Are Supplements Messing Up Your Blood Work?

  Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Safety Communication titled, “The FDA Warns that Biotin May Interfere with Laboratory Tests.” The FDA is alerting the public, health care providers and laboratory personnel that biotin can interfere with certain lab tests and cause incorrect lab test results.    Some supplements, particularly those labeled for hair, skin, and nail benefits, may have high doses of biotin, which may not be clear from the label. Biotin in patient samples can cause falsely high or falsely low results, depending on the test. Clinical decisions made based on incorrect laboratory test results may lead to patient harm due to inappropriate patient treatment and diagnosis.   Many lab tests use biotin technology due to its ability to bond with specific proteins which can be measured to detect certain health conditions. For example, biotin is used in hormone tests and tests for markers of cardiac health like troponin. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin often found in multi-vitamins, prenatal vitamins, and dietary supplements marketed for hair, skin, and nail growth. Purpose: The FDA is alerting the public, health care providers, lab personnel, and lab test developers that biotin can significantly interfere with certain lab tests and cause incorrect test results which may go undetected. Summary of Problem and Scope: Biotin in blood or other samples taken from patients who are ingesting high levels of biotin in ...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: IVD Source Type: news