m_ob
New Member
There is much hype about the Spectracell test for nutrient deficiencies. It does not seem very professional the way it is carried out
Q: What is SpectraCell Laboratories, Inc.?
A: The company was founded in 1993 to commercialize micronutrient testing. With the support of clinicians throughout the country, it has become the premier provider of functional testing.
Q: What is Micronutrient Testing?
A: SpectraCell's micronutrient testing is a next generation blood test for measuring specific vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other essential micronutrients within an individual's white blood cells (lymphocytes). It is the gold standard for this type of test.
The gold standard??
Q: Who developed the technology?
A: William Shive, Ph.D., chairman of the department of biochemistry and a researcher in the field of nutrition at the University of Texas, began work on a diagnostic test for clinicians in 1978. His work was strongly influenced by researchers like Roger Williams, Ph.D., the progressive and eminent scientist who wrote Biochemical Individuality and discovered vitamin B5. SpectraCell later licensed this technology from the Clayton Foundation for Research.
Q: How was the technology developed?
A: Dr. Shive first identified appropriate cells for the functional assays. He selected lymphocyte cells because they are simple to collect (via venipuncture), easily isolated from other whole blood components, and maintainable in culture for days to weeks.
Q: How do lymphocytes provide a nutritional history?
A: Most lymphocytes obtained by venipuncture are in a resting state in terms of cell division. Since they have a 4- to 6-month lifespan, the nutrient levels accumulated in these lymphocytes represent a history of an individual's nutrient status. This situation is analogous to using HbA1c measurements to approximate a diabetic person's glucose levels over the months preceding a test. Thus, lymphocytes provide a history rather than a snapshot of nutrient intake.
Resting lymphocytes can be stimulated by a lymphocyte-specific mitogen to undergo cell division and grow in culture. The degree of growth that the lymphocytes can maintain is directly related to the nutrients they have available. Thus, our micronutrient testing provides a functional intracellular assessment of nutrient status accumulated in human lymphocytes over their resting lifespan.
Q: Is SpectraCell's Micronutrient Testing different from other tests?
A: SpectraCell’s tests are more clinically useful than standard serum tests. Standard tests only measure static quantities of vitamins and minerals present in serum, primarily reflecting dietary intake. But, with our patented technology, we assess long-term intracellular requirements using each patient’s lymphocytes. Under a variety of nutrient depletion conditions, we measure the growth response of these cells to mitogenic stimulation. This determines functional intracellular deficiencies, which might not be detected by standard serum tests, and provides a powerful clinical assessment tool
Q: What is a Functional (or Subclinical) Deficiency?
A: A functional deficiency encompasses any of the factors that reduce the efficacy of a nutrient. Thus, a given nutrient may be present, but it may not be properly activated, appropriately localized or have sufficient cofactors to function at a normal level of activity. No matter what the cause, the result will be a defect in the biochemical pathways that depend upon that nutrient for optimal function. A deficient or defective pathway may operate at a sub-optimal level for many months, or even years, before a clinical symptom becomes apparent.
Q: Why test Micronutrients?
A: Nutrient status is a vital foundation of health. Each micronutrient plays an indispensable role in promoting optimal cell function. When some cells do not function at their best, the foundation of our health is compromised, setting the stage for the development of disease. Identifying and correcting nutritional deficiencies is an important step in the long-term maintenance of optimal health.
Vitamin deficiencies aren’t just a reflection of diet. Since we are all biochemically unique, nutrient deficiencies will vary from patient to patient, and do not necessarily correlate directly with nutrient intake, even among those with similar health conditions. Many factors beyond diet determine whether nutrient function is adequate. These include biochemical individuality, genetic predisposition, absorption and metabolism, age, disease conditions and medications.
Q: What diseases or conditions are linked to nutrient imbalance?
A: Arthritis, Parkinson's, alcoholism/substance abuse, behavioral disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic fatigue, macular degeneration, diabetes, immune disorders, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and osteoporosis have been linked to nutrient imbalances. Studies published in 2002 in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirm the connection between nutrient deficiencies and disease processes
Q: What is SpectraCell Laboratories, Inc.?
A: The company was founded in 1993 to commercialize micronutrient testing. With the support of clinicians throughout the country, it has become the premier provider of functional testing.
Q: What is Micronutrient Testing?
A: SpectraCell's micronutrient testing is a next generation blood test for measuring specific vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other essential micronutrients within an individual's white blood cells (lymphocytes). It is the gold standard for this type of test.
The gold standard??
Q: Who developed the technology?
A: William Shive, Ph.D., chairman of the department of biochemistry and a researcher in the field of nutrition at the University of Texas, began work on a diagnostic test for clinicians in 1978. His work was strongly influenced by researchers like Roger Williams, Ph.D., the progressive and eminent scientist who wrote Biochemical Individuality and discovered vitamin B5. SpectraCell later licensed this technology from the Clayton Foundation for Research.
Q: How was the technology developed?
A: Dr. Shive first identified appropriate cells for the functional assays. He selected lymphocyte cells because they are simple to collect (via venipuncture), easily isolated from other whole blood components, and maintainable in culture for days to weeks.
Q: How do lymphocytes provide a nutritional history?
A: Most lymphocytes obtained by venipuncture are in a resting state in terms of cell division. Since they have a 4- to 6-month lifespan, the nutrient levels accumulated in these lymphocytes represent a history of an individual's nutrient status. This situation is analogous to using HbA1c measurements to approximate a diabetic person's glucose levels over the months preceding a test. Thus, lymphocytes provide a history rather than a snapshot of nutrient intake.
Resting lymphocytes can be stimulated by a lymphocyte-specific mitogen to undergo cell division and grow in culture. The degree of growth that the lymphocytes can maintain is directly related to the nutrients they have available. Thus, our micronutrient testing provides a functional intracellular assessment of nutrient status accumulated in human lymphocytes over their resting lifespan.
Q: Is SpectraCell's Micronutrient Testing different from other tests?
A: SpectraCell’s tests are more clinically useful than standard serum tests. Standard tests only measure static quantities of vitamins and minerals present in serum, primarily reflecting dietary intake. But, with our patented technology, we assess long-term intracellular requirements using each patient’s lymphocytes. Under a variety of nutrient depletion conditions, we measure the growth response of these cells to mitogenic stimulation. This determines functional intracellular deficiencies, which might not be detected by standard serum tests, and provides a powerful clinical assessment tool
Q: What is a Functional (or Subclinical) Deficiency?
A: A functional deficiency encompasses any of the factors that reduce the efficacy of a nutrient. Thus, a given nutrient may be present, but it may not be properly activated, appropriately localized or have sufficient cofactors to function at a normal level of activity. No matter what the cause, the result will be a defect in the biochemical pathways that depend upon that nutrient for optimal function. A deficient or defective pathway may operate at a sub-optimal level for many months, or even years, before a clinical symptom becomes apparent.
Q: Why test Micronutrients?
A: Nutrient status is a vital foundation of health. Each micronutrient plays an indispensable role in promoting optimal cell function. When some cells do not function at their best, the foundation of our health is compromised, setting the stage for the development of disease. Identifying and correcting nutritional deficiencies is an important step in the long-term maintenance of optimal health.
Vitamin deficiencies aren’t just a reflection of diet. Since we are all biochemically unique, nutrient deficiencies will vary from patient to patient, and do not necessarily correlate directly with nutrient intake, even among those with similar health conditions. Many factors beyond diet determine whether nutrient function is adequate. These include biochemical individuality, genetic predisposition, absorption and metabolism, age, disease conditions and medications.
Q: What diseases or conditions are linked to nutrient imbalance?
A: Arthritis, Parkinson's, alcoholism/substance abuse, behavioral disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic fatigue, macular degeneration, diabetes, immune disorders, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and osteoporosis have been linked to nutrient imbalances. Studies published in 2002 in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirm the connection between nutrient deficiencies and disease processes
