Vitamin B12 & Folate Test-ImageVitamin B12 & Folate Test

🧪 Vitamin B12 & Folate Test


Checks for deficiencies that can lead to fatigue, brain fog, low mood, and anemia.

 

 

🔍 What is it?


The Vitamin B12 & Folate Test measures levels of two key vitamins your body needs to make red blood cells and keep your nervous system healthy. A deficiency in either can cause symptoms like tiredness, pins and needles, memory issues, and even mood changes.

These tests are often requested when investigating unexplained fatigue, cognitive decline, or anemia.

 

 

📊 What does it measure?

MarkerWhat It Indicates
Vitamin B12Essential for nerve function, energy metabolism, and red blood cell formation
Folate (Vitamin B9)Needed for DNA production and healthy red blood cells
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) or homocysteine (optional add-ons)May be used if B12 results are borderline

 

 

❓ Why might I need it?


😴 Feel constantly tired or suffer from brain fog

  • ✨ Experience pins and needles, especially in hands or feet
  • 🧠 Have memory problems or difficulty concentrating
  • 🌱 Follow a vegan or vegetarian diet
  • 🦠 Have digestive disorders like coeliac or Crohn’s disease
  • 💊 Are taking certain medications (e.g. metformin or PPIs)
  • 🤰 Are pregnant or trying to conceive
  • 🩸 Have low haemoglobin on a blood test

 

 

🧬 Conditions it can help detect:

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Folate deficiency
  • Macrocytic anaemia
  • Neuropathy (nerve damage)
  • Cognitive changes linked to low B12
  • Megaloblastic anaemia (large, immature red blood cells)

 

 

📈 Typical Reference Ranges (NHS guidance):

MarkerNormal Range
Vitamin B12190 – 950 ng/L (can vary by lab)
Folate>3 – 20 µg/L

Borderline or low-normal B12 may still cause symptoms and require follow-up testing or treatment.

 

 

⏱️ How is it done?

 

  • Blood is drawn from a vein, usually in your arm
  • The test takes a few minutes
  • Results are typically available within 1–2 working days
     

 

💷 Typical Private Cost in the UK:

  • Vitamin B12 & Folate test only: £50–£90

     
  • Commonly included in fatigue, anaemia, or nutritional health panels

     

✅ Commonly combined with:

  • Full Blood Count (FBC) – To check for anaemia
  • Iron studies – As iron deficiency also causes fatigue
  • Thyroid function tests – To explore other fatigue-related causes

  • Vitamin D – Important for immune function and energy
     

     

 

📚 References:

  1. NHS UK – Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia
  2. NHS Blood Test Guide – Blood tests: vitamin B12 and folate
  3. Patient.info – Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia
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