COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 188
Not all lab systems are affected, either. The problem tends to
occur in immunoassays that use what's called the
biotin-streptavidin capture method4but even then, not all of
those systems show interference consistently. Some tests predicted
to be impacted turned out not to be.
Still, the effects can be unpredictable. As little as 10 mg of daily
biotin can result in misleading test results4like falsely elevated
thyroid hormones or a missed diagnosis of heart failure.
When to use this test:
Biotin testing is not routine but may be valuable in specific clinical
situations. Consider testing when clients present with:
● Thinning hair or complete hair loss
● Red, scaly rashes around eyes, mouth, or genitals
●
