Biotin Physician Fact Sheet
The Pathology Laboratory
FACT SHEET FOR Biotin supplement PHYSICIANS and influence on
results of immunoassays
ABOUT BIOTIN: BIOTIN AND LABORATORY BIOTIN USE: THREE PATIENT RESULTS POPULATIONS
Biotin (vitamin B7, vitamin H) is a Streptavidin and biotin naturally Because biotin deficiency is water soluble vitamin of the B form a strong, highly specific and considered extremely rare, no complex that is used as stable bond. This system has RDI exists. Suggested biotin supplementation and for medical been used for many years and intake for adults ranges from 30- treatment. While no allows the development of 100 mcg per day. When recommended daily intake (RD) sensitive, specific and accurate considering biotin use as a for biotin supplementation immunoassays. There are supplement, keep in mind three exists, because biotin deficiency different types of interference specific populations: is extremely rare, suggested and sources of error that can daily intake for adults in the U.S. affect the accuracy of Daily multivitamin use is 30-100mcg. The effective half- immunoassays. While the intake life of biotin varies between 8 of high doses of biotin can lead Medical high-dose and 18 hours. to interference with biotin therapy immunoassays, there is no risk for such assay interference OTC lifestyle high-dose associated with the intake of biotin supplementation biotin as part of a standard Multivitamin.
Daily Multivitamin use: Many consumers take biotin as an ingredient within a standard daily multivitamin. This dose is typically 30-40 mcg.
Medical high-dose biotin therapy: Is used as a therapy for inherited conditions such as biotinidase deficiency biotin-thiamin-responsive basal ganglia disease and holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency. High-dose biotin is also currently being used in clinical trial settings as a potential treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis.
The Pathology Laboratory
OTC lifestyle high-dose biotin supplementation: Some consumers take high-concentration biotin supplements (5,000-10,000mcg) currently packaged to promote hair, skin and nail beauty.
BIOTIN INTERFERENCE IN IDENTIFICATION OF PATIENTS PATIENT TESTING ROCHE ELECSYS UNDER BIOTIN TREATMENT In both normal and emergency IMMUNOASSAYS (Equipment To ensure testing accuracy, it is settings, it is important to ask used by the Path Lab) important to ask patients about patients the right questions To mitigate potential their use of all supplements, ahead of testing. By asking interference, patients taking including biotin, before any patients about their biotin intake biotin doses >5,000 mcg should laboratory tests are run. Patients levels you can be aware of wait at least 8 hours after the may not know the exact dose of potential interference from the last biotin administration before biotin that they are taking, but outset and factor this into your a sample is taken. the following flow chart will help diagnostic evaluation, alongside guide conversations with your other key parameters. Diagnosis patient. and a decision of treatment should be evaluated with regard to the clinical picture.
In an emergency setting, we recommend proceeding with testing, taking into account the full patient profile and undergoing retesting if you suspect interference. The impact of the biotin interference results depends on specific aspects
of the assay design. For further guidance and detail please see our website at www.thepathlab.com, Client services tab Analytical Interferences. PHYSICIAN FLOW CHART Establish high does
Are you taking a high dose 1 (above 10 mg/day of the supplement vitamin?)
YES NO 2 Are you taking a 5-10 mg dose?
Are you taking a daily 3 multivitamin at the YES NO Consult with recommended dose? Path Lab
YES NO Wait 8 Hours before testing Okay to test
Results as Inconsistent expected results
Proceed to Consult with diagnosis Path Lab