Are Vitamin K levels tested in the lab?

 Ditto this, exactly.

Hi Gail,
I asked Dana why the lab orders didn't include E and K.  She said they used to but that some people's insurance wouldn't cover the cost so they removed it as a standard.  You might want to check with insurance if it's covered. 

So good news/bad news....I won't be attending the SF meeting this month afterall.  The good news is that it is because the next morning I have an interview for a job I really, really, really want!!!!  Wish me luck! 

Cheers,
Cathy

I bet Kaiser doesn't cover them!
Good luck with the job interview. I have a very good feeling about it. You exude confidence and capability. The only problem is that there are thousands of others out there looking. My son can't find a decent full time job with is new degrees and years of working part time. He is a checker at a pet store and feeling defeated in this economy. So don't blame yourself if it doesn't happen. I will be sending my strongest vibes for a great interview. Let me know.
PS I was looking forward to seeing you again. You will definitely be there on your year anniversary next month-right?

Gail,
My Kaiser PCP added vitamin K test because I had Maria at Rabkin's add it to the slip. It was not a drop-down option and had to be added "manually" and on the lab list was under miscellaneous. That said, the result has not yet come back, it's taken the longest, and was pulled on 8/23. I know Kaiser Oakland sent the blood to Quest, the other info in your thread is very enlightening. I have similar symptoms to what you describe, started taking K1 and K2 about 2 months ago, have discontinued these temporarily while on oral antibiotics and awaiting lab results.  

Thanks Judy. I will talk to my PCP about it. Hope to see you at next weeks meeting.

Yep, there's a code for it, but getting someone to order them, THAT is the problem.

***

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

Ooops,, wrong cut 'n paste




Not to be construed as medical advice, this list includes labs we have had performed as gastric bypass patients. The first group, every 3 to 6 months for life, as we are able. The second group, annually, as long as the results were comfortably within normal limits for more than 2 years in a row.



1st Group



*80053 Comprehensive Metabolic profile: (sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose,BUN, creatinine, calcium, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase) (10231)

* 84134 Pre-albumin:

* 7600 Lipid profile: (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, chol/HDL ratio)

* 10256 Hep panel: includes ALT (SPGT) & GGT)

* 84100 Phosphorous - Inorganic: (718)

* 83735 Magnesium:

* 84550 Uric Acid: (905)

* 7444 Thyroid panel: (T3U, T4, FTI, TSH) (84437; 84443; 84479; 84480)

* 85025 Hemogram with platelets: (1759)

* 7573 Iron: TIBC, % sat

* 83550 Ferritin: (457)

* 84630 Zinc: (945)

* 84446 Vitamin A: (921)

* 82306 Vitamin D: (25-hydroxy) (680)

* 84052 Vitamin B-1: (Thiamin) (4052)

* 84207 Vitamin B-6: (Pyridoxine)

* 7065 Vitamin B-12 & Folate: (82607; 82746)

* 83970 Serum intact: PTH

* 83937 Osteocalcin:

* 84597 Vitamin K:

* 85610 PT:

* 85730 PTT:



2ND GROUP



* 593 LDH:

* 31789 Homocysteine, Cardio:

* 83921 MMA:

* 367 Cortisol:

* 84255 Selenium:

* 84590 Vitamin E:

* 82525 Copper:





For diabetics: *496 - HEMOGLOBIN A1C













POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS CODES





269.2 Hypovitaminosis



268 Vitamin D deficiency



275.40 Calcium deficiency



266.2 Cyanocobalamin deficiency (B12)



281.1 other B12 deficiency anemia



281.0 Pernicious anemia



280.9 Iron-deficiency anemia



281.2 Folate deficiency anemia



285.9 Anemia, unspecified



269.3 Zinc deficiency



244.9 Hypothryoidism



250.0 Diabetes



401.9 Hypertension



276.9 Electrolyte and fluid disorders



272.0 Hypercholesterolemia

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



*579.3 Surgical malabsorption*



*579.8 Intestinal malabsorption *





* Bands or sleeves should not use these codes as they are not accurate.



*Some insurance companies will not pay for any procedure that uses these codes.





LAB TARGETS





This is NOT medical advice, just my own targets for the main blood levels I watch.



Protein: 7's

Albumin: 4's

Pre-Albumin: 20-30's



Iron: 80-100

Ferritin: 200-300

HGB: 12+

HCT: 36+



Vit A: 60- 80

Vit D: 80-120



Calcium: 9.0-9.4

PTH: 20-40



Vit B1: Mid to top of range

Vit B6: Mid to top of range

Magnesium: Mid range (but also go by if we have leg/foot cramping)

Zinc: Mid range



Vit B12: 1000 +

Folate: Top of range



AST (sgot): Below 40

ALT (sgpt): Below 40



We usually want to "meet or beat" pre-op levels. In some cases, higher is better, and in other cases (Cholesterol, PTH for example), lower is better.



The only things *I* don't mind being on the high end of out of range are Ferritin and B12. But that applies to ME.



My doctors don't show interest in any of these until I am out of range. *I* am interested when I begin heading that direction.

Thanks Michelle. I will talk to my PCP about it. I have a lab slip from Dr. Rabkin but it doesn't include E and K..
I just put in an order for K2 from your mail order.

I just had my vitamin K done last week at my Endocrinologist office. It got sent out to a lab called Shiel. I have also had it done at Quest. My level went up 400 points just by taking bariatric advantage lozenges - calcium citrate (they have vitamin K in them) and my citrical before that didn't

K2. Easy peasy, except for your doc. Gotta love docs's stupidity and unwillingness to learn. Is your doc teachable? I hope so.