Omega-3 DHA, % (RBC)

The proportion of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, in your red blood cells.

Last reviewedJune 16, 2026

Whole blood

sample type

~5 mL

blood needed

~7 days

results in app

Any time of day

best timing

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Why test Reference ranges What you'll learn What affects it How testing works Sources FAQ

In short

DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that is a major building block of the brain, eyes, and nerve cell membranes. It comes mainly from oily fish and algae. This test reports how much DHA sits in your red blood cell membranes, as a percentage of all fatty acids there.

Because red blood cells live for about four months, this percentage reflects your average DHA status over weeks rather than your last meal.

Heart & Cholesterol

Reviewed against DGKL reference practice.

Why test this?

DHA is central to brain and eye health and, with EPA, to heart health. It is the larger contributor to the Omega-3 Index in most people. A low DHA percentage is common in those who rarely eat oily fish or take omega-3 supplements.

Seeing DHA on its own helps show whether your intake is reaching the tissues that depend on it most.

What is a normal result?

Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.

Adult reference values as used by Aniva. Ranges are guidance and can vary by laboratory and method.

Group	Normal range
Adults	3 to 7 %

Your Aniva report reads your result against these values together with your age, sex and the rest of your panel.

Ranges are guidance and vary by lab and assay, aligned with DGKL practice. Always read your result against your own lab's reference interval.

What insights will this test give you?

You learn your long-term DHA status as a clear percentage and how it feeds into your overall omega-3 picture. A low value can guide oily fish, algae, or supplement choices within a personalized action plan.

What can affect this result?

What can skew the result

Recent changes in fish or supplement intake take weeks to show in the membrane value. Methods differ between labs, so compare results from the same assay.

Best interpreted with

Best read alongside the Omega-3 Index, EPA percentage, and ALA percentage.

How is this tested?

Sample

Whole blood

Blood needed

~5 mL

Method

Gas chromatography (fatty-acid analysis)

Best timing

Any time of day

Sources. The evidence behind this

Harris WS, von Schacky C: The Omega-3 Index as a risk factor

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE)

Common questions

Which Aniva panels include this marker?

Omega-3 Index

This test measures your Omega-3 Index, the percentage of EPA and DHA in red blood cells.