Test for vitamins and minerals

What’s measured

Parameters

Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a role in various bodily functions, including immune system function, wound healing, and cell growth. The test helps assess whether you have a zinc deficiency or excess, which can indicate potential issues with your overall health and nutritional status.

Magnesium (Mg) is a mineral that is related to the metabolism of bones, muscles, intestines, kidneys and, together with other minerals, is involved in maintaining the balance of the internal environment. It helps the proper function of a large number of enzymes.

Selenium is an essential trace element.

The selenium content in plant foods depends on the selenium content of the soils and can vary greatly. In Europe, the soils and thus most plant foods are rather poor in selenium.

Selenium is a component of enzymes and thus involved in a large number of reactions in the body. As a component of antioxidant enzymes, selenium is important, among other things, for protecting the organism from cell damage caused by radicals. Other selenium-dependent enzymes regulate the thyroid hormone balance or are components of sperm and thus essential for male fertility."

Phosphorus is a mineral that, along with other minerals in the body, forms organic and inorganic compounds necessary for proper muscle function, nervous system function, bone and tooth growth, and ensuring acid-base balance. It is a component of nucleic acids and enzymes, including ATP. In bones it is found in the form of hydroxyapatite. Only about 1% of phosphate is found in the blood and its level correlates with calcium in an inverse/inverted ratio. Phosphate levels are also closely related to parathyroid hormone and vitamin D levels.

Copper is a component of enzymes and involved in iron metabolism.

An optimal level of vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of a number of metabolic processes in the body.

B12 is an essential nutrient plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy nerve cells, supporting red blood cell production, and aiding in DNA synthesis. Deficiency in B12 can lead to fatigue, nerve damage, and anemia, while adequate levels are important for overall health and well-being

Folate is crucial for cell growth, DNA synthesis, and the production of red blood cells. The test helps determine if you have sufficient levels of folate, which is necessary for overall health, proper development of cells and tissues, and prevention of certain types of anemia.

Consuming an adequate amount of Vitamin A supports eye health. Vitamin A also stimulates white blood cell production and activity, is involved in bone formation, helps maintain healthy endothelial cells (which line the inner surfaces of the body) and regulates cell growth and division as required for reproduction.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with several forms, but alpha-tocopherol is the only one used by the human body. Its main role is to act as an antioxidant, scavenging loose electrons—so-called “free radicals”—that can damage cells. Serum concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) depend on the liver, which takes up the nutrient after the various forms are absorbed from the small intestine.

Instructions before collection

We do not recommend entry of patients/clients with clinical signs of disease (temperature, cough, signs of respiratory tract infection, etc.) to undergo this test.
We recommend hand disinfection prior to entry to the clinics/collection points.

It is advised to fast for a minimum of 8 hours by refraining from eating or drinking anything expect water. Faiing to fast before the test may affect result quality. If you are currently on medications, consult your healtcare provider to determine whether you should continue taking them prior to the test.

PREPARATION FOR BLOOD COLLECTION
The recommended time to collect blood is between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., to obtain comparable results from different blood draws. To assess the numerical test result, so-called reference intervals are used, which are based on morning fasting collections and are used for population comparison. This time interval is also recommended in light of the biological cycles that naturally take place in the body.

GENERAL PRE-SAMPLING INSTRUCTIONS
• It is necessary to come to the testing site earlier, so that you can rest in the waiting room for approximately 20 minutes to have a relatively relaxed body and mind.
• It is necessary to arrive on an empty stomach for the collection itself, in the case of collections at a later time in the day, at least three hours on an empty stomach. At home, it is desirable to drink a sufficient amount of pure water (at least up to half a liter) - this is important for a successful blood collection. Mineral water, juice, coffee and tea are not recommended.
Herbs included in tea may contain substances affecting the blood count. Coffee and black tea increase gastric acid production and release insulin from the pancreas, thereby affecting glucose metabolism. Since everything in the body is interrelated, they can impact other tests. Another extreme is when your body is running out of fluids. In this case, the number of red blood cells, the level of protein and lipids bound to the protein increase and the level of urea in the blood can also increase. It is therefore advisable to drink pure water when you wake up.


Generally, it is recommended to:
• around 6 p.m. eat only light meals, do not eat fatty food (cheese, butter, cream, meat, smoked meat, bacon) and sweet meals,
• fast for 10-12 hours (Attention: it is not advisable to starve for more than 16 hours!), in the case of later collection (after 9:30 a.m.), a lighter breakfast is allowed, no later than 3 hours before collection,
• drink non-alcoholic beverages and drinks without sugar in the usual quantity, in the case of adult clients 24 hours before blood collection (Alcohol in the blood changes lipid levels, the level of glucose is reduced, uric acid levels increase and liver enzymes are released into the blood),
• take only prescribed medicines in the evening,
• avoid increased physical activity, and strength and endurance exercise the day before blood collection (Lipid, glucose, some enzyme levels in the blood and other parameters may change during physical activity. The recovery of normal values to maintain the accuracy of laboratory results may take a longer time, depending on the duration of the exercise, your physical fitness in general and other factors. We recommend maintaining normal daily physical activity such as light stretching, short cycling to work, gardening, etc.),
• avoid psychological stress, which raises blood glucose levels and causes the release of stress hormones in particular,
• avoid smoking for at least 6 hours prior to blood collection because it increases the level of carbonylhemoglobin produced by the reaction of the blood dye with carbon monoxide and alters the permeability and elasticity of the vessels, affecting the ratios of blood analytes,
• do not chew gum for at least 6 hours before blood collection, as this may affect glucose and enzyme levels,
• do not undergo stressful diagnostic or therapeutic interventions for at least 24 hours prior to blood collection.
If any of the tests you have selected require special preparation, you will be informed of the fact by email with the order and blood collection instructions attached. These specific instructions have priority over the general recommendations for preparation.


MEDICINES
It is recommended to have blood collected before the planned doses of medicines. If it is not possible to take the medicine later, you should inform the nurse during blood collection and specify what medication you have taken.
Take the medicines prescribed by your doctor in the morning or bring them with you to take them after blood collection (thyroid medicines, antihypertensive medicines, blood thinners, contraceptives, etc.) In the case of later collection (after 9:30 a.m.), you can take the prescribed medication in the morning.
Do not take iron, vitamin, nutritional supplements or other supplements, including homeopathics, for at least three (3) days prior to blood collection.


SPECIFIC SITUATIONS
In order to obtain the appropriate answers to your questions with regard to the laboratory tests, it is important to accurately notify the nurse at the healthcare provider about the following facts prior to your blood test:
• regularly used medicines and supplements (ideally come with a written list to the blood collection site),
• infectious diseases you suffer from (e.g., HIV, hepatitis, mononucleosis...),
• contact with an infected person or presence in an infectious environment,
• if you have received an infusion within the last 5 days, specify into which limb,
• intramuscular injections within 3 days prior to the blood collection date,
• long-term immobilisation, lost ability to move,
• activities at higher altitudes,
• allergy to common band-aids,
• if you feel unwell when looking at blood or needles, please also notify our blood collection staff of the fact.


OTHER FACTORS
Please note that prolonged use of medication or other important factors may affect the values measured by the tests you have selected. For more information, please see the description of the specific test. To obtain objective test results, take the time to properly prepare for your blood collection.