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Your body needs amino acids from protein to create brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, balance your mood, improve sleep, and stay energized. This test shows if you’re actually absorbing and using protein properly which many people unknowingly struggle with.
Not sure where this fits? See our Pathology Testing Packages & Pathways to choose your starting point → /pathology-testing-packages.
💡 “Amino acids are the foundation of your mood, sleep, energy, and stress response. This test shows if you’re missing key building blocks”
Essential & Branched Chain AAs
Non-Essential & Functional AAs
Metabolic Intermediates
Functional Ratios
These ratios can reflect issues in methylation, inflammation, or protein metabolism.
Requisition form and fasting instructions
Pre-labelled lithium heparin tube
Chilled transport pack (ice brick + envelope)
Courier label for overnight return
1️⃣ Preparation Before Collection
🕒Fasting is required: You must fast overnight (8–12 hours) prior to your blood collection. Water is allowed.
🥤Ensure you are well-hydrated with water the evening before to make blood collection easier.
2️⃣ Booking Your Collection
📅Arrange for a venous blood draw at a standard pathology collection centre.
📝Bring your requisition form that came with your test kit. The lab will require this to process your sample.
3️⃣ 🩸 Blood Sample Collection
A trained phlebotomist will collect a small blood sample, typically into EDTA (purple top)or lithium heparin tubes (depending on lab requirements).
The blood sample is then centrifuged to separate plasma, following lab-specific protocols.
4️⃣ Sample Handling & Stability
❄️The plasma sample must be handled under cold chain conditions to preserve amino acid integrity.
❄️Samples are to be frozen immediately after processing and kept frozen until dispatched to the lab.
📦If shipped, samples must be packed with ice bricks and shipped via overnight express courier to ensure they remain frozen.
5️⃣ Completing the Requisition Form
✏️Ensure all fields on the requisition form are filled out correctly, including:
Full name
Date of birth
Date and time of sample collection
Practitioner’s details (if applicable)
6️⃣ Shipping the Sample
✉️Place the frozen sample tube(s) into the provided courier satchel.
Include the completed requisition form.
Ship via express post or lab-specified courieron a Monday or Tuesday to avoid weekend transit delays.
💡 Important Collection Facts:
🕒Fasting is mandatory for accurate amino acid profiling.
❄️Cold chain maintenance (freezing) is critical — improperly handled samples will be rejected.
🩺If combining this test with other blood panels (e.g., homocysteine, methylation markers), inform the pathology centre beforehand.
📮Do not delay postage after sample collection — samples should reach the lab within 24–48 hours.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❌Failing to fast overnight — this will invalidate the amino acid profile.
❌Not freezing the plasma sample immediately after centrifugation.
❌Incomplete requisition forms — missing information will delay processing.
❌Posting samples later in the week — avoid Wednesday to Friday dispatch.
❌Not using adequate cold packs or ice bricks during shipping.
💡 “Your mood, sleep, energy, and stress resilience all depend on amino acids. This test shows where your foundations might be missing.“
I’m the practitioner behind BalanSoul. In 15 minutes we’ll map your best next step what to test (and what not to), likely costs/timing, and how it links to your mental health goals.
