VCS Testing Instructions

VCS Testing Instructions

This test offers a quick, easy, and accurate way to assess your neurotoxicity, or damage to the brain or nervous system caused by exposure to natural or man-made toxic substances.

What is the VCS test?

VCS, short for Visual Contrast Sensitivity testing, is used to test those who suffer or suspect they suffer from a health condition that affects contrast sensitivity. Visual contrast sensitivity testing measures one’s ability to see details at low contrast levels and is often used as a nonspecific test of neurological function.  The VCS test involves the presentation of a series of images of decreasing contrast to the test subject and the recording of the contrast levels where patterns, shapes, or objects can or cannot be identified.  The results of the test can then be used as an aid in the diagnosis of visual system dysfunction, or how neurotoxins are impacting the optic nerve.

What causes a contrast sensitivity deficit?

Many toxins impact our ability to perceive contrast, including nutritional deficiencies, alcohol, drug/medication use, and exposure to endogenous or exogenous neurotoxins and/or biotoxins, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), certain species of mold and the mycotoxins and microbial VOCs they produce, cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates (particularly Pfiesteria and Ciguatera), parasites, heavy metals like mercury and lead, and the pathogens responsible for Lyme disease and its co-infections.

Why is VCS testing diagnostic?

VCS testing, by itself, is generally not diagnostic for any specific condition (including either mold or neurotoxin exposure), but a positive result may suggest the existence of a health and life-affecting subclinical process.  If results are positive, one could have a number of different conditions that need to be addressed.

You will either be taking the VCS test using the physical device in your doctor’s office, or in the digital format online in the office or at home. If you’re taking the physical test at the office, your doctor will evaluate you in person.

To take the VCS test online:

  1. Go to vcstest.com
  2. Register for a free account.
  3. Make an optional donation (to receive a detailed results interpretation and a detailed PDF of your results that can be printed and/or forwarded to your doctor, the site requests a donation of at least USD $10.00).
  4. Take the test. May need measuring tape to ensure proper distance from the computer screen.
  5. Have results sent to your practitioner.
  6. Remember to take the test every 30 days during the program to observe progress.

Here’s what the testing involves:

This contrast sensitivity test, like most vision tests, involves the display of stimuli – in this case, a series of images on your screen – and the recording of what you can and cannot see.  This data is then analyzed and used to determine whether you suffer from a contrast sensitivity deficit and a potentially related health condition.

The test consists of two series of 5 sets of 9 images of parallel bars, one series for each eye.  As you progress through each set and series, the images generally get harder to see because they get lighter and the parallel bars get closer together.

When you start the test, you’ll be asked to cover or close your right eye, a test image will be displayed, and you’ll then indicate which direction the bars in the image are tilted (‘Left’, ‘Up’, or ‘Right’) by clicking or touching the corresponding response image below the test image.  Another image will then be displayed and you’ll continue viewing images and responding until you’ve viewed all 45 images in the first series, at which point you’ll be asked to cover or close your other eye and the second series of 45 images will be displayed.   If you believe you might be able to make out the direction of tilt of the bars in an image but aren’t sure, you should answer with what you believe you see; if you’re sure you cannot see anything, you should answer ‘Blank’.

If you have lost the use of either eye or if acuity in either eye is below 20:50, you should skip testing that eye by clicking the ‘Skip this eye’ button at the beginning of the series of images for that eye.  If you skip an eye, your results will be based on the scores obtained for the tested eye only.

During the test, your display – whether monitor, phone, or tablet – should be

36″ (91cm) from your eyes and you should look at it from the same position and at the same angle at which you performed your gamma calibration.  If you’re having trouble seeing the bars, you may shift position slightly (up to a few inches to either side) as small changes in viewing angle sometimes make a difference, but be sure to maintain your distance. Before you begin, ensure that your display is clean and free of dust, dirt, and fingerprints.