~20%
Brain
DHA makes up roughly 20% of total brain lipid and 60-80% of brain membrane phospholipids. Accretion peaks in the third trimester at around 50-60 mg per day.
For pregnancy
Omega-3 DHA testing for the most important nine months.
An at-home finger-prick blood test that measures the omega-3 most important for your baby's developing brain, eyes, and nervous system. Analysed by GC-FID — same interchangeable lab method used in the SAHMRI trials. Available anywhere in Australia, retestable each trimester.
Order the test — $69.95 →.Just published — MJA, November 2025
14.7% of pregnant women had low omega-3.
The Medical Journal of Australia just published the first peer-reviewed evaluation of the SAHMRI / SA Pathology omega-3 test-and-treat program. Of the first 4,801 women tested, 14.7% had low levels and were advised to supplement. The program is now embedded in roughly 60% of South Australian antenatal screens, with 97.6% of samples reported within 72 hours.
The authors conclude: "Blood testing is the gold standard for assessing omega-3 status." Read our summary of the paper →
The SAHMRI Omega-3 Test-and-Treat Program
For decades, researchers at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) — led by Professor Maria Makrides, Professor Robert Gibson, and Dr Karen Best — have studied whether omega-3 supplementation in pregnancy reduces the risk of preterm birth.
The picture that emerged from three landmark trials and a Cochrane systematic review of more than 70 studies is now clear: higher-dose omega-3 supplementation reduces the risk of early preterm birth (before 34 weeks) by roughly 42% overall — but the benefit depends on starting omega-3 status. Women with low levels early in pregnancy benefit substantially. Women with already-adequate levels do not see the same benefit, and in published subgroup analysis, may even face a small increased risk if supplemented unnecessarily.
This is why testing matters: a blanket supplement strategy doesn't work for everyone. Knowing your level lets you and your care team decide whether and how much to supplement.
This is now routine care in South Australia. From 2026, SA Pathology offers omega-3 status testing free to all pregnant women in South Australia as part of routine antenatal blood work. National scale-up is in progress. Read the program overview →
The wedge
Why testing matters, not just supplementing.
The published evidence is clear: omega-3 supplementation benefits women who start with low levels. For women already at adequate levels, the same supplement may add nothing — and the subgroup analysis from the ORIP Trial (Simmonds et al., BJOG 2020) suggested it may not be neutral.
So the question isn't "should I take fish oil in pregnancy." The question is: where am I starting from, and what dose actually fits my body? The only way to know is to test.
Why Omega-3 DHA matters in pregnancy
DHA is a long-chain omega-3 your body and your baby's body can't make in sufficient amounts from precursors. Whatever circulating DHA you have in pregnancy is what your baby has to build their developing tissues from.
~60%
Retina
DHA is the dominant fatty acid in your baby's retinal photoreceptor cells. Higher DHA in pregnancy has been associated with measurable visual development outcomes in published trials.
30×
Nervous system
DHA accretion in the central nervous system increases roughly 30-fold across the first two years of life — starting in utero and continuing into infancy.
↓42%
Early preterm birth
In women who begin pregnancy with low omega-3, higher-dose DHA has been shown to reduce the risk of early preterm birth (before 34 weeks) by roughly 42% — the finding behind the SAHMRI program. It's why testing first matters.
Who this test is for
If you live outside South Australia
You can't currently access the free SA Pathology omega-3 test — it's offered only in SA. Our at-home Prenatal Omega-3 Test gives you the same measurement, posted from home, anywhere in Australia.
If you're already in the SA program but want to monitor
SA Pathology offers a baseline test. If your level is low and you start supplementing, you'll want to confirm your levels respond — that's where our test fits. DHA in red blood cells takes 8-12 weeks to fully reflect supplement changes; retest each trimester to track your response.
If you're planning a pregnancy
Building your status before conception is a low-friction win. DHA levels rise slowly; if you're below the optimal range, starting 3-6 months before trying gives your body time to reach adequacy.
SA Pathology free test — vs — our Prenatal Test
Same analytical method. Both tests use GC-FID (gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection) in an accredited Australian lab — the same reference method behind the published SAHMRI ORIP and DOMInO trials. What differs is collection format, location availability, and retest cadence — not analytical accuracy.
| SA Pathology (free) | Our Prenatal Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Where available | South Australia only | Australia-wide |
| Cost | Free (via routine antenatal blood work) | $69.95 per test |
| Where you collect | Pathology collection centre | At home (finger-prick) |
| Retesting in pregnancy | Not currently offered routinely | Recommended each trimester |
| Pre-conception | Not covered (pregnancy only) | Yes |
| Sample type | Venous draw | Capillary (dried blood spot) |
| Lab method | GC-FID | GC-FID (R² > 0.96 vs RBC method) |
The Prenatal Test
Prenatal Omega-3 Test
At-home finger-prick blood test. Reference ranges tuned for pregnancy. Posted Australia-wide, free shipping both ways.
Order the test →Free Australia-wide shipping · Results in 3–5 business days · Retestable each trimester
Common questions
Is the accuracy comparable to the SA Pathology test?
Yes. Both use the same reference method for fatty acid analysis — GC-FID (gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection) — the same method used in the published SAHMRI ORIP and DOMInO trials. The difference is the collection format: SA Pathology uses a venous draw at a pathology centre; ours uses a finger-prick onto a dried blood spot card you post back from home. For omega-3 fatty acid status, the two collection formats produce statistically equivalent results (R² > 0.96 correlation when both are analysed by GC-FID). You can read a fuller answer in our honest answer on at-home test accuracy.
How is this different from the free SA Pathology test?
The SA Pathology test is a one-off baseline at one point in pregnancy, offered free to women in South Australia. Our test is designed for repeat monitoring through pregnancy, is available Australia-wide, and is done at home from a single finger-prick.
When in pregnancy should I test?
We recommend testing as early as practical — ideally before 20 weeks. If your level is low or suboptimal, you'll have time to act on it. DHA in red blood cells takes 8–12 weeks to fully reflect supplement changes, so a follow-up test in the third trimester confirms your response.
What if my level is low?
Your report will indicate your category (Low, Suboptimal, Optimal, Elevated). For low or suboptimal results, the published evidence supports targeted higher-dose DHA supplementation — but the right dose for you should be discussed with your GP, midwife, or obstetrician, who knows your full clinical picture.
What if my level is already high?
If you're already in the Optimal range, the published evidence is that adding more omega-3 doesn't provide further preterm birth risk reduction. We strongly recommend discussing any supplement changes with your healthcare provider rather than self-prescribing higher doses.
Is this test safe in pregnancy?
Yes. The test is a single finger-prick — a measurement only, nothing is introduced into your body.
Can I share the result with my obstetrician?
Yes — your report is formatted with the same structure you'd see from a pathology lab, including methodology and reference ranges. Many GPs, midwives, and obstetricians already use omega-3 results in their conversations with patients.
Key references
- Makrides M, Gibson RA, McPhee AJ, Yelland L, Quinlivan J, Ryan P. Effect of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on depression and neurodevelopment of young children: the DOMInO trial. JAMA. 2010;304(15):1675–1683.
- Middleton P, Gomersall JC, Gould JF, Shepherd E, Olsen SF, Makrides M. Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018;11:CD003402.
- Makrides M, Best K, Yelland L, et al. A Randomized Trial of Prenatal n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Preterm Delivery (ORIP Trial). New England Journal of Medicine. 2019;381:1035–1045.
- Simmonds LA, Sullivan TR, Skubisz M, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy — baseline omega-3 status and early preterm birth. BJOG. 2020;127(8):975–981.
- Best KP, Gibson RA, Makrides M. ISSFAL statement number 7 — Omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy to reduce preterm birth. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2022;186:102495.
- Best KP, Northcott C, Simmonds LA, et al. Early implementation phase of an omega-3 test and treat program for reducing the risk of preterm birth. Medical Journal of Australia. 2025;223(11):626-633.
This page is informational. Our test is not a diagnostic test and does not replace clinical care. Always discuss results with your GP, midwife, or obstetrician.