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.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
What you'll learn
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Insights that connect the dots. A clinician reads your whole picture, not one result in isolation, connecting family history, past results, and lifestyle into clear next steps.
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Your personalized action plan. Nutrition, supplements, and training in one clinician-reviewed protocol, updated as your results change.
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Track your trends. Upload results from any lab and see each biomarker trend over time, so you know what is working.
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Never miss a recheck. Mito tells you what is worth retesting and when, then reminds you so nothing slips.
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 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.
Everything your health needs,
in one membership
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Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Continuous tracking, all in one place
Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
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Year-round clinician support
Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
All for $9/month
Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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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. It is never a profit on the test itself. Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9 per month, and any applicable lab order or draw fee is itemized before you pay.
Where do I get tested?
Choose an available partner lab at checkout. If your cart contains multiple blood tests, Mito helps consolidate the eligible tests at one lab when possible. At-home kits and scans follow the collection or appointment process shown on their product page.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. Eligible tests can be paid for with an HSA or FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results appear in your Mito dashboard after the laboratory completes processing. A clinician then reviews them before your analysis and personalized action plan are finalized. Timing varies by test, and specialty assays and at-home kits may take longer.
Do I need a physician's order?
No. Mito provides the laboratory order when one is required, so you do not need to arrange a separate physician visit before purchasing.
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