A subscriber to The Heart of Health submitted the following question.
“Just came across your excellent article dated July 20, 2009 @ 08:00 about [coenzyme Q10 blood tests]. Your article mentions having tests, but I live in Ireland and there are no tests available. The Health Food shops just sell the product without any ref. to getting a test and as I would view it as a very important supplement I think it is this kind of ill-informed sales that leave the alternative therapies wide open to attack by the Medical Profession. Can you advise / recommend procedure for getting tests from here.”
The lab I have used and recommend for micronutrient testing and comprehensive lipid profiles is SpectraCell Laboratories. I contacted SpectraCell to see if they provide services outside the US. The answer is yes. Your physician may request a lab collection kit from SpectraCell and submit the blood draw . . . even from Ireland!
There are more lab facilities than Spectra Cell that complete comprehensive lipid profiles. SpectraCell is the one I am familiar with. Also, another lab work option is a VAP (vertical auto profile) test. Discuss with your physician.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson, RD
Recommended resource
Where I send people for supplements
Food first, always. When a supplement is worth considering, the front of the bottle is marketing and the supplement facts panel is the actual content. Two bottles at the same price can differ by half in what they deliver.
My dispensary carries practitioner-grade products, most of which aren’t sold direct to consumers, with the reasoning behind each one.
I may earn a commission on dispensary orders.