Test Directory

TEST OVERVIEW

Inflammation is an underlying, sometimes unrecognised condition, accompanying many diseases and medical conditions. This test includes AA:EPA ratio, CRP, 17 ketosteroids and total OH corticoids and their ratios. This is a combination of our AA:EPA test and our ANABOLIC/CATABOLIC INDEX tests.

AA:EPA ratio is calculated from the balance of the precursors of the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids (derived from arachidonic acid) and the anti-inflammatory eicosanoids (derived from eicosapentanoic acid) in the body. Laboratory involvement provides further support for the beneficial effect of maintaining an ideal AA:EPA ratio in the prevention and management of many disorders, especially chronic and inflammatory diseases and heart disease. By balancing these eicosanoids one is able to more effectively control inflammation in the body.

The ideal AA:EPA ratio is 1.5. The average ratio of the Western diet is approximately 11 and in patients with inflammatory conditions and neurological disorders, the ratio can be in excess of 20.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is also a well-defined inflammatory marker that can easily be measured.

Anabolic:Catabolic Index or the rate of anabolic versus catabolic activity in the body, tends to decrease with age and is exacerbated with illness, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, impaired immune function, inflammation, stress and many other medical conditions.

The 17-ketosteroids are defined as anabolic steroids and the 17-hydroxycorticoids are defined as catabolic steroids. The ratio of these steroids involved in the body processes allow evaluation of the body’s anabolic/catabolic metabolism giving indication of a patient’s susceptibility to illness or response to illness or stress.

As tendency toward an anabolic metabolic state is preferable for a healthier state, an anabolic:catabolic ratio greater than 1.0 is desirable. Therefore, an anabolic:catabolic ratio of less than 1.0 is suggestive of a catabolic state.

TEST PREPARATION

• Patient must be fasting for 8-12 hours prior to this test. Patient may have water
  
• It is not necessary to discontinue nutritional supplements or oral hormones prior to this test.
  Abnormalities that may be found will reveal special needs that have not been met by recent dietary and supplement intake.
  

COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS

AA:EPA ratio & CRP - 5ml blood in SST gel tube or EDTA Vacutainer OR finger prick blood spot collection.
Anabolic:Catabolic - First morning void urine collection.

RESULT TURNAROUND TIME

14 days after receipt of sample and test fee payment at PathLab Integrative Medicine.

TEST CODE:

InflamPr

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