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If your results require immediate attention, a healthcare professional will contact you by phone or email. If you’re concerned about iron deficiency, keep in mind that some other methods of checking your iron levels are potentially more accurate than a ferritin test . Depending on your results, you may choose to attend one of Everlywell’s free live webinars, in which you can ask questions about vitamin D and its role in bone health and inflammation. While there are other quality at-home vitamin D tests on the market, we like that this test from Everlywell measures levels of both vitamin D and C-reactive protein . This vitamin B12 test may be right for you if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet or if you’re experiencing symptoms of a possible deficiency, such as chronic fatigue, brain fog, or digestive upset.
Other common vitamin and mineral deficiencies include iodine, vitamin A, folate, and vitamin E . The Everlywell Vitamin D and Inflammation Test uses a blood sample obtained with a finger-pricking device, which is included in the kit. This kit is also CLIA-certified and independently verified by a doctor in your state.
What Is A Good Vitamin B Complex Supplement
Once received, the company’s team of doctors will review the test, and the lab will send the results to the person within 2–5 days. Below, we list some of the top vitamin deficiency tests available online. When a person develops a nutritional deficiency, the body may produce signs and symptoms, some of which can go unnoticed.
They can also help determine what frequency of testing you need. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that optimal vitamin D levels vary from person to person —so it’s a good idea to share vitamin D test results with your healthcare provider. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to symptoms like fatigue, depression, and joint pain—and more. In addition, a low vitamin D level may also be linked to serious health conditions like heart disease and bone weakness .
What are good vitamins to take before a test?
Instead, one of the main ways we get this beneficial vitamin is from—you guessed it—exposure to sunlight. However the length of time needed to get enough vitamin D differs by person (season, latitude, skin tone, etc.), and it may require partaking in unsafe skin practices to reach the optimal amount. He tells Verywell that he doesnt think at-home tests are worth the effort unless you are severely deficient and are at risk of bone disease. One of the primary sources of these life-giving nutrients is sunlight. Thats right, simply standing in the sun can help your body create Vitamin D. It is fat-soluble, so it is stored within the bodys fatty tissues.
According to Bonney, for most people, vitamin D testing through a lab would be covered by insurance with the correct ICD-10 code submitted by your health care partner. "And if your [at-home] levels are abnormal, this would warrant having them rechecked in a lab setting with proper phlebotomy" and an expert clinical opinion once the result comes in. Defines vitamin D deficiency as the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin (25D) of less than 20 ng/ml, and vitamin D insufficiency as a 25D result of less than 30 ng/ml.
of the best at-home vitamin deficiency tests
But given the margin for error, it may be best to have your blood drawn at a lab facility by a certified lab technician. Give your physician a call if you are unsure whether at-home or in-lab testing is right for you. Everlywell also offers a membership program for $24.99 a month to receive discounts on their tests. Vitamin D levels are identified based on amounts in your blood, measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or nanomoles per liter (nmol/L). Register your test online at /register using the unique kit ID that’s included in your kit.
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, muscle weakness, bone and joint pain, and depression. Vitamin D is essential for vital bodily functions, and low vitamin D levels can have widespread effects on the body. Some people may be at a higher risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency. Although the article states that most people with a vitamin D deficiency will not experience symptoms, some people do.
What Is Vitamin D3 Is Good For
For this test, LetsGetChecked requests you collect your sample in the morning. There’s a lot to consider when choosing an at-home vitamin D test. We reviewed available research, customer experiences, price, and each company’s processes to select the best options. You may have excess vitamin D if you take large doses of vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D deficiency is more common than too much vitamin D, however. A vitamin D test can determine whether you have a vitamin D deficiency or excess levels in your body.
And, like most other Canadians, you should try to get enough vitamin D from sun and foods. It’s common to have questions about your test results and what they mean for your health. Fortunately, Everlywell includes access to a group webinar with your order.
Not getting enough of certain key vitamins and minerals — such as iron and vitamins B6, B12, and D — could affect your overall health and well-being. This is a detailed article about vitamin D and its health effects. Vitamin D actually functions as a hormone, and deficiency is incredibly common. The test comes with all the materials you need to collect a sample, test directions and a shipping label for return.
But research suggests that you should wait at least 3 months before retesting to see if your levels have changed after your treatment plan. Testing too soon probably won’t show any changes to your vitamin D levels and may lead to unnecessary stress and medical expenses. LetsGetChecked labs are Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments -certified and accredited with the College of American Pathologists, which are the highest levels of accreditation. Their kits are also manufactured within an ISO accredited facility, the highest level of accreditation for medical devices. Most vitamin D tests measure the total amount of 25-OH D in your blood.
It also helps keep your muscles, nerves, and immune system working normally. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include muscle weakness, pain, fatigue and depression. To get enough D, look to certain foods, supplements, and carefully planned sunlight.
Thus vitamin A is also called retinol, vitamin C is called ascorbic acid, and vitamin E is called tocopherol. Although 4,000 IU is set as the maximum amount of vitamin D you can take safely, several studies have shown that taking up to 10,000 IU daily won’t cause side effects . That said, taking more than 4,000 IU may provide no extra benefit. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
This kit from Everlywell also uses a finger-prick blood sample, but it requires a few drops on a collection card versus a full vial. The card resembles a Scantron test with small circles that you'll need to fill entirely with small drops of blood. We receive vitamin D from foods, beverages, sun exposure, and certain supplements.
Sometimes these defenders can end up attacking nearby healthy tissues or cells. This immune system response can persist for prolonged periods of time or even indefinitely. Our inflammatory marker test measures your body’s level of a protein whose levels are elevated when inflammation is present . More commonly, your doctor will order a CBC, a cholesterol check, and other preventive blood tests at your physical. If you decide to take an at-home vitamin deficiency test, you have the option of following up with further testing at a doctor’s office. If your at-home test results reveal a possible vitamin deficiency, it’s important to make an appointment with a healthcare professional to discuss next steps.
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