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Vitamin B12 & Folate Test
Vitamin B12 & Folate Test
Measure the levels of vitamin B12 and folate in your blood which are essential vitamins for red/white blood cells, a healthy nervous system, tissue and cell repair and DNA creation. Read moreTest details
Sample type:
Blood
Preparation:
This panel does not require fasting.
Dietary supplements containing biotin may interfere with this panel, causing results to be either falsely high or falsely low. We recommend pausing biotin-containing supplements 72 hours prior to being tested.
What
Measures the levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folate (B9) in your blood.
Who
Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.
How
Blood
Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.
About the Test
Vitamin B12 and folate are essential nutrients that are necessary for producing and maintaining red and white blood cells, supporting the nervous system, and helping to create DNA, the basis of all cells.
Vitamin B12 and folate must be supplied by the diet or through supplementation because the body is not able to produce them. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency (low levels of vitamin B12 or folate) may be due to limited dietary intake, poor absorption, advanced age, certain medical conditions, or some medications. Low levels of vitamin B12 and folate can lead to anemia, nervous system conditions, high levels of homocysteine, and a variety of health issues. This test can help determine whether you have a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.
How it works
questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.
FAQs
Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia is a condition in which your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells due to insufficient amounts of vitamin B12 or folate (vitamin B9). Both of these vitamins are needed to make red blood cells (RBCs), which carry oxygen to all parts of your body. Your body cannot function normally without an adequate supply of oxygen-rich RBCs.
Vegetarians and vegans who want to increase their vitamin B12 intake may consider fortified foods, such as nutritional yeast, cereal grains, and plant-based milk, or taking a B12supplement to replenish the body's stores of this essential vitamin.
Vegetarians and vegans who want to increase their folate should include vegetables (dark leafy greens, asparagus, brussels sprouts), fruits, nuts, beans, peas, and grains. This vitamin is also present as folic acid in fortified foods such as bread, cereals, flour, and pasta as folic acid.
If you're pregnant or planning to conceive, it's important to take a folic acid supplement. Folic acid helps form the neural tube during the early stages of pregnancy and is crucial for reducing major congenital disabilities of the spine (spina bifida) and brain (anencephaly). Prenatal vitamins contain both vitamin B12 and folic acid and may be recommended by your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant.
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