Aim: A Vitamin D test aims to screen abnormal metabolism of Calcium due to deficiency in Vitamin D. It also helps screen for bone malformation, helps diagnose problems with parathyroid gland, monitor patients who had undergone gastric bypass surgery, helps with the diagnosis of Vitamin D deficiency and also checks for the effectivity of treatments such as vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and/or magnesium supplements. Vitamin D testing is also called 25-OH vitamin D test.
Equipment required: For adults: 3cc to 5cc syringe, cotton balls, blood test tubes with name, age and gender of the patient, tourniquet, alcohol and test tube holder. A needle prick is much easier to use for children and babies.
Procedure: Before the procedure, make sure not to eat at least 8 hours. The medical technologist will check for your name. Tourniquet will be wrap near the vein where blood will be extracted. The area to where the blood will be drawn will be cleansed by a cotton ball with alcohol to ensure cleanliness of the surrounding area. The medical technologist will draw blood from the vein with the use of a syringe. The blood will be placed in a tube for testing. The releasing of results will depend on the policy of the health institution.
Rating: The table below shows the interpretation if the result is deficient, insufficient, sufficient and toxic, in units ng/mml. These reference value may depend on the laboratory policy of the health institution.
Vitamin D Council | Endocrine Society | Food & Nutrition Board | Testing Lab | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Deficient | 0-30 | 0-20 | 0-11 | 0-31 |
Insufficient | 31-39 | 21-29 | 12-20 | |
Sufficient | 40-80 | 30-100 | >20 | 32-100 |
Toxic | >150 |
Related Pages
- Vitamin D – the effect of deficiency on health
- Vitamin Supplements
- Guide to Athletic Supplements
- Vitamin Supplementation
- More health tests
- Health Tests for Athletes