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Metabolomics In Large Cohort Population Health Research - Neurodegenerative & Kidney Disorders
Short answer: you can’t order a Metabolon blood draw as a private individual. Metabolon is a B2B lab and does not accept samples directly from individual donors—they require a sponsoring client (clinic, researcher, company) to open a project and submit specimens under their SOPs (frozen plasma, manifests, etc.). (Metabolon)
Practical ways to get (most of) what you want without a doctor
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Go through a clinic that already uses Metabolon. Some concierge/functional practices and research clinics run Metabolon projects; they handle the account and sample logistics. Metabolon’s own materials describe client-managed shipping/handling and project setup (i.e., it’s the clinic—not the patient—who submits). (Metabolon)
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DTC proteo-/metabolomics (not Metabolon, but consumer-accessible).
- Molecular You now sells a U.S. direct-to-consumer at-home blood test (proteins + metabolites, 250+ biomarkers). It’s not the same panel and likely won’t include phenolic sulfates like 4-EPS, but it is true DTC. (Molecular You, GenomeWeb, Forbes)
- Nightingale Health offers an NMR metabolomics panel (lipids, amino acids, GlycA, etc.) and remote dried-blood collection—primarily research-oriented, but it’s the closest budget DTC “metabolomics” option. (Again, won’t include 4-EPS/p-cresyl sulfate.) (nightingalehealth.com, research.nightingalehealth.com)
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Targeted LC-MS for specific gut phenolic sulfates via a reference/academic lab.
If you mainly care about p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate (IS)—the most clinically used uremic/phenolic sulfates—these have validated LC-MS/MS assays in clinical/research settings. Access usually requires a provider order, but some labs or cores accept external/private-pay submissions. (Examples: published clinical methods for serum PCS/IS quantification.) (ScienceDirect)
If you want true 4-ethylphenyl sulfate (4-EPS) specifically, that’s typically measured in research panels (including Metabolon’s targeted LC-MS methods), not routine clinical menus—so you’ll likely need a research lab or a clinic willing to order a research assay. (Nature) -
DBS (finger-stick) metabolomics via LDTs. Technically feasible: dried-blood LC-MS LDTs can be offered DTC, and vendors (e.g., Neoteryx VAMS devices) are used for microsampling—however Metabolon still requires a client sponsor even if DBS is used. (PMC, Metabolon)
If your goal is to track the phenolic-sulfate axis (4-EPS/PCS/IS) without a physician, the most realistic workaround is: find a research/analytical lab that accepts external private-pay for a targeted LC-MS panel (PCS and IS are common; 4-EPS may be custom). I can compile current labs that will take a self-pay sample and outline the exact tubes, volumes, and shipping steps—just say the word and tell me your state for draw logistics.
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Glossary of Metabolites | Metabolon
[doesnt seem super dif from iollo
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Aging is a biological process that leads to increased vulnerability to diseases and, ultimately, death. Understanding the molecular drivers of biological aging could enable the development of better therapeutic strategies to maximize health span. This research group used the Metabolon Complex Lipids Targeted Panel to investigate the relationship between blood-derived complex lipids and biological aging. They found that higher levels of neutral lipids, phosphatidylinositols, and dihydroceramides were associated with faster biological aging. Conversely, higher levels of hexosylceramide and lactosylceramide species were associated with slower biological aging. Altogether, this study elucidated several complex lipids associated with aging, increasing our understanding of the underlying biological mechanism of aging.