Omega-3 Index — EPA + DHA Blood Test
The omega-3 index is a blood test for EPA and DHA, the omega-3s found in fish. How to read it against your lab's range.
The omega-3 index is a blood test for EPA and DHA — the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and other seafood — and it is read against the reference range printed by the lab that ran it.
Watch the 40-second version
This one is measured inside your red blood cells, not floating in the plasma.
Transcript & sources → All videosMr. Age is AgeGen's editorial character. Facts come from the protocol above.
The biomarker
- Name: Omega-3 Index (EPA + DHA)
- Units: as reported by your lab
- Standard range: not published on our cited sources — read your result against the range your lab reports (ranges vary by lab)
How to read your result
| Result | What to do with it |
|---|---|
| Any value | Compare it with the reference range and categories printed on your lab report, and ask your clinician how to read it |
| Below your lab's range | Ask your clinician whether your food intake of EPA and DHA is adequate |
What moves the needle
- Diet first. The American Heart Association recommends two servings of fish a week, particularly fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines.
- Plant ALA is not a substitute. The body converts only very small amounts of ALA (found in plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean and canola oils) into EPA and DHA (NIH ODS).
- Supplements. Do not start or change an omega-3 supplement without a clinician.
Why this test is worth asking for
- It measures EPA and DHA from a blood sample rather than estimating them from what you remember eating.
- Because the body makes only very small amounts of EPA and DHA from plant ALA, food sources of EPA and DHA are what raise these levels.
This is not a number you can estimate from your diet — the finger-prick kit I use is how I get mine.
Omega-3 Index Home Test
A finger-prick home test that measures the EPA+DHA content of your red blood cells — the omega-3 index — so you have a measured number to discuss with a clinician instead of a guess.
See it in the shop →Illustrative photo. We may earn a commission — the affiliate link and the full disclosure live on our shop page.
Related protocols
- Lp(a) — Genetic Cardiovascular Risk
- Lipid Panel — LDL, HDL, Triglycerides
- hs-CRP — Systemic Inflammation
Sources
- NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Health Professional Fact Sheet
- NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fact Sheet for Consumers
- American Heart Association — Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
AgeGen lab guides are educational only. We do not provide medical diagnosis, prescribe brands, or recommend specific doses. Talk to a licensed clinician before changing your supplement or medication routine.
