Whole Blood Elements Kit - Doctor's Data Kit
The Whole Blood Elements Kit is an assessment of element levels in whole blood is a valuable tool for identification of dietary adequacy, gastrointestinal, renal and endocrine functions, and excess or deficiency conditions. Note: This is a pre-paid shipping test kit that will be mailed and it requires a blood draw. Please Click Here to locate a lab for specimen collection.
Preparation:
10-12 hours fasting is required. 72 hours prior to the specimen collection discontinue taking non-essential medications, and dietary supplements containing minerals. Check with physician before stopping medications. Specimen must be sent to lab by overnight mail Monday-Thursday only. Please read patient instructions very carefully prior to beginning the test.
Test Results:
4-6 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
Whole blood element analysis is a diagnostic method that assists in determining deficiencies, excesses and imbalances of essential elements as well as recent or ongoing exposure to specific toxic elements. Whole blood analysis measures total element levels that circulate extracellularly (serum/plasma) as well as intracellularly (function within blood cells). Therefore, additional testing of blood fractions or other tissues may be necessary for differential diagnosis of specific imbalances, or to assess specific dysfunctions of assimilation, transport, retention or excretion of elements.
Includes:
- Arsenic
- Barium
- Cadmium
- Calcium
- Chromium
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Lead
- Lithium
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Mercury
- Molybdenum
- Nickel
- Platinum
- Selenium
- Strontium
- Thallium
- Tungsten
- Uranium
- Vanadium
- Zinc
This test is useful for
- Alopecia
- Anemia
- Bone Density
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Depression
- Dermatitis or Poor Wound Healing
- Detoxification Therapy
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal Symptoms
- Hypertension
- Immune Function
- Impaired Glucose Tolerance
- Inflammation
- Kidney Function
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Parkinson's-like Symptoms
- Sexual Impotence or Decreased Testosterone Production
- Vision Problems
Analysis of toxic elements/metals in whole blood is useful for assessment of recent or ongoing exposure to the toxins, but does not provide accurate information about net retention of toxic metals in the body. For example, blood lead levels peak about five hours after acute exposure and then decrease exponentially with a half-life in blood of about one month. Evaluation and elimination of ongoing exposure to toxic metals is another important component of efficient metal detoxification.
Accurate assessment of essential element status in the most appropriate compartment is highly recommended for determination of appropriate supplementation. The absorption, transport and metabolism of essential elements is highly integrated and regulated. Inappropriate supplementation or dietary imbalance of elements can have significant adverse health effects. For example, excess intake of zinc or molybdenum can result in copper deficiency and excess assimilation of manganese can have serious neurotoxic effects that are expressed as Parkinson's-like disease.
Whole blood analysis is an excellent test for measuring the levels of both intracellular and extracellular circulating elements. Extracellular elements have functions in serum/plasma or are transported to tissues in serum/plasma associated with specific proteins or albumen. Intracellular elements have very specific functions as obligatory constituents of metalloproteins/enzymes in red blood cells and lymphocytes. The red and white blood cells serve as surrogate cells representative of peripheral cells in general. Some essential elements, such as selenium, are portioned in and have important physiological roles in both the intracellular and extracellular compartments. Likewise, the toxic metal lead is transported in both the fluid and cellular (red blood cells) compartments of blood. Therefore, measurement of elements in both blood compartments permits a more complete evaluation of total blood element levels.
