What are Essential Amino Acids?
Essential Amino Acids are necessary for good heath but unfortunately cannot be synthesized by the body, therefore, they must be found in diet. These amino acids have an effect on the effectiveness of the body, including tryptophan, which is necessary for the body to create the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin. All of these amino acids can be found in vegetables; however, care is needed for those who are on a strict vegetarian diet to ensure proper levels.
Amino acids (AA) are the building blocks of all proteins and are characterized by the presence of at least one amino group (NH2) and carboxyl or acid group (COOH), hence the name amino acid. Many amino acids are produced by the body, others called essential amino acids, cannot be synthesized by the body in adequate amounts and must be obtained from the diet. The essential amino acids are isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Semi-essential AA (some are made by the body but not enough to meet the body’s needs) are arginine, histidine, cysteine and taurine. Some disorders associated with AA imbalances include alcoholism, ataxia, behavioral disorders, cardiovascular disease, depression, insomnia, hypertension, eye problems, poor wound healing, digestive problems. Inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, includes phenylketonuria (PKU), tyrosinemia, alkaptonuria, maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), etc.
Amino acids may be ordered as a profile of Essential AA, or as Fractionated AA. The essential AA profile contains arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. The fractionated AA profile includes the essential AA plus alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, a-amino-N-butyric acid, citrulline, cystine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, hydroxyproline, ornithine, proline, serine, tyrosine, and taurine.
Test Profile Includes: Histidine; isoleucine; leucine; lysine; methionine; phenylalanine; threonine; tryptophan; valine; arginine
How can I get my levels checked?
The Bio-Center laboratory at the Riordan Clinic offers a simple blood test to determine the amino acid levels in your blood stream. The Bio-Center Laboratory has adopted an open door policy to provide laboratory testing to individuals, doctor offices, clinics and other laboratories without requiring a written doctors order that most other laboratories require. The laboratory accepts appointments for On-Site specimen collection and also offers specimen collection kits that can be sent to your home.
What is the collection process?
Whether you want to check your amino acid levels in person at the Riordan Clinic or have a test collection kit sent to your home, ordering your test is a simple three step process .
On Site Collection
1) Select the "On-Site" test option: This option indicates that you intend to visit the Bio-Center Laboratory at the Riordan Clinic to have your specimen collected. In most cases this is either by a blood draw or urine sample.
2) Make your Purchase: After selecting the test options, add the product to your shopping cart and complete the checkout process. A receipt will be displayed after checkout and a copy will be sent to your email address. Please retain a copy of this receipt for your records.
3) Make your Appointment: Since you have chose to have your specimen collected On-Site, call the Bio-Center laboratory at 316-684-7784 or 800-494-7785, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm to schedule an appointment.
Home Collection Kit
1) Select the "Collection Kit" test option: This option indicates that you would like a test kit sent to your home. This kit will contain all the content needed for your local Dr’s office or a local laboratory to collect your specimen, package it and then return it to the Bio-Center Laboratory. The test kit will provide detailed collection and return shipping instructions. This option includes a $20 surcharge for express FedEx return shipping.
2) Make your Purchase: After selecting the test options, add the product to your shopping cart and complete the checkout process. A receipt will be displayed after checkout and a copy will be sent to your email address. Please retain a copy of this receipt for your records.
3) Make Local Arrangements: Since you have chosen to have a test Collection Kit sent to your home, contact a laboratory or clinic in your local area that will collect and return your specimen to the Bio-Center laboratory. Some potential options are a local Doctor’s office, Clinic, Hospital or Home Healthcare agency. Most will charge a nominal fee of around $30 to collect, process and package your specimen for return to the Bio-Center laboratory. When you contact them, please discuss any additional fees involved in the collection process. Any fees involved in the collection process will be your responsibility. Please note that some laboratory’s or clinics may have policies against collecting specimens for other entities. If you have problems locating a laboratory or clinic in your area, please contact the Bio-Center laboratory for assistance at 316-684-7784 or 800-494-7785, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.
Your Results
After receipt of your specimen, the Bio-Center Laboratory will process the specimen and mail your results to the shipping address specified on your account within 5 to 7 business days. Please contact your primary care physician or make an appointment with a Riordan Clinic doctor to discuss any abnormal test results.
Restrictions
Return specimens must be shipped Monday through Thursday by FedEx overnight delivery. The Bio-Center Laboratory is closed on weekends and holidays. Please avoid shipping specimens to the Bio-Center Laboratory around these days.
New York Residents: The New York State Department of Health requires that any laboratory doing testing on the residents of New York must be inspected by their inspectors and receive a certificate to do testing on their population. Bio Center Laboratory has not been inspected by New York State Department of Health and cannot do testing on New York residents. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Order Your Test
2.00 lbs
Total: $126.00
