Live blood analysis

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Live blood analysis (LBA), sometimes called live cell analysis, is the high resolution microscopic observation of live blood cells in a dark field, a common technique in microbiology called dark field microscopy. ^[1] It is an unestablished diagnostic test ^[2] used by some health care practitioners to determine a course of treatment. A drop of blood is taken from the patient's fingertip, put on a glass plate and viewed via a microscope on a video screen.

1 Overview
2 Analysis
3 Interpretation
4 Regulatory issues
5 Critical review
6 External links
7 References

[edit] Overview

Proponents believe that the method provides information "about the state of the immune system, possible vitamin deficiencies, amount of toxicity, pH and mineral imbalance, areas of concern and weaknesses, fungus and yeast."^{[citation needed]} Some even claim it can "spot cancer and other degenerative immune system diseases up to two years before they would otherwise be detectable"; or say they can diagnose "lack of oxygen in the blood, low trace minerals, lack of exercise, too much alcohol or yeast, weak kidneys, bladder or spleen". While advocates of LBA continue to insist that it is a diagnostic method "valuable for the early detection of serious health conditions," Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at the Peninsula medical school at the University of Exeter and University of Plymouth notes that "No credible scientific studies have demonstrated the reliability of LBA for detecting any of the above conditions." ^[3]

Researchers at the department of physiology and pharmacology at the Sackler faculty of medicine, University of Tel Aviv have reported that "the observation of low-frequency fluctuations of the cell membrane in erythrocytes and in several nucleated cells '(white blood cell)' suggest that this phenomenon may be a general property of the living cell. A study of these fluctuations in human erythrocytes and its ghosts have now been carried out using a novel optical method based on point dark field microscopy." ^[4]

[edit] Analysis

The biggest disadvantage of live blood analysis in dark field is that it is based on observations and interpretations with no general scientific acceptance. Anybody with possibilities of self-publication has therefore the chance to voice his own interpretations. Thus was the situation over 50 years ago already.^{[citation needed]}

However, practitioners doing live blood analysis may be able to identify blood parts correctly, which are also seen by hematologists in stained bright field samples. This is a must in order to gain any form of credibility of live blood analysis in dark field.

[edit] Red blood cells / erythrocytes

Erythrocytes are not always the same in form and size. This is visible in stained bright field as well as in live blood dark field samples. Therefore scientifically acknowledged terminology exists for these cells seen in blood.

Anisocytosis, acanthocytes, echinocytes, elliptocytes, poikilocytes, reticulocytes, schistocytes, stomatocytes, dakrocytes and target cells are hematological terms, which live blood analysts need to know and they should be able to identify those in dark field.

[edit] Rouleaux / coin roll formation

Rouleaux or coin roll formation in dark field is nowadays world-wide abused by sellers of remedies and gadgets to demonstrate bad blood circulation.^{[citation needed]} An absolute favorite is a dark field picture with coin rolls titled “before” and a normal dark field picture titled “after”. Worst of all, in most cases it is not even real rouleaux but simply blood sludge.^{[citation needed]}

According to the Oxford Textbook of Medicine, real rouleaux in a blood sample resembles a high ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). It is therefore a non-specific indicator of disease.

[edit] White blood cells / leukocytes

There are 5 different forms of white blood cells, neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil granulocytes as well as monocytes and lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are divided into B- and T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells (NK). Again, dark field analysts should be able to classify them correctly.

[edit] Thrombocytes / platelets

Platelets are also visible in stained bright field samples. However, platelet aggregations are only visible in untreated blood smears. The different staining methods separate the platelet aggregations.

Platelet aggregation, often entangled with fibrin, is frequently observed in dark field. No surprises here - cardio-vascular diseases are the most prevalent ones these days in the western world. Millions of people world-wide are on aspirin. It blocks the formation of thromboxane A2 in platelets, producing an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. However, rebound effects after cessation have been shown in several studies.

Dark field analysts world-wide diagnose these platelet aggregations as candida.^{[citation needed]} People with systemic candida infections are very ill and usually need treatment in an intensive care unit. They are hardly able to see a physician for live blood analysis in dark field. Candida lives as a normal commensal in the gut. In certain circumstances, such as sugars being available or the immune system being slightly depressed, it can multiply and establish itself elsewhere, in moist areas such as in the vagina, on the penis, or in the throat.

Normal blood plasma pH is 7.38 – 7.42. If this pH drops below 7.36 metabolic acidosis is imminent.

There are 3 mechanisms for the body to regulate the blood plasma pH:

Physiological buffer mechanism
Kidney excretion
Acid dump in tissues in exchange for alkaline minerals

Even the blood drop of a cancer patient at the time of sampling has a pH of 7.36 or above. Erythrocytes transport oxygen but don’t use it. They have an anaerobic cell metabolism with an end product of lactic acid. Mucor racemosus also produces lactate. Aspergillus niger produces citric and oxalic acids. This leads to a gradual left shift of the pH of live blood samples and allows the pathological developments as described by Professor Enderlein.

[edit] Interpretation

Interpretation and naming of the pathological developments in live blood samples is a free for all for dark field analysts and frowned upon by hematologists. However, the credibility of live blood analysis in dark field suffers the most when practitioners are unable to identify blood particles correctly, which can also be seen by hematologists.

[edit] Regulatory issues

In 1996, the Pennsylvania Department of Laboratories informed three Pennsylvania chiropractors that Infinity2's "Nutritional Blood Analysis" could not be used for diagnostic purposes unless they maintain a laboratory that has both state and federal certification for complex testing ^[5]

In 2001, the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General issued a report on regulation of "unestablished laboratory tests" that focused on live blood cell analysis. Most US " States agencies believe that 'Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments 1998'(CLIA) regulation of live blood cell analysis would help to insure the quality of testing and help protect patients from unscrupulous providers. Two-thirds of State agencies believe that CMS '(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)' should change CLIA policies to better address live blood cell analysis and other unestablished tests. Most providers of unestablished laboratory tests agree that unestablished tests should be regulated to protect patients, but they feel that CLIA is the wrong program to do this."^[6]

In 2005, the Rhode Island department of Health ordered Joyce M. Martin, D.C., to stop performing live blood analysis. An attorney for the state Board of Examiners in Chiropractic Medicine described the test as "useless" and a "money-making scheme " A state medical board official said that the test has no discernible value and the public should be very suspicious of any practitioner who offers it. ^[7]