Are Vitamin K levels tested in the lab?

I asked my doctor for orders to get my vitamin E and K tested. She said there was no lab test for K. Is that right?

They did two different tests in the Lab for my Vitamin K. So no, your doc is dumb.

According to two doctors my PCP and my surgeon, the vitamin K serium level test are not done by most labs, and must be sent out to speciality labs.  Both doctors have questioned the validity of the results and don't recommend the test.   They stated it is easy to determine low levels of Vitamin K by excessive bruising or bleeding, which is easy to correct by injection, then adjusting your Vit K supplements

That concerned me, so I looked online and found this info at Lab Test Online:

Laboratory Tests

Prothrombin time (PT)
A deficiency of Vitamin K may be suspected and is usually discovered when unexpected or excessive bleeding occurs. In such cases, a prothrombin time is the main laboratory test performed to investigate the bleeding. If the result is prolonged and is suspected to be due to low levels of vitamin K, then vitamin K will often be given by injection. If the bleeding stops and the PT/INR returns to normal, then a vitamin K deficiency is assumed to be the cause.

Other coagulation tests may occasionally be performed to evaluate someone with symptoms of excessive bleeding and bruising such as PTT, thrombin time, platelet count, platelet function tests, coagulation factor tests, fibrinogen, and d-dimer.

Measurements of vitamin K level in the blood are rarely used to determine if a deficiency exists. Since this is not a routine test, it is usually sent to a reference laboratory, and results may take several days.

I didn't care about the excessive time, but if the results are not reliable, why bother or spend the insurance companies money on the test.

Thanks Rocky, I have always had a lot of faith in my PCP and hated to have it shaken. We were taking care of this lab order by e-mail and her res ponce was brief without explanation. I am only concerned because I am getting little bruises that I didn't get before WLS on my arms when I carry heavy bags, etc. I will talk to her in person about it and now have some better information.

How much K1 are you taking?   I am taking 2000 units of K1 and 200 mg of K2 (for the heart).  I probably will decrease the K1 to 1000 units unless I notice bruising. 

Whatever it is, it sounds like you need to increase the dose of K1. 

My surgeon really believes low K1 is easy to spot and correct without a blood test, he is trying to find someone who does a reliable test for K2 which he believes is a more important test than the K1 test.

Geez, I looked at my bottle. It is only 100mcg a dose! It's time to put in an order with Vitalady so that will be on my list. Until then I am going to increase my dose. I have an appointment for my one year check up next week and will see what they think at Dr. Rabkins office.

I've been having my vitamin K1 tested through Quest labs. My surgeon or his fellow has to write it on the lab slip because they usually don't test for it. They normally just use the 2 other tests Rocky wrote about. My levels have been coming back consistently in the mid 500's with a stated range of 80 - 1160. I take one of Vitalady's 1,000mcg K1 daily and I rarely bruise as I did pre-op. 

--gina

I got mine at a vitamin shop and it is only 100mcg. I am ordering Vitalady's today. Thanks

I guess wait for more people to chime in & wait for a consensus?  My dr didn't think there were tests for K, either, but he was a family practitioner in the country, unfamiliar with the DS to begin with.  He also ordered Prothrombin Time for me to ascertain whether I may have a Vit K deficiency.  I added in K after that came back just inside the high range.  Nine months later, it came back just inside the normal range (some improvement, not lots), so I would agree that it is one way to test K indirectly.

I get my labs done through Quest and they do test for Vit K.  My PCP writes it at the bottom of the lab slip.  Quest does send it to one of their specialty labs to process the test, but then again they send the Vit D to one of their specialty labs as well.