Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutritional issues in Canada. And yet, if you ask your doctor to check your vitamin D level, there's a good chance they'll say no.
It's not because the test is irrelevant. It's because Ontario delisted routine vitamin D testing from OHIP coverage, and your doctor can only order it under specific circumstances.
Why Vitamin D Testing Was Delisted
In 2010, Ontario removed routine 25-hydroxy vitamin D testing from OHIP coverage. The reasoning was that vitamin D deficiency is so common in the Canadian population that it was considered more cost-effective to recommend universal supplementation rather than test everyone individually.
Under the current guidelines, OHIP only covers vitamin D testing when there's a specific clinical indication: osteoporosis, malabsorption conditions, kidney disease, rickets, or medications that affect vitamin D metabolism.
Why Vitamin D Still Matters
The delisting didn't change the science. Vitamin D plays a role in bone health, immune function, mood and mental health, muscle function, and inflammation regulation.
Why Testing Beats Guessing
The standard advice is to take a vitamin D supplement and assume that's sufficient. But people absorb and metabolize vitamin D differently. Testing tells you whether your current dose is actually working, whether you need to adjust, and where you sit relative to optimal ranges.
What's the Optimal Vitamin D Level?
Vitamin D is measured as 25-hydroxy vitamin D in nanomoles per litre (nmol/L):
- Deficient: below 30 nmol/L
- Insufficient: 30-50 nmol/L
- Sufficient: 50-125 nmol/L
- Optimal (according to many practitioners): 75-125 nmol/L
How to Get Your Vitamin D Tested
Since routine vitamin D testing isn't covered by OHIP, you can order it privately through Bespoke Labs. Add the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test to your cart, complete a brief health questionnaire at checkout, and walk into any Dynacare location in Ontario. It's one of the most commonly ordered tests on our platform.