Vitamin D Testing Interval; an Area of Challenge

Farhan Javed Dar* and Ibrahim Mansoor

Received: June 26, 2018;   Published: July 03, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.06.001333

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Abstract

Background: This study was undertaken to determine the frequency and trend of testing and retesting of vitamin D in a private hospital.

Method: Longitudinal observational study is conducted in a Clinical laboratory from January 2010-November 2017. Number of vitamin D test and retest were counted. Results were classified into different vitamin D categories based on cut-offs from the National Osteoporosis Society and Institute of Medicine.

Results: A total number of requests received at laboratory for vitamin D tests were 97750. The total numbers of patient tested were 49934. Out of which 30039 (60.1%) were tested only once and rest had multiple retests (n=19895, 39.9%). The frequency of tests for each individual varied between 1 and 29 in that period. Mean age was 38.41 (±18.34) years. Vitamin D <30nmol/L was found in 42.8% which documented to 20.8% on retest. Most of the first retest (20.3%) was at interval between 1 to 3 months. Only for 11734 patients vitamin D status improved on first retest (p-value <0.001).

Conclusion: An eight fold increase in number of requests for vitamin D testing is seen during this period. Confirming the trend of testing worldwide, females were tested more and found more deficient than male.

Keywords: Vitamin D; Testing; Clinical Laboratory; Hospital

Abbrevations: NHANES III: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; NOS: National Osteoporosis Society; IRB: Institutional Review Board; 25OHD: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D; 25OHD3: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3; IOM: Institute of Medicine; VD2: First retest vitamin D; VD1: Initial vitamin D

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