From the Research
To obtain an interleukin (IL) complete panel test, you should consult with a healthcare provider such as your primary care physician, immunologist, or rheumatologist who can order this specialized test for you. These tests are typically performed at specialized clinical laboratories or academic medical centers rather than standard commercial labs. Your doctor will need to provide a referral and specific orders for the test based on your medical condition. Interleukin panels are not routine tests and are usually ordered to evaluate specific inflammatory or immune-related conditions such as autoimmune disorders, certain cancers, or severe infections. The test involves a blood draw, and the sample is then analyzed for various interleukin levels including IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and others depending on the specific panel ordered. Some studies have shown that multiplex bead array assays can be used to measure cytokines, including interleukins, with high sensitivity and reproducibility 1, 2. However, the most recent and highest quality study on this topic is from 2019, which compared commercial ELISA kits, a prototype multiplex electrochemoluminescent assay, and a multiplex bead-based immunoassay for detecting a urine-based bladder-cancer-associated diagnostic signature, and found that the multiplex bead-based immunoassay had high accuracy and sensitivity 3. Insurance coverage for these specialized tests varies significantly, so you may want to check with your insurance provider beforehand as these tests can be expensive. The results typically take longer to process than standard blood tests, often requiring 5-7 business days or more. It's also important to note that the choice of assay method can affect the results, and that multiplex immunoassays can be a viable platform for quantitating multiple proteins within biologic specimens 3. In terms of where to buy an interleukin complete panel test, it's not something that can be purchased directly by a consumer, but rather it needs to be ordered by a healthcare provider through a specialized laboratory or academic medical center.
Some key points to consider when obtaining an interleukin complete panel test include:
- The test is typically ordered by a healthcare provider to evaluate specific inflammatory or immune-related conditions
- The test involves a blood draw and is analyzed for various interleukin levels
- Insurance coverage varies significantly, so it's essential to check with your insurance provider beforehand
- The results typically take longer to process than standard blood tests
- The choice of assay method can affect the results, and multiplex immunoassays can be a viable platform for quantitating multiple proteins within biologic specimens 3.
It's also worth noting that there are different types of assays that can be used to measure interleukins, including solid-phase and bead-based cytokine immunoassays, and that the physical chemical properties of the different body fluids can have an impact on the outcome of the cytokine assay 4. However, the most recent and highest quality study on this topic is from 2019, which found that the multiplex bead-based immunoassay had high accuracy and sensitivity 3.
In summary, to obtain an interleukin (IL) complete panel test, you should consult with a healthcare provider who can order this specialized test for you, and consider the factors mentioned above, including the choice of assay method and insurance coverage.