I'm pretty sure that this time last year when I had my 25(OH)D test I paid the princely sum of $20-$30. Since then Grassroots Health has gained much popularity and much more people are having their blood tested. Well surprise surprise the "non profit organisation" has put its prices up. See below

But they thought that thousands of people would be smart enough to see the value of the test and notice they were the cheapest source. This hasn't happened.

They budgeted on the expectation that the high volume of business they thought they would get would entitle them to discounted prices from the suppliers.

They haven't achieved sufficient sales to be rewarded with the higher discounts so simply cannot continue to subsidize the project at current prices.

If we could persuade more people to participate then they would be in a better financial situation.

It's a pity because Grassrootshealth D Action don't just want to be providing 25(OH)D3 tests, They want to move the research on so we have a better idea of the amounts of D3 required at different latitudes and for different populations. They also want to fund conferences, seminars and meetings at all levels to improve the general understanding of the benefits of Vitamin D levels in the 40~60ng/ml range.

Charities need people to sponsor their activities and we should be prepared to back people who are doing their utmost to educate the public and health professionals.

Life extension 25(OH)D testing Retail price
$62.67 each members Save 25% $47.00 each There are other providers but please do consider seriously the benefits sponsoring the research and education work of Grassrootshealth to the world as a whole.

Ted, non profit in the US means that there is no profit because any excess $$$ are distributed as bonuses to the big shots.

$60 is still pretty reasonable for the test. I know my insurance company paid over $250 to the lab for it.

People just are not familiar with what lab costs are for the most part nor what they really cost the company to perform. They wouldn't know a good deal if it smacked them in the face.

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Ted,
I believe Life extension arranges a special rate annually with labs that do the tests. The price depends on what the lab agrees on, whether there is a sale or regular price. There is no postage or handling fee, but they do have doctors that order and read the results, so I'm sure they have to charge a small fee for their expenses.

jw8725,
That is a big jump, but GrassrootsHealth probably had a special price for a while to encourage people to be tested. A few years ago LEF charge $25 to encourage the tests, if you had their male or female packet of tests. But they also do research with their profit and fight for our rights to have these privileges by going to court against the FDA once in a while, so I don't mind paying a little extra.

If you really can't afford it (and you have insurance), you might try asking your doctor to order the test for you. My parents recently did so with success. They're retired and have a pretty basic insurance plan and didn't have to pay anything out of pocket for the test. Surprisingly, their allopathic doctor didn't resist the idea either. Apparently even conventional physicians are beginning to understand the importance of the 25(OH)D3 test. Good news.

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Yes they are and because some of the studies have been published in the kind of journals they read. Not only are they warming up to the idea of vitamin d but to D3 in particular and letting go of the D2 myths.

Now I wish they would warm up to B12 injections in the methylcabalmin form. So many people would benefit from that on a weekly basis.

Arrowwind,

We can't create the B12 studies but we can share them with our docs if we find them! I'll keep an eye out and report back if I find any new methylcobalamin trials that might help with that.

JP

Thanks to everyone for posting the notes about our 'price' change for our D*action project. It was a painful decision, but in order to continue our mission to solve the deficiency problem, we have to include the education and the research along with the testing. Our initial pricing was indeed based on a much higher volume than we have currently achieved--and, the prior price didn't quite cover the cost of the testing and data capture, much less the education and research.
We need your ongoing sponsorship to solve this problem--with the associated research to demonstrate to the world that the vitamin D 'repleteness' (at at least 40-60 ng/ml) does indeed work...there is NO other study of this kind with this level or volume of participants going on at this time. We also need to provide the ongoing education of the healthcare professionals to get them on board with the safety and efficacy of vitamin D. Thanks to all of you for your attention to this major deficiency epidemic!
Our approach of education and research is indeed paying off. We have the attention of groups all over the world who are also joining the effort. Thanks again! Carole Baggerly, Director, GrassrootsHealth.

LEF has come up with a new B12 tablet, and I was surprised that it doesn't use methylcobalamin, but it has a new delivery system....here is what they say...

"Eligen� B12 is designed to overcome these hurdles with a patented rapid absorption system that delivers a peak concentration of B12 into the bloodstream within just 30 minutes — a staggering improvement over the 6.8 hour absorption time of standard B12 tablets. This enhanced bioavailability ensures optimum B12 blood levels."

https://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Suppleme...cecode=SSX901E

For people who are not LEF members these are a little cheaper at IHERB. Introductory $5 discount code WAB666
anyone tried them yet?
Looks at bit optimistic to me
Small study using TEN times the amount in the over the counter tabs and still very early in the trial and the works not published yet and as taking oral Vitamin B12 supplementation is easy, convenient and readily accepted by patients. and we know that works and is cheaper

Hi all,

I'm a newbie on this site, i ardered a grassroot test, and was told via email on the 6/01/10, that it was shipped out, but its now 20/01/10, 14dys?!

How long does it normally take for it to arrive?

Also i paid $40 for my tests, will that suffer a customs surcharge??

I'm worried & anxious

thx all.

I expect it will be with you any day now.

21 days isn't impossible though just over 2 weeks is average.

No The value of the test kit is just a few cents so that's all you are importing and you are allowed �18 before customs duty.

I don't think you need to be.

I've only ever had one parcel from the USA go astray over several years (more than 100 orders) so although it could happen it's not very likely.
If it does get lost in the post or if there is a problem just email Grassrootshealth and they will send another test kit out by return.

Hi Ted,

Thx for your replys.

I joined iherbs, using your code,bought heaps of stuff -i'm an avid supplementer, buying from uk,was costing me a small fortune, and the variety was limited, so am happy to have found iherb etc.

Also i'm following your regime for insufficient vit D, since being an indoorsy type..know for sure insufficient vit D and when i go out i wear over 60+ sunblock etc....other half is following the regime...though he isn't aware of it...

looking forwrd to testing and seeing my results....

thx for your time&expertise!!

ps your healthy glow avator is a good advertisement for vit D

Please can someone answer this query, which occured to me today;

In the past i suffered from S.A.D (seasonal adjusted disorder) - uk winter blues - i would be miserable, very lethargic,crave sweets/carbs.

Discovered S.A.D. lightbulbs from this place in germany https://www.androv-medical.com/sectio...3c5925fb0bfbcb i'ave been using them for about 12months and this winter... no blues!! They are fab & very bright, gonna replace the whole house with them.

My question is this, these full spectrum light bulbs, are they the same as being outdoors in the full sun i.e making vit D? or have i lost the plot?!

If they are the same, then given the fact that i'm in their glare for a couple of hrs each day, have i been getting vit D and not realised it??

thx all.