Most people want to be healthy, and one of the smartest things we can do is establish a clear baseline. In other words, we need to know where we stand before we can improve.
One powerful health marker everyone would benefit from knowing is their omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio, along with the inflammatory markers that come from this testing.
So, you take action.
You call your doctor.
You schedule the test.
You feel responsible and proactive.
But here is what you may not realize.
The test you need is a red blood cell membrane test performed through a dried blood spot (DBS) sample, also known as the BalanceTest.
Instead, without knowing the difference, you may receive a plasma omega test.
They are not the same.
In this article, you will learn the difference, why it matters, and how understanding it can change the way you interpret inflammation and long-term health risk.
Two Different Types of Omega Tests
There are two main ways to measure omega fatty acids:
-
- Plasma, also called serum, fatty acid testing
- Red blood cell membrane testing is performed through a dried blood spot (DBS) test
Both measure fatty acids.
However, they are measured in different biological compartments.
That difference changes what the results actually mean.
Inflammation Begins in the Cell Membrane
Chronic disease does not begin in plasma.
It begins in the cell membrane.
Your cell membrane is made of fatty acids. These fats help control how your cells send and receive signals.
They influence:
-
- Inflammatory chemicals
- Blood vessel function
- Insulin sensitivity
- Brain communication
- Heart rhythm
When the balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids shifts too far toward omega-6, the body can produce more inflammatory compounds [1].
This inflammation is often low-grade and silent.
You may not feel it.
But over time, it can affect cardiovascular health, metabolic function, brain performance, and overall resilience.
That is why testing the correct compartment matters.
Plasma Testing: A Short-Term Snapshot
Plasma is the liquid part of your blood.
A plasma omega test measures fatty acids that are circulating right now.
If you:
-
- Ate fish yesterday
- Took a supplement last week
- Recently changed your diet
Your plasma numbers can change quickly.
Plasma fatty acids can shift within days based on recent intake [2].
Plasma testing reflects short-term exposure.
It does not show what has been built into your cells over the past three to four months.
Inflammation is not a one-day event.
It is a long-term biological pattern.
Red Blood Cell Membrane Testing Through a DBS Test: The Long-Term Picture
Red blood cells live approximately 120 days.
After spelling it out once, we use the abbreviation red blood cell, or RBC.
A red blood cell membrane test performed through a DBS test measures fatty acids inside the membrane of these RBCs.
Because RBCs live for several months, this testing reflects longer-term fatty acid intake and structural incorporation into cell membranes [3].
This gives insight into true inflammatory balance.
One important marker is the ratio of Arachidonic Acid to Eicosapentaenoic Acid.
After spelling them out once, we use the abbreviations:
Arachidonic Acid (AA)
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
AA is an omega-6 fatty acid that can promote inflammatory signaling.
EPA is an omega-3 fatty acid that helps regulate and calm inflammatory pathways [1].
The AA to EPA ratio reflects the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signaling potential.
Higher omega-3 levels in RBC membranes, often measured as the Omega-3 Index, have been associated with lower risk of sudden cardiac death and improved cardiovascular protection [4,5].
That reflects what has been built into the cell membrane, not just what is temporarily circulating in plasma.
Think of It Like Glucose Testing
Most people understand the difference between a fasting glucose test and Hemoglobin A1c.
After spelling it out once, we use the abbreviation HbA1c.
A fasting glucose test measures blood sugar at that moment.
It is a snapshot.
Hemoglobin A1c measures how much glucose has attached to hemoglobin inside red blood cells over approximately two to three months.
It shows a longer-term pattern.
Now apply that same logic to omega testing.
Fasting glucose is like plasma omega testing.
HbA1c is like RBC membrane testing performed through a DBS test.
One reflects what is happening today.
The other reflects what has been happening over the months.
What 120 Days of Cellular Change Looks Like
Linda’s first red blood cell membrane test, performed through a DBS sample, revealed a strong inflammatory imbalance.
Her initial results showed:
-
- Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio: 69:1
- Omega-3 Index: 6%
- Arachidonic Acid (AA): 8%
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): 20%
- AA to EPA ratio: 69:1
These numbers reflected a pro-inflammatory fatty acid pattern within her cell membranes.
After consistent daily intake of BalanceOil+, Linda repeated the same DBS test and demonstrated a clear cellular transformation.
Her updated results showed:
-
- Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio: 2:1
- Omega-3 Index: 0%
- Arachidonic Acid (AA): 3%
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): 11%
- AA to EPA ratio: 2:1
Her AA to EPA ratio shifted from 69:1 to 2:1.
Her Omega-3 Index moved into the optimal range associated with cardiovascular protection [4].
This reflects structural remodeling of the red blood cell membrane over time.
Plasma levels can change in days.
Cell membranes rebuild over months.
That is the difference between a snapshot and a measurable biological transformation.
Why Becoming Your Own Health Advocate Matters
When you ask your doctor for an omega test, they typically order what is available in their system.
Most systems default to plasma testing.
That does not make the physician wrong.
But it does mean you must ask better questions.
Ask:
-
- Is this plasma testing or a DBS test?
- Does this reflect short-term intake or long-term membrane incorporation?
- Will this test show my AA-to-EPA ratio?
Being your own health advocate means understanding what is being measured.
Because what you do not measure at the cellular level can influence your long-term health trajectory.
Take Action: Do Not Just Test, Test Correctly
If you plan to measure your omega levels, do so in the right place.
A plasma test can change quickly.
A DBS test reflects what has been built into your cells over months.
If your goal is to understand long-term inflammation, cellular fatty acid balance, and your AA to EPA ratio, then a red blood cell membrane test performed through a DBS test provides deeper insight.
The good news is this:
Getting a proper DBS test is simple.
It is an easy finger-prick test that can be completed at home.
If you would like to learn more about proper DBS omega testing, simply email robert@dietfreelife.com for details and next steps.
Be informed.
Ask better questions.
Measure the correct compartment.
Because the quality of your measurement determines the quality of your decisions.
References
-
- Calder, P. C. (2015). Marine omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: Effects, mechanisms, and clinical relevance. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1851(4), 469–484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2014.08.010
- Arab, L. (2003). Biomarkers of fat and fatty acid intake. The Journal of Nutrition, 133(3), 925S–932S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/133.3.925S
- Harris, W. S., & Von Schacky, C. (2004). The Omega-3 Index: A new risk factor for death from coronary heart disease? Preventive Medicine, 39(1), 212–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.02.030
- Albert, C. M., et al. (2002). Fish consumption and risk of sudden cardiac death. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(15), 1113–1118. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa012918
- Von Schacky, C., & Harris, W. S. (2007). Cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Cardiovascular Research, 73(2), 310–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardiores.2006.08.019
__________
Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, clinical nutritionist, Omega Balancing Coach™, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, and Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health. He also serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association and the Health and Product Advisory Board for Zinzino, Inc.
🗓️ Schedule a FREE consultation with Robert Ferguson about becoming a client: SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION
👉🏽 To order the BalanceOil+ with the BalanceTEST, > CLICK HERE
👉🏽 Watch a free online presentation on the BalanceOil+ and the BalanceTEST: WATCH NOW.
0 Comments