Homocysteine Test

This blood test for homocysteine may be right for you if any of the following are true:

• You have been diagnosed with a heart or blood vessel disease
• You have one or more conditions that may increase your risk for heart and blood vessel disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes
• You want to better understand your risk for blood clots, heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and other diseases of the blood vessels.
• Have a diet low in vitamin B9-rich foods (beans, peas, citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, fortified cereals and bread, and yeast)
• Have a diet low in vitamin B12-rich foods (dairy, eggs, fish, poultry, or red meat)
• You are an older adult, as people often cannot absorb enough vitamin B12 from food as they age
• You have alcohol use disorder or a drug addiction, which can cause low levels of vitamins B9 and B12

If you are currently taking blood thinners (anti-platelet medications or anti-coagulants) or have a family history of heart disease or stroke, please speak with your healthcare provider to determine if this test is right for you.

Abnormal levels of homocysteine may not cause symptoms, however high levels of homocysteine may be due to a lack of vitamins B6, B9, and B12. People with low levels of vitamins B9 or B12 may not have any symptoms or may have symptoms of anemia or nerve damage. General signs and symptoms related to anemia and nerve damage include the list below. Some people may not have all or any of these symptoms but still have a deficiency.

• Extreme, persistent fatigue
• Pale or yellow skin color
• Pounding sound in ears
• Easy bruising
• Impaired ability to do activities requiring physical exertion (exercise intolerance)
• Frequent infections
• Headaches
• Muscle weakness
• Constipation
• Unintentional weight loss
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
• Foggy thinking, poor memory
• Problems with balance
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• An intense craving to chew and eat ice, eat non-food items, or both (pica)
• Changes to mood or sleep (depression, irritability, panic attacks, insomnia)

If you are experiencing the below symptoms, speak with your healthcare provider before purchasing this test:

• Difficulty walking, unsteady gait
• Severe bruising
• Infertility

If you experience these more severe symptoms, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION:

• Abnormally rapid heartbeat
• Heart flutters
• Fainting
• Shortness of breath

Purchaser: You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com.

Patient: This test can be performed on patients between 18 and 100 years old.

Sample collection: This test requires specimen collection at a Quest Diagnostics location. Collection not available in AZ or HI.