Folate (Folic Acid)
Tracks folate status for red blood cell production and DNA synthesis, and helps sort out macrocytic anemia.
Consider this test if:
- Macrocytic or megaloblastic anemia is being worked up alongside vitamin B12
- Fatigue, weakness, or pallor without a clear cause
- Malabsorption conditions, chronic alcohol use, or medications like phenytoin that lower folate
- Planning or early in pregnancy, when folate status matters for fetal development
- Confirming that folate supplementation has corrected a low level
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 1-2 days · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Fasting is preferred, since recent meals and folate-containing foods or supplements raise serum levels. If you take a folate or multivitamin supplement, note the dose and timing, and ask whether to hold it before the draw for a status check. For longer-term stores rather than recent intake, RBC folate is the better marker.
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What this test is for
Folate is a B vitamin that works as a coenzyme in single-carbon transfer reactions, and together with vitamin B12 it is essential for DNA synthesis and normal red blood cell maturation. This serum test measures circulating folate, an early index of folate status that responds to recent intake. Low levels point to inadequate diet, malabsorption from gastrointestinal disease, pregnancy, chronic alcohol use, or drugs like phenytoin, and folate deficiency causes macrocytic (megaloblastic) anemia along with fatigue and weakness. Because both folate and B12 deficiency produce the same anemia, the two are usually read together to guide correct treatment.
This is the serum folate test, which reflects short-term status and shifts with recent meals and supplements. RBC folate measures the folate built into red cells and better reflects longer-term tissue stores, so it is the steadier choice when you want to confirm true deficiency rather than a recent dietary dip.
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
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- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Typical results in 1-2 days
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost — covering the lab and what it takes to run the service — never a profit on the test itself; Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9/mo, and you still pay the lab’s order fee. Prices are itemized before you pay, with no hidden fees.
Where do I get tested?
Choose a partner lab (Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference) at checkout. If your cart spans multiple tests, we consolidate the whole order onto a single lab so you only make one visit.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. This test is HSA/FSA eligible, and you can pay with your HSA/FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results post to your dashboard once your lab completes them, then a clinician reviews them and your full analysis and personalized action plan (with clear next steps) follow. Turnaround varies by test: specialty assays and at-home kits take longer, and each test shows its expected turnaround before you buy.
Do I need a doctor’s order?
No. Mito provides the lab order for you, so you can book and get tested without a separate doctor visit.
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