Amino Acids Analysis Lab Test

Amino acids are compounds that combine to form protein. When proteins are digested, amino acids are left. They are the raw materials used to make neurotransmitters and other substances.

Amino acids are classified as either "essential" amino acids (which must be consumed in the diet), or "nonessential" amino acids (which can be made by the body from the essential amino acids). The Amino Acids Analysis uses a blood or urine sample to assess the levels of 40 amino acids. It provides the most precise measurement of the "essential" amino acids, the ones we cannot make in our bodies and must get from nutritional sources.

Health conditions it's used to assess
The Amino Acids Analysis is used for chronic fatigue, assessing the risk of heart disease, depression, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, inflammation, and neurological disorders.

What's involved
The Amino Acids Analysis uses a 24-hour urine collection to identify and measure 40+ amino acids. A blood test can also be done.

How can I get this test done?
Talk to your health care professional about your symptoms and ask if this test would be useful for you. It can be done through:
Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory