GPL3 Panel – DBS

Test Details

Lab Company: The Great Plains Laboratory
Sample Type: Urine, Hair, Blood Spot
Collection Location: At Home

The GPL3 Panel combines the  IgG Food MAP with Candida + Yeast, Metals Hair Test, and Organic Acids Test to analyze a variety of biomarkers and evaluate overall health. 

🔑 Key Details 📦 Shipping
⏰ Preparation & Timing 📊 Results
🧪 Collection Instructions 📚 More Resources
💳 Requisition & Payment
💬 Questions?

Key Details 

  • You will be collecting urine, hair, and blood spot samples. 
  • DO NOT collect your urine sample while menstruating. 
  • You must avoid certain foods and supplements, as well as limit fluid intake, prior to your urine test.
  • Hydrate for a few hours prior to collecting your blood spot sample.
  • Ship your samples all together, within 48 hours of collection. 
  • Samples should be shipped Monday - Thursday only. 
  • DO NOT fill out any information on gplforms.com. 

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Preparation & Timing

  • You will be collecting urine, hair, and blood spot samples. 
  • DO NOT collect your samples while menstruating. 

Preparing for Your Urine Test

  • Avoid the following foods and supplements for 48 hours prior to your urine collection. 
    • Apples (including juice & other apple products)
    • Grapes (including juice & other grape products)
    • Pears (including juice & other pear products)
    • Cranberries (including juice & other cranberry products)
    • Arabinogalactan 
    • Echinacea
    • Reishi mushrooms
    • Ribose supplements 
  • The night prior to urine collection 
    • Limit liquid intake starting at 6 pm.
  • The day of urine collection 
    • You will collect your sample upon waking.
    • DO NOT eat or drink prior to collecting your sample.

back to preparation | to urine collection

Preparing for Your Hair Test

  • DO NOT collect hair that has been treated in any of the following ways:
    • Dyed
    • Bleached
    • Permed
    • Otherwise chemically treated
  • Collect only head or pubic hair. 
    • DO NOT mix head and pubic hair together. 

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Preparing for Your Blood Spot Test

  • Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking blood-thinning medications or have a blood clotting disorder.
  • A few hours prior to collection:
    • Drink at least 16 oz of water. 

back to preparation | to blood spot collection

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Collection Instructions

URINE   |    HAIR   |    BLOOD SPOT

Urine Collection

These instructions are for the Organic Acids Test.

  1. Collect your first morning urine in the provided collection cup. 
    1. Collect prior to eating or drinking. 
  2. Screw the collection cup lid on tightly.
  3. Write the following information on the collection cup.
    1. Patient's name
    2. Time of collection
    3. Date of collection
  4. Place the collection cup and provided gel pack into the freezer.
    1. The sample and gel pack should remain in the freezer for a minimum of 4 hours prior to shipping.
    2. Keep them in the freezer until ready to ship.

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Hair Collection

These instructions are for the Metals Hair Test. 

  1. Set up the scale by bending the black tabs down to form a fulcrum.
  2. Place the scale on a level surface. 
  3. Use stainless steel scissors to cut your hair. 
    1. Collect only head or pubic hair.
    2. DO NOT mix head and pubic hair together.
  4. If you are using head hair, 
    1. Cut hair from the back of the head using stainless steel scissors. 
    2. Cut hair as close to the scalp as possible. 
    3. Go to step 6.
  5.  If you are using pubic hair, 
    1. Cut hair using stainless steel scissors.
    2. Cut hair as close to the skin as possible.
    3. Go to step 6. 
  6. As each piece of hair is cut, save only the 1 inch of hair closest to the skin. 
    1. Cut off and discard the rest.
  7. Place the saved hair on the scale. 
  8. Keep cutting hair and adding hair to the scale until it tips. 
    1. Cut hair from 5 or 6 areas around the scalp or pubic area. 
  9. Once the scale has tipped, remove the hair from the scale and put it in the plastic bag. 
  10. Repeat steps 3-9 to fill the scale for a second time. 
    1. You should tip the scale twice. 
  11. Seal the bag.
  12. Write the following information on the plastic bag.
    1. Patient's name
    2. Physician's name + "Rupa Health"
    3. Collection date

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Blood Spot Collection

These instructions are for the IgG Food MAP.

  1. Write the following information on the collection card(s).
    1. Patient's name
    2. Date of collection
  2. Open the collection card(s).
    1. DO NOT touch the collection circles.
  3. Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
  4. Dry your hands with a clean towel.
  5. Choose the finger you will prick.
    1. It is recommended to choose the middle or ring finger on your non-dominant hand. 
  6. Clean your chosen finger with the provided alcohol swab.
    1. DO NOT throw the alcohol swab away yet.
  7. Allow your finger to dry.
  8. Stimulate blood flow by shaking your hand for 15-20 seconds and rubbing your chosen finger.
  9. Open the lancet by twisting the yellow tab and pulling it straight out. 
  10. Press the lancet against the side of your fingertip until you hear a click. 
  11. Wipe off the first drop of blood with the alcohol swab.
  12. Place a large, free-flowing drop of blood on each circle on the card(s).
    1. DO NOT touch the card(s) with your finger.
    2. Gently massage the entire finger to assist in forming blood drops. 
  13. If the circle is not filled and saturated completely, place additional drops immediately on the same circle.
    1. DO NOT add blood once the card(s) are dry. 
    2. Each spot should look like the "Acceptable" picture below. 
  14. Once all of the circles on all of the cards are completely filled, bend the card(s) and let them air dry at room temperature for 3-8 hours.
    1. DO NOT touch the blood spots.
    2. DO NOT let the blood spots touch any surface while drying.
    3. DO NOT put the card in sunlight or near a heat source. 
  15. Throw away the lancet, alcohol swab, and any other materials used. 
  16. Once the card(s) are completely dry, close the flap. 
  17. Place the card(s) into the ziplock bag(s) with the desiccant pack and seal. 

back to blood spot preparation | back to collection instructions

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Requisition & Payment

  • Your kit has been prepaid. You DO NOT need to pay anything extra.
  • Instructions on how to fill out your requisition can be found HERE.
    • Since you pre-paid for your tests, you do not need to fill in the payment information on any of these forms.
    • DO NOT fill out any information on gplforms.com.

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Shipping

  • Ship your samples within 48 hours of collection. 
  • Ship your samples Monday - Thursday only. 
  • To prepare your samples for shipping, 
    • Urine Samples
      • Place the collection cup into the biohazard zip-lock bag. 
        • Ensure the absorbent sheet is in the bag as well. 
      • Place the frozen gel pack and the sample into the silver thermo bag.
    • Blood Spot Samples
      • Once the card(s) are dry, close the flap on the card(s).
      • Place each collection card into the ziplock bags with the desiccant packs.
      • Seal the bags. 
    • Place the following items into the test kit box. 
      • Silver thermo bag (urine sample) 
      • Plastic bag(s) containing the blood spot samples
      • Plastic bag containing the hair sample 
      • Completed test requisition form
    • Place the test kit box into the provided UPS Laboratory Pak. 
  • Make a note of your tracking number (found on the Return Label) so that you can track your sample back to the lab.
  • Ship using UPS. 
    • You can take your samples to the nearest UPS location.
    • DO NOT place your samples in a UPS drop box. 
    • You can also schedule a UPS pickup by calling 1 (800) 742-5877.

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Results

  • Results should be released to your provider 7-21 business days after samples are received at the lab. We cannot guarantee processing time. 
  • Your provider will notify you when your results are in and schedule a follow-up appointment for you to review them together. 
  • Your provider may choose to release your results to you. Rupa cannot release your results without provider authorization.

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More Resources

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Questions?

For general questions, email Rupa Health at support@rupahealth.com. For test-specific questions, contact The Great Plains Laboratory by calling 1-800-288-0383 or chatting with support.