Organic Acids Test

About the Organic Acids Test

Organic acids are chemical byproducts of cellular metabolism, and of gut microbial activity, that are filtered by the kidneys and excreted in urine, where their concentrations reflect how your body's underlying pathways are functioning. The Organic Acids Test measures 76 of these metabolites from a single first-morning urine sample, across six functional domains: microbial overgrowth, mitochondrial energy, neurotransmitter metabolism, methylation and detoxification, nutrient sufficiency, and toxic exposure. Together they offer a window into processes a standard blood panel cannot capture: gut microbial balance, how efficiently your cells produce energy, how neurotransmitter pathways are being metabolized, and how your cells are using key nutrients. It is analyzed through the Mosaic lab. This is an at-home urine test, not a blood draw, and your results arrive with an updated Action Plan and access to the Superpower care team.

How this goes deeper than standard lab work

A standard serum panel does not read what your gut microbiome is producing. The Organic Acids Test measures microbial metabolites that may indicate the presence of yeast (Candida/Aspergillus), mold, and bacterial overgrowth in the GI tract, including hero markers like Arabinose, associated with yeast, and HPHPA, associated with Clostridia. Gut microbial balance is associated with digestion, mood, and energy, and these signals do not show up in serum.

Standard panels measure what is circulating, not how efficiently your cells turn fuel into energy. The Organic Acids Test reads Krebs-cycle and fatty-acid-oxidation intermediates (Lactic, Pyruvic, Citric, and Succinic acids, along with a marker associated with CoQ10 status) that reflect energy-production efficiency, a factor associated with fatigue and recovery that can be tracked at the metabolite level.

Standard panels also do not capture how neurotransmitter pathways are being metabolized. The test measures metabolites of the dopamine (HVA), serotonin (5-HIAA), and norepinephrine/epinephrine (VMA) pathways. These are metabolites of neurotransmitter pathways, not direct measurements of neurotransmitter levels, which urine cannot provide.

What this test measures

A single first-morning urine sample yields 76 metabolites grouped into six functional domains.

The gut, energy, and brain connection

Most lab work captures what is circulating in your blood at a single moment. The Organic Acids Test captures something different: what your cells and gut microbes are actively producing, the metabolic output. In the gut, microbial metabolites such as Arabinose and HPHPA may indicate the presence of yeast, mold, or bacterial overgrowth in the GI tract, patterns a serum panel cannot read. For energy, Krebs-cycle and fatty-acid-oxidation intermediates reflect how efficiently your cells turn fuel into energy, a signal associated with fatigue and recovery. For the brain, metabolites of the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine/epinephrine pathways reflect how those pathways are being made and cleared. These are metabolites of the pathways, not measurements of neurotransmitter levels. These signals can appear in urine even when standard bloodwork reads "normal." Results from this panel are not a medical diagnosis. A Superpower care team member or a provider familiar with functional laboratory testing can help you interpret what your results mean in the context of your symptoms and history.

Who benefits from testing

The Organic Acids Test is commonly used by people with complex, chronic, or unexplained health concerns (particularly where standard blood panels have not provided a clear picture) and by those optimizing their metabolic, gut, and neurological health proactively. It may be worth considering if you:

• You are experiencing chronic or persistent fatigue not explained by a standard workup
• You have brain fog, poor concentration, low motivation, or mood changes without a clear cause
• You have digestive issues, bloating, or sugar cravings, or symptoms suggesting yeast or bacterial overgrowth
• You still have unresolved symptoms despite "normal" standard panels
• You have a history of repeated antibiotic use or suspected gut dysbiosis
• You are investigating suspected mold or chemical exposure
• You want a baseline across gut, energy, and neurotransmitter pathways as a health optimizer
• You are a parent investigating metabolic factors for a child, typically with practitioner guidance

No doctor's visit required: order directly through Superpower.

What standard lab panels cannot tell you

Standard blood panels measure serum concentrations, what is circulating in your blood at a point in time. They do not measure how efficiently your mitochondria are producing energy, whether your gut contains an overgrowth of yeast or pathogenic bacteria, how your neurotransmitter pathways are being metabolized, or whether your cells are utilizing nutrients effectively. Organic acids are the metabolic outputs of these processes, and they appear in urine regardless of serum levels. The Organic Acids Test makes these otherwise-invisible processes visible: it complements, rather than replaces, standard bloodwork. The Organic Acids Test does not diagnose any condition. It provides metabolic data that may be useful in understanding contributing factors.

What you will learn

Your results provide metabolic data across all six functional domains. You will see which specific metabolites are elevated or low and the pathways they implicate, and whether your markers may indicate yeast, mold, or bacterial overgrowth in the GI tract. You will see how your neurotransmitter pathways are functioning based on metabolite outputs. These are metabolites of the pathways, not measurements of neurotransmitter levels. And you will see your functional nutrient status for key B vitamins, vitamin C, and antioxidant cofactors at the cellular level. Results arrive with an updated Action Plan, the AI-powered concierge translates them into clear next steps, and the care team is available to discuss your findings. Your results are a starting point, not a verdict. They are data, not a diagnosis, and are best reviewed with your care team or a provider familiar with functional laboratory testing.

How it works

The Organic Acids Test is a self-collected, at-home urine test, with no phlebotomist, no clinic visit, and no fasting.

1. Order online, no doctor's visit required.
2. Receive your at-home collection kit by mail, with prepaid return materials.
3. Follow the preparation instructions and collect your first-morning urine sample at home.
4. Ship your sample back using the prepaid materials provided.
5. Mosaic analyzes your sample and your results arrive within 10 days with an updated Action Plan. Text your Superpower care team or AI-powered concierge with any questions.

Before your collection:

• Collection timing: First-morning urine, the first void after waking is preferred.
• Avoid for 48 hours before collection (foods): apples, grapes, raisins, pears, cranberries, and any of their juices or products.
• Avoid for 48 hours before collection (supplements): arabinogalactan, echinacea, reishi mushrooms, and ribose supplements.
• If you recently finished antibiotics: wait 48 hours before collecting your sample.

Full collection instructions are included in your kit, and the Superpower care team is available before your collection day.

Consider pairing with the Mold Toxins Test

The Organic Acids Test includes markers for yeast and mold overgrowth in the GI tract, particularly Arabinose and related fungal metabolites associated with Candida and Aspergillus activity. The Mold Toxins Test measures something different: systemic mycotoxin burden excreted in urine from broader environmental or dietary exposure. Together, the two offer a more complete view of how mold may be affecting both gut function and your systemic toxin load.