6 blood test measures the levels of Pyrodoxine in the blood.
Measures the amount of vitamin D, an important factor in bone strength
This Vitamin K blood test measures the level of Vitamin K in the blood.
Vitamin and Nutrition Testing Locations By State
Here are the states you can order blood tests for vitamin levels and nutrition tests. You can also search for convenient locations near you using our Lab Locator.
