Background
Overwhelming scientific evidence confirms that vitamin deficiencies are associated with disease processes and the overall condition of one’s health. Vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies have been shown to suppress immune function and contribute to chronic degenerative processes such as arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This body of research has been reaffirmed by the Journal of the American Medical Association (June 19, 2002-Vol 287, No 23).
Micronutrient Testing from SpectraCell Laboratories
SpectraCell Laboratories, Inc. is a CLIA accredited clinical laboratory that specializes in micronutrient testing. This patented process resulted from 18 years of research at the University of Texas. The micronutrient tests measures how micronutrients are actually functioning within your patients’ white blood cells. These tests allow nutritional assessment of your patients for a broad variety of clinical conditions including arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular risk, diabetes, various immunological disorders, metabolic disorders and micronutrient deficiencies. Also offered by SpectraCell is a specialized profile of homocysteine, lipids and proteins to assess cardiovascular risk.
SpectraCell’s Tests Are More Advanced Than other Laboratory Tests
Before the introduction of the our tests, many diagnosis and risk assessments were based on clinical observation and measurements of static levels of certain nutrients in serum. Static serum levels are not always representative indicators for assessing cell metabolism and utilization. SpectraCell’s micronutrient testing offers a unique means to scientifically assess the intracellular requirements of micronutrients that play an important role in overall health and wellness of your patients. Our tests measure the biochemical function of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, providing a powerful clinical assessment tool for your practice. Our panels are designed to provide you with the most comprehensive nutritional analysis available. As the only lab that can offer a truly functional intracellular testing, SpectraCell also provides you with targeted nutrient repletion recommendations for those vitamins and minerals found to be deficient.
SpectraCell’s Patented Technology
SpectraCell’s patented, chemically-defined control media contains the minimal amount of each essential micronutrient that is needed to support optimal lymphocyte growth or mitogenic response. The functional intracellular status of micronutrients involved in cell metabolism is evaluated by manipulation of the individual micronutrients in the media followed by mitogenic stimulation and measurement of DNA synthesis. The same technology also provides a total antioxidant function test (SPECTROX™) which assesses the ability of cells to resist damage caused by free radicals and other forms of oxidative stress. Due to the considerable number of cellular antioxidants with extensive interactions, redundancies, repair and recharging capabilities, measuring total function is the most accurate and clinically useful way to assess your patients’ capacity to resist oxidative damage. Since lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow and stored in the peripheral locations for long periods of time (the average life span of a lymphocyte is approximately four to six months), SpectraCell’s measurements provide a powerful portrait of each patients’ long-term nutrient status. This is analogous to the use of a glycosylated hemoglobin test to evaluate blood glucose levels over a one to three month period.
Interpreting Test Results
SpectraCell provides easy-to-read test reports for the clinician and the patient. We’ve incorporated numerical and graphic representations for each result, and we offer repletion suggestions based on each patient’s deficiencies. We’ve included easy-to-understand supplement information that explains the role of each nutrient found deficient, deficiency symptoms, how to obtain that nutrient in food and toxicity and RDI standards for adults.
Clinical Applications
Identifying the right patient is simple. Our diagnostic profiles offer a window to the cell that can provide improved healthcare for all patients. However, the potential for clinical benefit is particularly evident in these patient groups:
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- DISEASE THERAPY AND MANAGEMENT: Diagnose and treat nutritional risk factors that contribute to the therapy/management of many degenerative disease conditions.
- FAMILY HISTORY: Provide prevention measures for patients with family history of common chronic disease conditions.
- HIGH RISK GROUPS: Certain high risk groups are more susceptible to vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies that can affect treatment outcomes and overall health.
- PROACTIVE RISK ASSESSMENT: Provide customized prevention by early detection of nutritional deficiencies for proactive patients.
- CHALLENGING CASES: Gain insight into generalized complaints with no apparent specific disease source and to provide treatment options based on biochemical individuality.
