Infections/Immune/Neural/Food Zoomer Collection Instructions
Important:
For optimal and clinically relevant results, patients should maintain their routine diet, medications, and supplements unless specifically instructed otherwise by their healthcare provider.
Time of Collection: Samples may be collected at any convenient time of the day, unless otherwise instructed.
Avoid collection: N/A.
Fasting: Not Required.
Consult your healthcare provider before making any lifestyle changes, including changes to prescribed medications, dietary restrictions, or supplements.
RECOMMENDED: Preparing for the Test to Avoid Test Interference
- Medications: If taking immunosuppressive medications (e.g., corticosteroids, biologics, or chemotherapy agents), inform the lab or your provider, as these may lower antibody levels.
- Hydration: Ensure adequate hydration by drinking 8 glasses of water per day for 2-3 days before the test. On the collection day, do not drink more than 8 oz of water 1 hour prior to urine collection.
OPTIONAL: Preparing for the Test to Avoid Biological Effects
- Diet: Maintain your usual diet and avoid introducing new supplements or immune-boosting products (ex., high-dose vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, elderberry, or herbal immune blends) for 72 hours prior to collection. Avoid alcohol consumption and excessive caffeine 24 hours before collection.
- Supplements: Avoid taking high-dose immune-modulating supplements (e.g., omega-3, curcumin, or vitamin D) for 48 hours before collection.
- Environmental Factors: Avoid intense physical exercise and exposure to environmental pollutants (e.g., cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes) 24 hours before the test.
Test Interference: Test interference occurs when a food, supplement, or medication alters the sample, or directly interferes with testing reagents. Test interference causes an inaccurate result (e.g., false positive, false negative, false higher, or false lower).
Biological Effects: Even without interfering with the test, some substances can influence your body’s biomarkers, affecting your results by increasing or decreasing the biomarker. However, biological effects do not interfere with test performance, accuracy, or validity. Results will be accurate as measured.