Description
Specimen: Blood draw required at local LabCorp
**This test requires a blood draw at a local LabCorp. Please confirm local availability of LabCorp location via LabCorp.com. The lab orders will be sent to DHA Lab, who will call you directly to provide the lab requisition via email, plus location of your nearest LabCorp office, and everything you need to have your blood drawn.
Description:
Whole Blood histamine levels are used as a marker for methylation status, and to determine the presence of histadelia, or histapenia. Histamine, in its whole blood form, is utilized as an accurate marker for under methylation or over methylation.
Elevated whole blood histamine levels indicate under-methylation. Review of symptoms and medical history can bolster the diagnosis. For example, most under-methylated persons exhibit seasonal allergies, perfectionism, strong wills, slenderness, OCD tendencies, high libido, depression.
Low whole blood histamine levels indicate over-methylation. Persons who are over-methylated generally exhibit high anxiety, panic disorders, absence of seasonal allergies, presence of food/chemical sensitivities, dry eyes, low perspiration, artistic/music interests/abilities, intolerance to Prozac and other SSRI’s, etc.
Conditions associated with under-methylation are: Anorexia, Bulimia, shopping/gambling disorders, depression, schizo-affective disorder, delusions, oppositional-defiant disorder, OCD.
Conditions associated with over-methylation are: Anxiety/Panic disorders, anxious depression, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, low motivation, paranoid schizophrenia, hallucinations. (Oct 3, 2003) Most persons with depression, oppositional defiant disorder, OCD, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia exhibit a genetic abnormality in methylation which appears to be central to their illness. Carl Pfeiffer, MD, PhD of Princeton, NJ was a pioneer in this field. (Oct 3, 2003)
Preparation: A fasting specimen is preferred, but not required. Antihistamine medications and supplements will affect the test result if taken within 2 weeks of testing. Patients can fast for 12 hours prior to specimen collection. Supplements containing vitamins or minerals should be stopped 12-24 hours prior to your blood draw. Do not avoid supplements for longer than 24 hours. Sports drinks and energy drinks such as Redbull or Vitamin Water are known to contain levels of vitamins and minerals that would classify them as supplements. Please look at the vitamin and mineral information on your products. If they are considered a supplement, like Ensure, please discontinue them 12 hours prior to specimen collection. Anti-histamines, if approved by your practitioner, should be stopped 21 days prior to your blood draw.