Return to collection guide
Effortless, accurate, and personalized care
Order the test from the comfort of your home. No visit to your healthcare provider required.
With two test options to choose from, you can collect your sample when and where it works best for you. Take control of your health effortlessly with our all-in-one testing service.
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Convenient & Fast Online Ordering
Order the test from the comfort of your home. Request form included in the kit no visit to doctor's clinic required.
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Self Collect Easily, Delivered to Your Door
With a finger prick and easy-to-follow instructions, you can collect your sample when and where it works best for you.
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Immediate, Secure Results Access
When your results are ready, you will receive a notification to access your results over our secure platform.
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Convenient & Fast Online Ordering
Order the test from the comfort of your home. An online signed request form will be provided with no visit to your doctor’s clinic required.
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Book a lab appointment
Visit one of our conveniently located LifeLab’s PSC to get your sample collected.
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Results available via your MCC account
When your results are ready, you can login to your MyCareCompass account to access your results.
Accessing Vitamin D testing through a primary care provider
You can schedule an appointment with a primary care provider, such as your family doctor, to discuss Vitamin D testing. Once your primary care provider gives you a signed request form, simply take it to your nearest LifeLabs location for sample collection.
Are you a healthcare provider?
If you require more information about this test, please contact us.
Vitamin D Health
(25-Hydroxy) Kit
Accessible, convenient, and comfortable testing
(25-Hydroxy) Kit
Accessible, convenient, and comfortable testing
This at-home collection kit offers a quick, easy, and convenient way to order your test and self-collect your sample from the comfort and privacy of your home. You will have six months to use your kit. When you send your blood sample to LifeLabs, your Vitamin D levels will be tested. Your results will be available online and a healthcare provider from LifeLabs third-party clinical partner will contact you if your Vitamin D levels are out of normal range.
What is a Vitamin D
(25-Hydroxy) test?
A Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test is a simple blood test and the most accurate way to monitor your Vitamin D levels. It measures the amount of Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) in your blood, providing a reliable indication of your Vitamin D status, assessing deficiency risk, and establishing a baseline for ongoing monitoring.
Why is Vitamin D
(25-Hydroxy)
testing important?
(25-Hydroxy)
testing important?
It is estimated that 26% of Canadians are considered to have inadequate Vitamin D levels and 8% are considered deficient. However, the likelihood of Vitamin D inadequacy and/or deficiency doubles during the winter months due to shortened daylight hours, less sun intensity, less outdoor activities, and less skin exposure to the sun.
Vitamin D is a family of compounds that are essential by helping your body absorb calcium, and maintain bone strength throughout your life. It has also been shown to influence the growth and differentiation of many other tissues, and to help regulate the immune system. Deficiency in Vitamin D can also lead to several health issues over time.
Who should get tested?
The test is for anyone who wants to know their Vitamin D levels or is at risk of developing Vitamin D deficiency. An individual’s ability to produce Vitamin D is greatly impacted by:
- Geography
- The season/weather
- Sunscreen usage
- Skin pigment
- Age
If you’re experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, bone weakness, hair loss, muscle weakness, muscle aches or muscle cramps, you may have Vitamin D deficiency.
Adults ages 18+ can get tested for Vitamin D using LifeLabs Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) tests.
Order a kit today
The Vitamin D Health (25-Hydroxy) Kit is a quick and easy way to collect your sample from the comfort and privacy of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test?
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The Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test is a simple blood test and the most accurate way to monitor Vitamin D levels. It measures the amount of Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) in your blood, providing a reliable indication of your Vitamin D status, assessing deficiency risk, and establishing a baseline for ongoing monitoring.
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Why is the Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test important?
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Vitamin D is produced by your body when ultraviolet light (sunshine) contact your skin. It can be supplemented by eating fortified food sources or taking Vitamin D supplements. Its most well-known function is to regulate calcium concentrations in the body for bone health, but more and more research is showing that it plays a much larger and more important role in your overall health, especially within the immune system. These self-initiated tests can help detect potential Vitamin D deficiency, which is common in up to one-third of Canadians. Proactively managing your health has never been easier!
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What is included in the tests?
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Vitamin D Health (25-Hydroxy) Kit
For $90, the Vitamin D Health (25-Hydroxy) Kit includes everything you need for effortless home collection. As an introductory offer, we are currently offering the test at $65 for a limited time. This includes:
- Innovative Collection Device: Simple and precise at-home sample collection.
- Free Shipping: Fast and secure delivery of your kit.
- On Demand Customer Support: Assistance when you need it.
- Online Guidance: Step-by-step videos and instructions.
- Virtual Healthcare Provider: An online provider to sign your request form and follow up on abnormal results.
- Online Results: Conveniently view your results online.
Vitamin D Health (25-Hydroxy) Test
The Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) Test is $65 and includes
- Online Request Form: Signed and sent to you via email or available for download online.
- PSC Collection: Sample collection at one of our conveniently located Patient Service Centers at no additional cost.
- On Demand Customer Support: Assistance when you need it.
- Virtual Healthcare Provider: An online provider to follow up on your abnormal results.
- Online Results: Conveniently view your results online.
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What do I need to do to prepare for the test?
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It is recommended that you drink plenty of fluids the day before collecting your sample.
You do not need to fast to prepare for this blood test.
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How do I collect my Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) sample?
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LifeLabs offers two Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test options. For the At-home Self Collection kit, your sample will be collected at home onto a dried blood spot card. To learn more about the process please visit our online instructions page. For collection at a Patient Service Center, your sample can be collected at one of our convenient locations or through MyVisit™ (additional cost required for MyVisit™ appointments).
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When should I check my Vitamin D levels?
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The Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test can give you specific insights into your diet and lifestyle, enabling you to quickly and easily identify and manage any Vitamin D deficiencies. Anyone can develop Vitamin D deficiency. However, some may be at a higher risk if the individual:
- Has limited sun exposure or always uses sunscreen
- Has darker skin, which reduces the body’s ability to produce Vitamin D from sunlight
- Follows a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, as most natural sources of Vitamin D come from fish, eggs and fortified dairy and cereal products
- Is not taking Vitamin D supplements
You should take the Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test if:
- You want to identify areas for improvement of your overall health
- You want to be proactive in managing your long-term health
- You are experiencing any symptoms (e.g. hair loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, mood changes, depression, muscle cramps, gastrointestinal malabsorption disorders)
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What if I would like to access the Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test through my regular primary care provider?
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You can schedule an appointment with your regular primary care provider, such as your family doctor, to discuss Vitamin D testing. Once your primary care provider gives you a signed request form, simply take it to your nearest LifeLabs location for sample collection.
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How will I receive my results?
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Vitamin D Health (25-Hydroxy) Kit
Your results will be available online. A notification will be sent to you when your results are ready from our secure platform. LifeLabs’ third-party doctor will follow up with you if your results are out of range. If you have a normal result and have questions, you will have the option to discuss your results with the third-party doctor.
Vitamin D Health (25-Hydroxy) Test
If you choose to provide your Health Card Number at the time of your sample collection, your results will be available through LifeLabs’ MyCareCompass™, a free and secured online platform. If you do not wish to provide your health card number, results can be obtained through LifeLabs’ formal access request. For more information, please visit our FAQ section on the LifeLabs’ store.
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Will a purchased test expire?
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All test request forms expire within 6 months of being signed by a healthcare provider. Be sure to complete the test prior to the request forms expiring.
All tests are final sale, and your sample must be collected and returned to LifeLabs before the test expires.
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