If your omega-3 test results aren't optimal, there's no immediate cause for concern. Simple adjustments to your diet and omega-3 supplementation will help improve your levels.

Omega-3 supplements can be taken at any time of day, but we recommend that you take them with a meal to improve absorption of the omega-3s. Ultimately, consistency is key, so choose a time that works best for you and stick to it.

There could be several reasons why your omega-3 test results aren't optimal despite taking supplements. In a majority of cases, the dosage of EPA + DHA in the omega-3 supplements you're taking isn't sufficient to raise your omega-3 levels to the desired range. Additionally, factors such as individual differences in absorption, metabolism, or lifestyle habits like diet and exercise can influence how your body utilises omega-3 fatty acids.

Here are our recommendations based on your current Omega-3 Index results. Please note that the following suggestions are in addition to your existing diet and omega-3 supplementation:

Omega-3 Index below 4%: Daily intake of 1500 mg/g of EPA + DHA.
Omega-3 Index between 4-5%: Daily intake of 1270 mg/g of EPA + DHA.
Omega-3 Index between 5-6%: Daily intake of 900 mg/g of EPA + DHA.
Omega-3 Index between 6-7%: Daily intake of 520 mg/g of EPA + DHA.
Omega-3 Index at 8%: Daily intake of 250 mg/g of EPA + DHA.

We advise prioritising the intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish whenever feasible. Salmon, tuna, and herring stand out as excellent sources. Yet, even with a diet including fish twice a week, omega-3 supplements may still be necessary to reach your optimal omega-3 index range. When opting for a supplement, make sure it contains EPA and DHA. Check the label to confirm the presence of these essential omega-3s, enabling you to determine the total amount you're consuming.

Here are our recommendations based on your current prenatal DHA results. Please note that the following suggestions are in addition to your existing diet and omega-3 supplementation:

Prenatal below 3%: Daily intake of 800 mg/g of DHA.
Prenatal 3-4%: Daily intake of 500 mg/g of DHA.
Prenatal 4-5%: Daily intake of 300 mg/g of DHA.

Once the sample is received at our laboratory, the results will be ready within 3-5 business days.

Once your sample reaches our laboratory, you'll receive an email notification. Additionally, when you log into your account, you'll see that your sample status is listed as "Processing."

If an unregistered sample collection card is received at our laboratory, our team will enter the details from the card into our system. However, it's important to note that this manual process is subject to human interpretation and occasional input errors may occur. Should you not receive an email confirmation within two weeks of posting your sample to us, please reach out to us.

Within 1.5 years from the date of purchase. For the precise date, kindly refer the back of the packaging. Alternatively, you can reach out to us with the barcode, and we will promptly provide you with the information you need.

We are committed to protecting your privacy. We ensure that your personal data remains confidential and is not shared with any third parties. Your information is secure with us and is only accessible to you. You can opt to remove your data from our server at anytime.

If your sample is lost then we will replacement it free of charge.

QNS can indicate two scenarios: either "Quantity not Sufficient," suggesting insufficient blood spot provided for analysis, or "Quality not Sufficient," meaning the sample took longer than the permitted six weeks to reach our lab. In either case, we will replace the test kit at no additional cost to you.

Dried Blood Spots (DBS) is a method pioneered by Dr. Robert Guthrie in 1963, has revolutionised the collection and analysis of small blood samples. This innovative technique only requires a simple finger-prick, after which the blood is applied to absorbent paper and left to dry. DBS has significantly broadened its scope of application over the decades.

The Omega-3 Index report you received shows you the percentage of EPA and DHA in your red blood cell membranes. Your levels are indicative of the amount of omega-3s in your diet and how much your body is using. An Omega-3 Index range between 8-12% is considered the desirable range.

The reference ranges provided are meant to help you understand how your results compare to those from a relatively healthy population, based on about 75,000 dried blood spots. It's important to note that the health status of these individuals is unknown. These ranges include 99% of the population studied and represent "average" levels, which are not necessarily "optimal" or target levels that one should aim to achieve.

We only feel justified in providing specific target or optimal levels for certain results like the Omega-3 Index, Ratios, and Trans Fat Index, which have been extensively researched. As scientific understanding evolves, we might update our recommendations for other fatty acids or ratios if new research sufficiently supports such changes.

It's also important to recognise that the reference ranges are for informational purposes only and are not intended to guide dietary modifications. Current research does not support the idea that individuals with levels outside the "average" range should alter their diets to adjust their fatty acid levels. This is because most fatty acid levels are determined more by genetics and metabolism than by diet. Additionally, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that modifying fatty acid levels—aside from those specifically researched like the Omega-3 and Trans Fat Indexes—would be beneficial. Therefore, we provide these numbers for you to track without recommending specific changes until more conclusive research is available.

The AA/EPA ratio is your level of arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6 fatty acid, vs. eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid. These are important fatty acids in metabolism because eicosanoids and prostaglandins can be made from them. These molecules are very potent in the body in causing a lot of changes. Having different levels of these two fatty acids could affect processes that ultimately impact inflammation and overall health. We recommend optimising the omega-3 side of the equation, which inevitably means increasing your Omega-3 Index and getting into the optimal range.

Omega-3 DHA is an important component of a baby’s developing brain and it is present in breast milk. DHA levels in breast milk, like blood, go up and down mainly based on how much you eat. We recommend Mother’s Milk DHA levels of at least 0.32% to meet the needs of the infant’s growing brain.

The Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio (also written “n-6/n-3”) report provides analysis for 7 omega-6 fatty acids and 4 omega-3 fatty acids. This analysis is performed from your whole blood as opposed to red blood cell membranes like the Omega-3 Index. The total amount of omega-6s and omega-3s are divided by each other to get a ratio. We recommend a ratio of 3-5:1 (omega-6:omega-3). It will be displayed in the little blue circles and then on the scale in your report.

The Omega-3 Index for Pets measures the amount of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in your pet’s blood, just like the Omega-3 Index for humans. Omega-3 Index levels in dogs are lower than for humans in general. This test is only provides omega-3 status for dogs at this time.

Trans fats are unsaturated fats (i.e., fats with 1 or more double bonds) in which at least 1 of the double bonds is in the trans (instead of the more natural cis) configuration (see diagram below). Trans fats can occur naturally at fairly low levels in some meat and milk products, but most of the trans fats that Americans consume are industrially produced. That is, they are produced from liquid vegetable oils by the process of “hydrogenation”, which results in the creation of solid fats like shortening, margarine, etc.

When you get your Prenatal DHA results report your level will be marked by an arrow. If you are below 5% you will be in the yellow or red zone. If you are 5% or above, then you will land in the green zone, which is ideally where you want to be. The goal is to know where you are and then re-test after a few months to see if the changes you’ve made have impacted your DHA level, especially if you are below 5%.