What does the organic acids test test for?

Organic Acids Tests provide a snapshot of how the body is performing on a mitochondrial level.

Organic Acids testing offered by US BioTek Laboratories provides an excellent overview of mitochondrial and primary biochemical functions.  The analytes on these tests can detect problems with the body’s processing of dietary macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) or problems with the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC), one of the primary pathways in the mitochondria.

Organic Acids Tests also provide an overview of bacterial metabolism in the gastrointestinal microbiome, which can have profound effects on the health, and on biochemical and detoxification functions of the human host.

Recent scientific advances illuminate the importance of inheritance (genetic and epigenetic), environment and nutrition for human health and wellness. Pollution, malnutrition, or other physical or psychological stress can dysregulate or inhibit primary biochemical pathways, mitochondria, the gut microbiome, and detoxification functions.

If an individual has inherited low-activity enzyme variants, such stressors may be enough to shift them from health to disease. Chronic inflammatory diseases such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, immune system dysregulation, premature aging, etc. have been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and/or the dysregulation of primary biochemical pathways.

Organic Acids testing is a reliable tool for screening and monitoring individuals with inherited or acquired biochemical or mitochondrial dysregulation. US BioTek Laboratories offers two different Organic Acids tests: The 36 Organic Acids Profile and the 62 Organic Acids Test, which are differentiated by the testing method and the number of markers analyzed.

The 36 Organic Acids Profile (OAP)

This test uses dried urine strips to analyze 36 key markers:

Glycolysis Metabolites

  • Pyruvate
  • Lactate

Citric Acid Cycle Metabolites

  • Citrate
  • Cis-Aconitate
  • Isocitrate
  • Alpha-Ketoglutarate
  • Succinate
  • Fumarate
  • Malate

Fatty Acid Oxidation

  • Adipate
  • Suberate
  • Ethylmalonate
  • Methylsuccinate

Ketone Metabolites

  • Beta-Hydroxybutyrate

Markers for Cofactor Need

  • Alpha-Ketoisovalerate
  • Alpha-Ketoisocaproate
  • Alpha-Keto-Beta-Methylvalerate
  • Beta-Hydroxyisovalerate
  • Methylmalonate
  • Kynurenate
  • Hydroxymethylglutarate

Markers of Neurotransmitter Metabolism

  • Vanilmandelate
  • Homovanillate
  • 5-Hydroxyindoleacetate
  • Quinolinate

Markers of Detoxification

  • Para-Hydroxyphenyllactate
  • Orotate
  • Alpha-Hydroxybutyrate
  • Pyroglutamate
  • Benzoate
  • Hippurate

Markers of Bacterial Metabolism

  • Para-Hydroxybenzoate
  • Para-Hydroxyphenylacetate
  • 2-Hydroxyphenylacetate
  • 3-Indoleacetate
  • Tricarballylate

For more information on the 36 Organic Acids Profile, you can view the product page at

36 Organic Acids Profile Page.

The 62 Organic Acids Test (OAT)

The 62 Organic Acids Test runs off of a liquid urine sample for an in-depth analysis of 62 markers:

Fatty Acid Metabolism

  • Adipate
  • Suberate
  • Ethylmalonate
  • Pimelate
  • 2-methylsuccinate

Carbohydrate Metabolism and Glycolysis

  • Pyruvate
  • L-Lactate
  • β-Hydroxybutyrate
  • Glucose

Citric Acid Cycle

  • Citrate
  • Cis-Aconitate
  • Isocitrate
  • α-Ketoglutarate
  • Succinate
  • Fumarate
  • Malate
  • Hydroxymethylglutarate

B-Complex Vitamin & Amino Acid Markers

  • α-Ketoisovalerate
  • α-Ketoisocaproate
  • α-Keto-β-Methylvalerate
  • Xanthurenate
  • β-Hydroxyisovalerate

Methylation Cofactor Markers

  • Methylmalonate
  • Formiminoglutamate

Neurotransmitter Metabolism Markers

  • Homovanillate
  • Vanilmandelate
  • 5-Hydroxyindoleacetate
  • Kynurenate
  • Quinolinate
  • Picolinate
  • Cortisol

Oxidative Damage and Antioxidant Markers

  • p-Hydroxyphenyllactate
  • 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine

Detoxification Indicators

  • 2-Methylhippurate
  • Orotate
  • Glucarate
  • α-Hydroxybutyrate
  • Pyroglutamate

Bacterial- General

  • Benzoate
  • Hippurate
  • Phenylacetate
  • Phenylpropionate
  • p-Hydroxybenzoate
  • p-Hydroxyphenylacetate
  • Indican (IAA)
  • Tricarballylate

L.acidophilus/General Bacterial

  • D-Lactate

Clostridial Species

  • 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylpropionate (DHPPA)
    4-Cresol
  • HPHPA- 3-hydroxypropionic acid

Yeast/Fungal

  • D-Arabinitol
  • Citramalic
  • Tartaric Acid

Oxalate Metabolites

  • Oxalate
  • Glyceric
  • Glycolic

Additional Nutritional Markers

  • Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxic)
  • Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic)
  • Vitamin B2 (Glutaric)
  • Vitamin C (Ascorbic)
  • Vitamin Q10 (CoQ10)
  • N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
  • Vitamin H (Biotin)

For more information about the 62 Organic Acids Test, you can view the product page at 62 Organic Acids Test.