Total:€ 2.845,00
Amino Acids (Plasma)
€ 169,00
Comprehensive Metabolic Profile for Optimal Health
Your test at a glance
- Sample
- Blood (plasma)
- Results from receipt
- Usually 3–10 days
- Fasting
- An overnight fast is preferred for plasma amino acids; published laboratory guidance uses a minimum of 4 hours. Follow the interval confirmed by WHL.
Timing starts when suitable samples arrive at the laboratory. Shipping time is additional. Combined panels may take longer.
Preparation: Pause non-prescribed nutritional supplements for at least 48 hours, unless WHL or your clinician advises otherwise.
WHL will send the full test instructions with your kit or appointment confirmation. Follow these before collecting.
Preparation and important notesOne charge per request. Processing and handling is charged once for the complete request, not for each test or panel. Collection and delivery charges are shown separately at checkout.
Description
World Health Laboratories offers a comprehensive plasma amino acids panel to assess metabolic health, nutrient deficiencies, neurotransmitter precursors, urea cycle function, and detox pathways. Suitable for preventive health, functional medicine, and complex metabolic cases.
1. Purpose & Clinical Significance
- Comprehensive metabolic profiling: Measures concentrations of essential, conditionally essential, and non‑essential amino acids in plasma to screen for metabolic disorders and assess general metabolic health.
- Detects inborn errors of metabolism: Crucial for identifying disorders like phenylketonuria, tyrosinemia, urea cycle defects, and organic acidemias, which can manifest early in life and cause neuro‑developmental complications if untreated mayocliniclabs.com.
- Monitors treatment & dietary interventions: Used in clinical follow-up of dietary therapy effectiveness, especially in metabolic conditions and nutrient insufficiencies.
- Assesses organ function & nutrition: Indicates liver, kidney, endocrine, muscle, and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as nutritional deficiencies and stress responses.
2. Methodology
- Typically analyzed via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‑MS/MS), offering precise and sensitive detection for over 40 amino acids.
- For accurate fasting levels, plasma is preferred over urine since it’s less influenced by recent dietary intake.
3. Who Should Test?
- Newborns & infants: For early metabolic screening.
- Patients with unexplained symptoms: Such as developmental delays, fatigue, GI issues, or neuropsychiatric signs.
- Individuals with chronic or organ-related conditions: Including liver/kidney disease, endocrine disorders, muscle wasting, cancer, and malnutrition.
- Athletes, wellness seekers, and those undergoing nutritional therapy: To optimize metabolic and performance outcomes.
Key Amino Acids Monitored & Their Clinical Relevance
| Amino Acid | Category | Clinical Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Phenylalanine | Essential | Diagnoses PKU; elevated levels lead to neurotoxicity if untreated |
| Tyrosine | Non-essential (conditionally essential) | Monitors tyrosinemia; essential in neurotransmitter synthesis |
| Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine (BCAAs) | Essential | Indicates Maple Syrup Urine Disease; involved in muscle metabolism, immune response, insulin regulation |
| Methionine | Essential | Signals homocystinuria; important for methylation and detox processes |
| Homocysteine | Non‑standard but often included | Reflects B‑vitamin status; elevated in cardiovascular and renal disease |
| Citrulline & Ornithine | Non-essential | Key markers for urea cycle disorders |
| Glutamine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine | Non-essential | Provide insight into hepatic, renal, and muscle metabolic health |
| GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) | Metabolic/neuro | Related to neurotransmitter balance, mental health regulation |
| Taurine | Conditionally essential | Indicative of oxidative stress, liver/renal impairment |
Why This Test Matters
- Early detection of treatable metabolic disorders can prevent serious long-term outcomes.
- Guides dietary and nutrient therapy based on precise amino acid imbalances.
- Monitors health improvements or deterioration over time through follow‑up measurements.
- Provides a metabolic snapshot, integrating information on organ function, nutrient absorption, stress, and neurotransmitter dynamics.
Summary
The Plasma Amino Acids Test by World Health Laboratories is a robust tool for metabolic health assessment—spanning newborn screening, chronic disease monitoring, and nutritional optimization. Its capacity to measure a wide range of amino acids enhances diagnostic precision, treatment decision-making, and patient monitoring.
- Includes: Analysis of more than 46 amino acids
- Sample requirement: Blood collection
Suitable for postal submission.
Additional information
| Weight | 0,5 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 25 × 16 × 2,5 cm |
| Sample Type |
Preparing for this test
WHL will send detailed collection, storage and return instructions with your test kit or appointment confirmation. Those test-specific instructions take priority.
Sample: Blood (plasma)
Fasting: An overnight fast is preferred for plasma amino acids; published laboratory guidance uses a minimum of 4 hours. Follow the interval confirmed by WHL.
For nutritional testing, pause non-prescribed supplements, including protein and amino-acid powders, for at least 48 hours unless WHL or your clinician advises otherwise. If monitoring supplements, agree the timing with your practitioner.
Do not stop prescribed medicines or prescribed supplements without advice from your treating clinician. Tell WHL about high-dose biotin; some tests need a longer pause. A short supplement pause does not remove all effects of long-term use.
If another test in the same order requires fasting, follow the combined instructions. Ask your clinician or WHL before fasting if you have diabetes, use glucose-lowering medicine, are pregnant, or are arranging testing for a child.
When to expect your results
Usually 3–10 days. This estimate starts when suitable samples reach the laboratory, not on the order or collection date. Shipping is additional. WHL will confirm any test-specific exception; a combined panel follows its slowest component.
Practical preparation tips
If fasting is requested, drink only plain water in your usual amounts. Do not have coffee, tea, juice, milk, energy drinks, sweets or chewing gum. Avoid smoking or vaping that morning. Book an early appointment and eat after collection.
For a planned blood test, avoid alcohol and unusually strenuous exercise for 24 hours, where practical, and sit quietly for about 15 minutes before collection. Tell WHL if you could not follow the preparation instructions.
Do not extend fasting or change prescribed medication on your own. Ask your clinician first if you have diabetes, need medicine with food, are pregnant, or are arranging testing for a child. WHL’s full test-specific instructions take priority.
Sources for this general preparation guidance
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — plasma amino acids
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — vitamin B6
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — B12 and folate
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — vitamins A and E
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — iron studies
- NHS — fasting blood tests
- EAS/EFLM — fasting and non-fasting lipids
- EFLM/COLABIOCLI — preparation for blood collection
Other laboratories’ methods and preparation rules can differ. These sources support the general advice; WHL confirms the instructions for the method used for your test.