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• Please contact us at (714) 864-3730 or pe@anti-fragilityhealth.com to order your test.

Blood Spot

Blood spot testing is very easy to collect, utilizes a simple finger prick collection system that can be conveniently performed at home by the patient, and does not require a venous blood draw or phlebotomist. Blood spot stability and integrity is maintained through desiccation, and samples can be mailed from anywhere in the world in a prepaid return envelope that does not require an express courier. The experienced staff at Doctor’s Data has validated many different tests using this collection method, and correlation data between blood spot and serum/blood samples is available for each assay.

Detailed Information

Doctor’s Data offers the Metabolomic Profile due to increasing awareness of the need to detect Metabolic syndrome before it progresses to adult-onset diabetes and related health consequences. The profile is designed to assess the likelihood of Metabolic syndrome in at-risk patients.  Metabolic syndrome may occur at all stages in life.  The number of people with Metabolic syndrome has increased over the last two decades.  In 2006 it was estimated that 13% of US adolescents, 24% of young – midlife adults, and 40% of senior adults (> 70 y.o.) have Metabolic syndrome.  
Although the number of people with Metabolic syndrome is increasing, human genetics have not.  Epigenetic, controllable factors clearly play a role in the development of Metabolic syndrome.  Contributing factors may include obesity, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary disease, hormone imbalance or a sedentary, unhealthy (smoking, etc.) lifestyle.    “Over nutrition” and poor dietary choices (highly processed, high fat, high salt, high sugar “empty-calorie” foods), combined with sedentary habits interact with our genetic programming: we store extra calories as fat.  Fat cells (adipocytes) produce hormones (adipokines) that interact with the hypothalamus and or immune system and may have pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects.  Altered adipokine levels have been observed in Metabolic syndrome.  The biomarkers that constitute the Metabolomic Profile include:

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) – estimates the average blood glucose concentration for the life of the red blood cell (120 days) Insulin – levels of insulin elevate early in type II diabetes, and then decrease as pancreatic beta cells lose function High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) – estimates the risk of cardiovascular disease Leptin– leptin is a hormone produced by adipocytes to provide a satiety signal to the hypothalamus. Elevated circulating levels of leptin are associated with adipose tissue abundance, and a leptin resistance may ensue. High levels of this adipokine may have pro-inflammatory effects, and leptin accelerates arterial foam cell formation.

• Patients that may especially benefit from the Metabolomic Profile include those with:
• Increased waist size or body mass index (BMI) >30
• High triglycerides or need for cholesterol medication
• Low HDL cholesterol or need for cholesterol medication
• Hypertension or need for hypertension medication
• Fasting Glucose > 100 mg/dL
• Family or personal history of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol or type II diabetes
• Personal history of chronic inflammatory disease

Except for obesity, the risk factors for Metabolic syndrome, and the chronic diseases that may develop from it, may present no symptoms until well advanced.  The greatest window of opportunity to prevent the development of atherosclerosis, type II diabetes or heart failure may occur during the early, symptom-free stages of Metabolic syndrome.  Early detection and intervention through diet and lifestyle changes may prevent the development of symptoms or disease complications. The Metabolic Profile facilitates clinicians in the early detection of Metabolic syndrome. 

Before You Start:

Please read all of the directions, and familiarize yourself with the collection procedures.

This test requires no special diet. Discuss with your healthcare provider if you are taking blood thinning medications or if you have a blood clotting disorder. Never discontinue prescription medications without first consulting your physician.

The lancets and collection card provided are for one time use only. Do not collect from the fifth/little finger, or on children younger than one year, because the tissue depth is insufficient. Do not layer blood on a previously dried spot. Avoid strong repetitive pressure (milking) in the pricked finger. This may cause tissue-fluid contamination of the specimen.

More Instructions:

• Collection Instructions