TEST ID: Telomere Length Testing

DESCRIPTION: Testing of the average telomere length in lymphocytes​

Clinical Use

​Telomere shortening is associated with ageing, mortality and age related diseases. Shorter telomeres have been linked to cardiovascular disease, some cancers, osteoporosis, dementia, diabetes, and other chronic degenerative diseases of aging conditions.

The test is designed for anyone interested in optimal health, age management and in knowing their telomere length as it relates to being within or outside the normal reference range for their chronological age.​

Specimen Information

COLLECTION Whole blood in sodium citrate tube.

SPECIMEN STABILITY Must be received within 24 hrs (optimal) to 48 hrs of collection.

REJECTION CRITERIA Blood sample is over 48 hours old; hemolyzed, icteric, and lipemic specimens; improper anticoagulant or no anticoagulant used. ​

Method

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR)​​

Results Interpretation

Results reported as Telomere Value that is compared to the range of values found to be present in the population of the same age group. Graphic version of the result presentation allows for easier understanding and analysis. Results within the green area (±1SD) and yellow area (±2SD) of the graph are considered to be within normal range. Results in the red area are considered to be outside of the normal range.​

Literature

1. Am J Ther. 2011 Nov;18(6):e209-26. doi: 10.1097/MJT.0b013e3181cf8ebb.Telomere length is a biomarker of cumulative oxidative stress, biologic age, and an independent predictor of survival and therapeutic treatment requirement associated with smoking behavior.

2. Babizhayev MA, Savel'yeva EL, Moskvina SN, Yegorov YE.Telomere biology: cancer firewall or aging clock? Mitteldorf JJ. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2013 Sep;78(9):1054-60. doi: 10.1134/S0006297913090125.

3. Folate Deficiency Induces Dysfunctional Long and Short Telomeres; Both States Are Associated with Hypomethylation and DNA Damage in Human WIL2-NS Cells. Bull CF, Mayrhofer G, O'- Callaghan NJ, Au AY, Pickett HA, Low GK, Zeegers D, Hande MP, Fenech MF. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2014 Jan;7(1):128-38. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-13-0264. Epub 2013 Nov 19.

4. Longitudinal Changes in Leukocyte Telomere Length and Mortality in Humans. Bendix L, Thinggaard M, Fenger M, Kolvraa S, Avlund K, Linneberg A, Osler M. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013 Oct 22.

5. PLoS One. 2014 Jan 27;9(1):e87348. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087348. eCollection 2014.The Relationship between Inflammatory Biomarkers and Telomere Length in an Occupational Prospective Cohort Study. Wong JY1, De Vivo I2, Lin X3, Fang SC4, Christiani DC5.

6. Telomeres and telomere dynamics: relevance to cancers of the GI tract. Basu N, Skinner HG, Litzelman K, Vanderboom R, Baichoo E, Boardman LA. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Nov;7(8):733-48. doi: 10.1586/17474124.2013.848790.

7. Telomeres and their Role in Aging and Longevity.Tzanetakou IP, Nzietchueng R, Perrea DN, Benetos A. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2013 Dec 18. ​​