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Vitamin Levels
Vitamin Levels

25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus and is essential
for proper growth and healthy teeth and bones throughout your life.

How is the test performed?

Blood sample.

FAQs

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorous to help maintain strong bones and teeth. In children, vitamin D helps fuel the growth of healthy bones and teeth. As we age, it helps prevent osteoporosis (decreased bone mass) which leads to an increased risk of fractures. Often known as the “sunshine vitamin”, vitamin D is produced by your body when the sun’s UV rays contact your skin. It doesn’t occur naturally in many foods, but can be found in fish, eggs and fortified dairy and cereal products, or by taking vitamin supplements. It is estimated that up to one-third of Canadians do not have the recommended levels of vitamin D.

Your ability to produce vitamin D is greatly impacted by:

  • Geograghy
  • The season/weather
  • Sunscreen usage
  • Skin pigment
  • Age

Your ability to absorb vitamin D from your diet or supplements may be impacted by:

  • Malabsorption syndromes such as fat malabsorption or gastric bypass surgery

There are several factors which can increase your risk of Vitamin D deficiency:

  • Not consuming enough food types rich in vitamin D. This is likely if you don’t each fish, follow a strict vegan diet, or are lactose-intolerant.
  • Not getting enough safe exposure to the sun. This can be caused by geography, the weather, sunscreen usage and even skin pigment. Adults and the elderly are at a higher risk as they tend spend less time in the sun.
  • You have kidney issues which prevent vitamin D from being converted to its active form in your body. This happens mostly within older age groups.
  • Certain medical problems which can effect your ability to absorb vitamin D such as Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease. Certain people with obesity can also have vitamin D deficiency, since vitamin D is extracted from the blood by fat cells, altering its release into the circulation.

Additional information can be found in our 25 Hydroxy vitamin D test brochure here.

The 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D test is a blood test to help you measure your vitamin D levels. Also known as the 25-OH Vitamin D test and the calcidiol 25-hydroxycholecalcifoerol test. The test can determine if your Vitamin D levels are too high or too low.

Additional information can be found in our 25 Hydroxy vitamin D test brochure  here.

There are a number of specific medical conditions for which vitamin D testing is indicated and, the test may be funded by provincial insurance plans.

You should discuss with your doctor whether you are at risk for low vitamin D levels and if this test is right for you.

Your doctor or healthcare provider will order this test if they suspect that you’re showing signs of Vitamin D deficiency, or if you’re at risk of developing this deficiency.

Ask your healthcare provider for advice about your vitamin D levels and if the 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D test should be part of your regular health checkups.

You can order the test here. 

Testing is completed by LifeLabs at a Patient Service Centre or via our mobile lab service (available in select cities) through a simple blood sample. You will require a completed test requisition from your healthcare provider.

You can order the test here. 

Test results will be provided directly to your doctor for discussion with you. The report will indicate:

  • Vitamin D levels in the form of nanomoles/liter (nmol/L)
  • Whether levels are normal, deficient, insufficient or too high.

Your medical history, age, gender and other factors influence the outcome of the tests. Your doctor will help explain the results and determine whether further testing or treatment is required.

FAQs

The 25-hydroxy Vitamin D test is a simple blood test and the best way to monitor Vitamin D levels. The test is also known as the 25-OH Vitamin D test and the calcidiol 25-hydroxycholecalcifoerol test. This test should be ordered if there are clinical indications of vitamin D deficiencies including if the patients has conditions commonly associated with vitamin D deficiencies.

Order form here

Samples for 25-Hydroxy vitamin D testing may be taken at any of our Patient Service Centres. Patients must have the requisition form above completed by a physician or healthcare provider.

Results will be available to you within two weeks.

We have a wealth of medical experts available to support you in interpreting test results.
Consults with our experts are available upon request. Request medical consultation.

    Request more information

    A 25-Hydroxy test may be scheduled directly by the patient at any of our Patient Service Centres offering this service. They must have a requisition form completed by a physician or healthcare provider.

    Find a Location   Schedule an Appointment

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