Services > Blood Work Analysis
Acupuncturists do not get trained in Western Medicine style blood work as part of our Degree work, but many Acupuncturists like myself spend time in Continuing Education courses due to its prevalent use in Western Medicine. The blood work analysis courses are typically taught by Medical Doctors, and the curriculum is very comprehensive.
As an Acupuncturist in California, I can in fact order blood work for my patients, but if the order does not come from an MD, the cost of the labs is often times not covered by insurance.
Instead of taking on the responsibility of ordering blood work for my patients when they want it, I offer a slightly different service. I assist you with setting up an account that enables you to order your own blood work and I assist you with specifying your needs and analyizing your results.
Instead of taking on the responsibility of ordering blood work for my patients when they want it, I offer a slightly different service. I assist you with setting up an account that enables you to order your own blood work and I assist you with specifying your needs and analyizing your results.
Direct Labs -- Blood Draw Service
Direct Labs is an online portal you can use to order your own blood work and schedule blood draws at a facility near you without a specific order from your own Doctor or from me. I have have found the pricing at www.directlabs.com to be very reasonable. There may be other online services that enable this direct ordering of blood work, but this is the one I am most familiar with.
As mentioned above, your insurance typically will not cover any blood work or analysis without an MD's involvement.
As mentioned above, your insurance typically will not cover any blood work or analysis without an MD's involvement.
My Services as it relates to Bloodwork
I can assist you with specifying blood work that you can then order from Direct Labs or a comparable company
If you are just ordering very simple and specific blood work, such as a cholesterol screening, a quick review of those results would be included with an Acupuncture Treatment or Nutritional Checkup.
- $120 Pre Draw Consultation -- I charge $120 for a 60 minute consult to assist you with identifying tests appropriate for you and to assist you with the Direct Labs account setup and order process. You most certainly can try to do this all on your own, but if you want more than a simple test, the options and the process can be overwhelming -- and much of the confusion has to do with selecting the "packages" that combine tests at discounted rates.
- $60 Pre Draw Consultation -- This is a 30 minute consult for those who already have your account with Direct Labs or another do-it-yourself blood draw company setup, and you just want assistance specifying tests that are the most appropriate for you.
- $120 Post Draw Blood Work Analysis -- 60 minute consult with patient to review blood test results and discuss treatment options. Most blood work analysis requires this level of service. Depending on outcome of the analysis an additional appointment may be required to determine appropriate treatment protocols.
- $60 Post Draw Blood Work Analysis -- 30 minute consult with patient to review blood test results and discuss treatment options. This is for a simpler set of lab work. Depending on outcome of the analysis an additional appointment may be required to determine appropriate treatment protocols.
If you are just ordering very simple and specific blood work, such as a cholesterol screening, a quick review of those results would be included with an Acupuncture Treatment or Nutritional Checkup.
Recommended Annual Blood Work
If money is no object, below is the list of blood tests you should get done annually. It looks like a lot of items, but most typically are included in package tests that are ordered with one or two service codes.
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Foundation Tests:
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Cardio:
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Recommended Annual Blood Work -- With Direct Labs...
Ordering Blood Work is not always the most straight forward process. There are various packages that combine some tests but not others. Some of these items are individual tests. Generally speaking it's best to find the packages that are available, and then supplement with indvidual tests. There may be some overlap...
=== Complete Wellness Panel -- $97 ===
The Comprehensive Wellness Panel (CWP) is said to be one of their most popular tests.
The individual tests that are not covered are included in a list below... but before going there, it is worth looking at other bundles which include the CWP and others that we are missing...
=== CWP plus something ===
if you go to the Order Tests > View Tests link (https://directlabs.com/OrderTests/tabid/55/language/en-US/Default.aspx) there is a search box. Enter CWP and you will see the CWP as well as all packages that include it...
Unfortunately this only typically gets one or two more tests... the Vitamin D adder saves $20 and that test is not bundled otherwise...
=== 10 Most Important ===
Direct Labs has a test called "10 Most Important". The regular price is $319 but it has been on a monthly special for $249 before.
From our list this includes:
The Comprehensive Wellness Panel (CWP) is said to be one of their most popular tests.
- https://directlabs.com/OrderTests/MostPopularTests/CWP/tabid/192/language/en-US/Default.aspx
- Foundation -- COVERED: CBC, CMP, and Basic Lipid Panel is covered || NOT Covered: LP(a) is NOT covered
- Thyroid - COVERED: TSH || NOT Covered: FT3, FT4, Reverse T3, TPO AB and TG AB
- Cardio -- COVERED: none || NOT Covered: CRP, Homocysteine, Fibrinogen
- Vitamin D -- COVERED: none || NOT Covered: 25 OH-D
- Extended Sugar -- COVERED: none || NOT Covered: Insulin, HGB A1C
- Other -- COVERED: none || NOT Covered: RBC Magnasium
The individual tests that are not covered are included in a list below... but before going there, it is worth looking at other bundles which include the CWP and others that we are missing...
=== CWP plus something ===
if you go to the Order Tests > View Tests link (https://directlabs.com/OrderTests/tabid/55/language/en-US/Default.aspx) there is a search box. Enter CWP and you will see the CWP as well as all packages that include it...
- CWP + Thyroid - $139, but this only includes one or two more of the desired thyroid tests
- CWP + T3 free and T4 free - $167, need to compare this to the one above..
- CWP + HGB A1C -- $119, but this only includes one of the extended sugar tests
- CWP + Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy -- $139
- Cardiovascular Essential -- CWP + CRP,hs + Homocysteine -- $184
Unfortunately this only typically gets one or two more tests... the Vitamin D adder saves $20 and that test is not bundled otherwise...
=== 10 Most Important ===
Direct Labs has a test called "10 Most Important". The regular price is $319 but it has been on a monthly special for $249 before.
From our list this includes:
- 10 Most Important -- $249... ($319 regularly...)
- CWP CRP and Homocysteine
- Vitamin D
- Hemoglobin A1C
- It also includes Ferritin, which is good and it includes some hormone tests which are considered by some to be better tested via saliva.
If you had to limit your testing...
If you had to limit your testing...
- CWP with CRP and Homocysteine for 184..
- Thyroid panel without antibodies -- 99
Individual Tests...
Below is a list of individual tests...
-- Foundational --
-- Thyroid --
-- Cardio --
CRP and Homecysteine come in a bundled CWP for $184..https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=676
--- Vitamin D ----
-- Sugar Details --
-- OTHER --
- Lipo protein(a) -- $80 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=288
-- Thyroid --
- Thyroid Panel with TSH plus Free T3 and Free T4 -- $99 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=384 $99 gets all recommended BUT TPO AB and TG AB
- TPO antibody -- $49 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=232
- TG antibody -- $87 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=645
-- Cardio --
CRP and Homecysteine come in a bundled CWP for $184..https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=676
- Cardiac CRP -- $45 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=25 but does not include Homocysteine
- Homocysteine - 69 https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=40
- Fibrinogen Activity -- $49 ---- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=251 -- this does not seem to be bundled with anything..
--- Vitamin D ----
- 25OHD - $59 https://directlabs.com/Resources/Vitamins/VitaminD/tabid/273/language/en-US/Default.aspx -- this is generally not bundles with anything other than the CWP
-- Sugar Details --
- HGB A1C can be bundled with CRP and Homocysteine for $119 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=1316
- HGB A1C - $39 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=48
- Insulin -- $34 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=103 -- this does not appear to be bundled with anything..
-- OTHER --
- RBC Magnesium -- $59 -- https://directlabs.com/TestDetail.aspx?testid=177 -- this does not appear to be bundled with anything...
Direct Labs -- Example Tests
coming soon...