Ulta Lab Tests

UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel

The UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel evaluates essential vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes that support metabolic balance, hydration, nerve signaling, and overall wellness. By measuring vitamin D, B12, folate, magnesium, and key electrolytes, this panel provides a clear snapshot of foundational nutritional status and internal balance to support informed health discussions.

Serum, Blood
Phlebotomist

The following is a list of what is included in the item above. Click the test(s) below to view what biomarkers are measured along with an explanation of what the biomarker is measuring.

Carbon Dioxide

CO2 is carbon dioxide. Measures the amount of carbon dioxide in the liquid part of your blood, called the serum. In the body, most of the CO2 is in the form of a substance called bicarbonate (HCO3-). Therefore, the CO2 blood test is really a measure of your blood bicarbonate level.

Chloride

Chloride is a type of electrolyte. It works with other electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, and carbon dioxide (CO2). These substances help keep the proper balance of body fluids and maintain the body's acid-base balance. This is a measure of the amount of chloride in the fluid portion (serum) of the blood.

Potassium

Potassium is a mineral that the body needs to work normally. It helps nerves and muscles communicate. It also helps move nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells. A diet rich in potassium helps to offset some of sodium's harmful effects on blood pressure.

Sodium

Sodium is a substance that the body needs to work properly it is vital to normal body processes, including nerve and muscle function

Magnesium

Vitamin D, 25-Oh, D2

Vitamin D2 ((ergocalciferol,) is found in fortified foods and in most vitamin preparations and supplements. Vitamin D comes from two sources: endogenous, which is produced in the skin on exposure to sunlight, and exogenous, which is ingested in foods and supplements. The D2 form is found in fortified foods and in most vitamin preparations and supplements. Vitamin D2 is effective when it is converted by the liver and the kidney into the active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.

Vitamin D, 25-Oh, D3

Vitamin D3 (cholecalcifero) which comes from animals. Vitamin D comes from two sources: endogenous, which is produced in the skin on exposure to sunlight, and exogenous, which is ingested in foods and supplements. Vitamin D3 is the form produced in the body and is also used in some supplements. Vitamin D3 are is converted by the liver and the kidney into the active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.

Vitamin D, 25-Oh, Total

Vitamin D comes from two sources: endogenous, which is produced in the skin on exposure to sunlight, and exogenous, which is ingested in foods and supplements. The chemical structures of the types of vitamin D are slightly different, and they are named vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol, which comes from plants) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, which comes from animals). The D2 form is found in fortified foods and in most vitamin preparations and supplements. Vitamin D3 is the form produced in the body and is also used in some supplements. Vitamin D2 and D3 are equally effective when they are converted by the liver and the kidney into the active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.

Also known as: Cobalamin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B 12, Vitamin B 12 and Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Cobalamin and Folate Panel Serum, Vitamin B12/Folic Acid

Folate, Serum

Folate is part of the B complex of vitamins and is measures the levels of folate in the liquid portion of the blood, the serum or plasma, to detect deficiencies. Folate is necessary for normal RBC formation, tissue and cellular repair, and DNA synthesis.. A deficiency inr folate can lead to macrocytic anemia. Megaloblastic anemia, a type of macrocytic anemia, is characterized by the production of fewer but larger RBCs called macrocytes, in addition to some cellular changes in the bone marrow.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is part of the B complex of vitamins and measurea the levels of vitamin B12 in the liquid portion of the blood, the serum or plasma, to detect deficiencies. Cobalamine, or vitamin B12, is found in animal products such as red meat, fish, poultry, milk, yogurt, and eggs and is not produced in the human body. In recent years, fortified cereals, breads, and other grain products have also become important dietary sources of B12. Vitamin B12 is necessary for normal RBC formation, tissue and cellular repair, and DNA synthesis. B12 is important for nerve health. A deficiency in B12 can lead to macrocytic anemia. Megaloblastic anemia, a type of macrocytic anemia, is characterized by the production of fewer but larger RBCs called macrocytes, in addition to some cellular changes in the bone marrow. B12 deficiency can lead to varying degrees of neuropathy, nerve damage that can cause tingling and numbness in the affected person's hands and feet.
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The UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel panel contains 4 tests with 10 biomarkers .

The UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel is a foundational blood test panel designed to evaluate essential vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes that support everyday physiological function. Rather than focusing on a single nutrient, this panel provides a broader snapshot of nutritional sufficiency and electrolyte balance—two critical components of metabolic stability, cellular health, and overall wellness. It includes key micronutrients such as Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folate, and magnesium, alongside core electrolytes and acid–base markers including sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide.

Together, these measurements help illuminate how the body maintains hydration, nerve signaling, muscle function, energy metabolism, and biochemical balance. Even subtle shifts in nutrient or electrolyte levels can influence how the body feels and performs, particularly in individuals managing dietary changes, lifestyle stressors, medication use, or chronic health conditions. This panel is frequently used as an initial screening tool or a periodic check-in to assess nutritional status and internal balance over time.

The UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel is suitable for adults seeking a clearer understanding of their baseline nutritional markers, those monitoring known deficiencies, or individuals looking to complement broader metabolic or wellness-focused laboratory testing. By consolidating multiple commonly ordered tests into a single panel, it offers a structured and efficient way to evaluate core nutrient and electrolyte health using standardized laboratory methods.

When and Why Someone Would Order This Panel

Assessing Nutritional Foundations

Many individuals choose the UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel when they want to evaluate whether their diet and lifestyle are meeting their body’s basic nutritional needs. Vitamins such as D, B12, and folate play essential roles in bone health, red blood cell production, neurological function, and cellular repair. Magnesium supports hundreds of enzymatic reactions, including those involved in energy production and muscle contraction. This panel is often ordered when someone wants confirmation that these foundational nutrients are within expected ranges.

Monitoring Dietary Patterns and Lifestyle Changes

Changes in diet—such as plant-based eating, ketogenic approaches, intermittent fasting, or calorie restriction—can influence micronutrient intake and electrolyte balance. Individuals undergoing such transitions may use this panel to establish a baseline or to monitor how their nutritional markers respond over time. Athletes and physically active individuals may also find value in tracking electrolytes, as fluid shifts and sweating can affect sodium, potassium, and chloride levels.

Medication Use and Long-Term Health Monitoring

Certain medications can influence vitamin absorption, mineral balance, or electrolyte levels. For example, long-term use of acid-suppressing medications, diuretics, or specific metabolic therapies may impact magnesium, B12, or electrolyte status. Healthcare providers may recommend periodic monitoring using a panel like this to ensure stability and to guide further evaluation if changes are observed.

General Wellness and Preventive Screening

The panel is also commonly used in preventive health settings as part of routine wellness assessments. Rather than waiting for symptoms to arise, patients and providers may use these results to identify trends, support informed discussions, and determine whether additional testing or nutritional evaluation is appropriate.

What Does the Panel Measure

Vitamin and Mineral Markers

The panel includes QuestAssureD® Vitamin D 25-Hydroxy Total with D2 and D3, which measures circulating vitamin D from both dietary and endogenous sources. Vitamin D is closely linked to calcium metabolism, immune function, and skeletal health. Vitamin B12 and serum folate are essential for DNA synthesis, neurological health, and red blood cell formation, making them important indicators of nutritional adequacy and metabolic efficiency. Serum magnesium reflects a mineral involved in neuromuscular signaling, cardiac rhythm regulation, and enzymatic activity.

Electrolytes and Acid–Base Balance

Electrolytes—sodium, potassium, and chloride—are critical for maintaining fluid balance, nerve impulse transmission, and muscle contraction. Even small deviations can affect how the body regulates blood pressure, hydration, and cellular communication. Carbon dioxide (CO2), reported as bicarbonate, provides insight into the body’s acid–base status and metabolic buffering capacity, helping contextualize electrolyte findings within overall biochemical balance.

Integrated Insight

While each marker can be evaluated individually, their combined interpretation provides a more complete picture of nutritional and electrolyte health. Patterns across vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes often offer more meaningful insight than any single result alone.

How Patients and Healthcare Providers Use the Results

Identifying Nutrient Patterns

Results from the UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel can help identify patterns consistent with nutrient insufficiency, imbalance, or stability. Healthcare providers may use these findings to determine whether further nutritional assessment, dietary review, or follow-up testing is warranted.

Supporting Clinical Evaluation

This panel may contribute to the evaluation of conditions associated with fatigue, muscle weakness, neurological symptoms, or metabolic imbalance, such as vitamin D insufficiency, B12-related anemia patterns, folate deficiency trends, electrolyte disturbances, or acid–base imbalances. Results are interpreted alongside clinical history, symptoms, and other laboratory data.

Monitoring Over Time

For individuals with known deficiencies or those undergoing lifestyle or medication changes, repeat testing can help track trends over time. Monitoring stability or change allows providers and patients to assess whether interventions or adjustments are having the intended effect.

Guiding Informed Conversations

Importantly, the panel supports informed, data-driven discussions between patients and healthcare providers. Rather than serving as a standalone diagnostic tool, it functions as a structured snapshot that helps guide next steps in personalized care planning.

The UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel offers a clear, structured look at essential vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes that underpin everyday health. By evaluating foundational nutritional markers alongside key elements of electrolyte and acid–base balance, this panel helps contextualize how the body maintains internal stability and supports normal physiological function.

Whether used as a baseline wellness assessment, a monitoring tool, or part of a broader health evaluation, the panel provides reliable laboratory data that can support thoughtful interpretation and follow-up. Its strength lies not in isolated numbers, but in the way multiple core markers come together to form a cohesive picture of nutritional and metabolic balance.

For individuals and healthcare providers alike, the UltaNutrient™ Core Nutrient Screening Panel serves as an educational and practical resource—one that emphasizes understanding, continuity, and informed decision-making within a comprehensive approach to health.

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