Frequently Asked Questions About Our Testing

Please note: Questions about specific tests are answered on the page about each test. General questions are answered here. More information on the discoveries that helped inform Dr. Shaw's groundbreaking work in this area can be found in the Interview with Dr. Shaw.

Do I need to travel to your lab to get tests done?

No, you do not have to come here. All you need to do is order special test kits with sample instructions by phone, fax, email , or on our web site and send samples to us by DHL. It only takes 1-2 days, and test kits contain a special ice pack to preserve the samples during the shipping time. You can send us samples from all over the world, but to order test kits internationally you have to pay a shipping fee since we also send them to you by DHL. You will receive the results by mail 2-3 weeks after shipping samples to us.

What if I don't understand or have problems with the specimen collection?

It is best to sit down and read through all the collection and shipping
instructions completely before attempting to collect the sample. After doing
this if you still have questions, please contact our knowledgeable Customer
Service Staff at 1-800-288-0383 or at gpl4u@aol.com.

Do I have to have a physician's approval to get testing performed at The Great Plains Laboratory?

A physician's approval is necessary if you are a resident of the United States, and recommended but not obligatory for residents of other countries. In the United States, a medical practitioner who is licensed to order testing in your state must approve the test order. Regulations vary from state to state so an approved medical practitioner could be a medical doctor (M.D.), osteopath (D.O.), nurse practitioner, chiropractor (D.C.), naturopath (N.D.) or nutritionist.

My doctor does not approve of these therapies and does not want to provide authorization for testing. What shall I do?

You can contact us and we can recommend a knowledgeable doctor in your area. You do not have to provide an authorization from your general physician, it can be any licensed health professional who can order testing in your state, including chiropractors, naturopaths, nurse practitioners, or nutritionist/dieticians.

How do I find a doctor familiar with GPL's testing and interpretation?

The Great Plains Laboratory has a database with 3000+ physicians in just
about every state and country. Please call our Customer Service Staff at
1-800-288-0383 and a representative should be able to locate a practitioner
in your area.

Where can I go to get my child's blood drawn?

Many children's hospitals and national laboratory chains have walk-in
phlebotomy clinics that will perform a blood draw using a Great Plains
Laboratory blood kit. Calling around to the children's hospitals in your
area would be a good place to start. If you're unsuccessful, try visiting
the following website for a Dyna Care/LabCorp "Patient Service Center" in
your area. http://www.dynacare.com/locations/searchlocations.shtml. Some
clinic branches specialize particularly in pediatrics. Most charge a fee of
$15-$30.

Do most insurance companies reimburse for your tests?

Yes, but we cannot guarantee how much (if any) reimbursement will be given. PPO plans vary considerably as to which medical services will be covered and at what percentage. We recommend contacting your insurance company with detailed information, including diagnostic codes from your physician and CPT or testing codes that GPL will be happy to provide. We'll do our best to help you get reimbursed if it's possible. For details, see the Insurance & Payment Information.

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What about reimbursement for Medicaid and Medicare?

We can file for reimbursement with Medicare, but we do not accept Medicaid in any state.

I already had the urine organic acid test done earlier by another lab. Can't I get the information from the earlier test?

No. No other laboratory routinely analyzes all the compounds that The Great Plains Laboratory does. Most test for the inborn errors of metabolism and that's all.

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How will I understand what the test results mean?

With every test, we provide a detailed report and free consultation about the results. We encourage you to discuss the results with your physician, and contact us with your questions or concerns about the meaning of your test results if you have additional questions. We can also provide consultations in Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Japanese or German languages.

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How much does a test cost?

All the test kits are free of charge. Prices for the processing of each test are listed on the price list. You can find out more about paying for the tests from the Insurance & Payment section. For international orders, we charge a DHL shipping fee. You can also get test kits from distributors that we have in many countries, please contact us for detailed information.

Can I collect one urine sample and perform all the urine tests that you offer?

You can perform many of the urine tests with one urine sample (random urine metals only). Each test has a specific volume requirement. The urine collection container holds about 70 ml. You will need a special collection kit to perform the timed urine metals test. The metals test requires at least 40 mls of urine.

Can I test my child who is not potty-trained?

Yes. The Great Plains Laboratory provides tape-on bags to collect the urine from infants or children who are not potty trained.

My child is currently taking antibiotics or antifungals. Should I wait until after the antibiotics until I get tested?

Antifungals are more important than antibiotics in this case. The bacterial metabolites that appear in the urine and are measured by the OAT are usually from bacteria with resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics. If possible, it is best to wait until several weeks after a course of antifungal therapy before repeating an OAT, to see if the yeast is coming back. The exception would be if the child's condition suggests that a strain of yeast has developed resistance to the antifungal treatment.

When should I expect results from the tests?

All the tests have different turn-around times. Most test results are mailed within 2 weeks. The physician you indicated on the test request form will also receive the results. Once you do receive results, please call to set up a phone consultation with our biochemist/nutritionist to discuss them.

If the test results indicate problems with milk and wheat products, how long does my child need to be on the diet?

It depends on what test showed the problems. IgG food allergies can change or disappear after a few months on a strict diet or a yeast treatment, but gluten/casein peptide digestion problems generally do not go away even after a very strict diet. If your peptide test showed high peptide levels in urine, it may mean that your child has genetic enzyme deficiency and problems will appear any time gluten and casein appear in the diet. That's why it is beneficial to do both IgG food allergy and urinary peptides test.

If my child is taking digestive enzymes, can he/she possibly tolerate some gluten and casein?

Digestive enzymes are an excellent way to supplement the diet and help improve the digestion in people who have a hard time eliminating these opioid peptides even while staying on the strict diet. Enzymes cannot substitute the diet; it can be compared with taking antidotes after poison, but they are an excellent way to save the situation if your child has inadvertently eaten any gluten and casein or you suspect that some gluten and casein may be hidden ingredients of any foods your child has eaten.

Where can I get nutritional supplements that are specially designed for children with special needs and food allergies?

Many products are available at New Beginnings Nutritionals.

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I've looked over the information here, but I still have questions...

Please contact us, and we would be happy to help you select the appropriate testing for your individual situation or answer any other questions you may have. (You can also learn more about us or our privacy practices from our website.) You are also welcome to participate on one of our free online conferences with Dr. William Shaw where you can get detailed answers to many questions.

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