Your blood is collected and sent to SpectraCell (no fasting is required). At the laboratory, your white blood cells are isolated and grown in a series of patented culture media. First, the cells are stimulated to grow in the control media which contain optimal amounts of the nutrients we analyze. Then, by removing specific nutrients from the media one at a time, your cells must use their own reserve of those nutrients to grow. If there are no deficiencies in a particular vitamin, the cells will still grow adequately. If, however, the cells do not grow adequately, it represents a deficiency of that vitamin.

FIA is a test to assess your vitamin status.

Rather than measuring serum levels, these tests look inside your white blood cells to identify how well 19 essential nutrients and antioxidant systems FUNCTION by measuring DNA synthesis (cell growth). The results uncover deficiencies that serum tests miss and, if not repleted, could impair your health and contribute to long-term disease processes.

Which nutrients does FIA test?
FIA tests for the following important nutrients: Thiamin (B1) Riboflavin(B2) Niacinamide(B3) Pantothenate(B5) Pyridoxine(B6) Cobalamin(B12) Folate Biotin Inositol Choline Calcium Magnesium Zinc Oleic Acid Glutamine Asparagine Serine Fructose Intolerance Glucose/Insulin Handling Glutathione Cysteine The total antioxidant function test (SPECTROX) measures how well all of your antioxidant systems protect you from free radical damage. This includes dietary antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, beta carotene, Chromium and selenium.

Why is nutrient status important?
Nutrient status is a vital foundation of health, and determined by the way each nutrient functions within your cells. When nutrients do not function at their best, that foundation is compromised, limiting your ability to stay healthy. By identifying and correcting functional deficiencies, you are taking a very important step toward continued health improvement.

Are nutrients functioning in my cells?

Nutrient function is a complex process, occurring every second within our cells. If you learned about the Krebs Cycle in school, you may remember how overwhelming it was to see how each nutrient functioned individually, as well as the role each played in helping other nutrients to function. A marginal deficiency could interrupt the biochemical balance, and a prolonged deficiency could contribute to more serious clinical conditions including heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer, to name a few.

But I eat a balanced diet, exercise and take a multi-vitamin.

If this describes all or part of your lifestyle, read on. Lots of people work at improving their health, yet many still have deficiencies. Why?

BIOCHEMICAL INDIVIDUALITY
Because each of us is metabolically and biochemically unique, the nutrient requirements for one person may be quite different from another.

ABSORPTION
Although you may eat correctly, if you do not absorb vitamins and other essential nutrients properly, you may have deficiencies.

CHRONIC ILLNESS
Health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, chronic fatigue, liver disease, multiple sclerosis and pregnancy, to name a few, are all affected, directly or indirectly, by deficiencies. AGING Our nutrient requirements at age 30 may be quite different from our requirements at age 40, 50 and so on.

LIFESTYLE
Sedentary habits, alcohol, drugs, smoking and overexercising all impact our nutrient demands.

FIA is an intracellular function test that takes all of the above factors into consideration in identifying your baseline nutrient status. With this information, your physician can tailor treatment that is specific to your requirements.