10-fold rise in vitamin D testing sparks doctor education campaign

http://www.endocrinologyupdate.com.au/news/10-fold-rise-in-vitamin-d-testing-sparks-doctor-ed

By Laura Macfarlane on 14 April 2011

A new Federally-funded campaign will aim to reduce potential over-ordering of vitamin D tests, as figures show testing rates have risen 10-fold in the last five years.

The National Prescribing Service (NPS) this week said vitamin D testing was the fastest growing medical test in Australia, blaming media reports about the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its related health conditions.

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Because of the media hype the doctors may finally learn about vitamin D.

See also Vitamin D Life

• 73 % of Australians had too little vitamin D a decade ago – Dec 2011

• Low cost vitamin D Blood Tests

• All items in category Test for D items

• All items in category Australia and NZ items

  • Many on variation between tests: different days, different testing methods

• After 245,000 vitamin D tests 121,000 supplemented but only 5,400 had 2nd test – Oct 2011

• Consultation to medical professionals on Vitamin D Testing - Sept 2011

• Excessive vitamin D testing in Australia – July 2012

• 10X increase in vitamin D tests in Australia – time for the doctors to learn about vitamin D – April 2011

• VA showed increased vitamin D testing associated with lower health costs - Lancet May 2012

• Costs of vitamin D tests are dropping