Vitamin A (Retinol)
Your circulating vitamin A level, central to vision, immune function, and skin health.
Consider this test if:
- Night vision problems, dry eyes, dry or scaly skin, or frequent infections
- Fat malabsorption from celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, or liver and bile disorders
- Taking high-dose vitamin A or cod liver oil and wanting to rule out excess
- Checking nutrient status on a very restricted or low-fat diet
- Headache, bone or joint pain, or liver concerns that could reflect vitamin A toxicity
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 4-5 days · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Overnight fasting is required. The sample must be protected from light, so collection follows specific handling. If you take vitamin A or a multivitamin containing it, note the dose and timing, since recent supplementation raises the result.
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What this test is for
Retinol is the active circulating form of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin stored mainly in the liver and obtained from animal foods and provitamin A carotenoids in fruit and vegetables. It is essential for vision (especially night vision), immune defense, skin and epithelial cell turnover, and embryonic development. Low retinol points to deficiency from poor intake, fat malabsorption (celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, liver or bile disorders), and shows up as night blindness, dry eyes, dry skin, and frequent infections. High retinol reflects excess intake, usually from high-dose supplements, and can cause headache, bone and joint pain, liver strain, and, in pregnancy, birth defects.
This test reports retinol only. The separate Vitamin A and E panel adds alpha and gamma tocopherol if you also want to assess vitamin E status, which is the better choice when malabsorption or broad fat-soluble vitamin questions are on the table.
- 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 4-5 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.
Mito Membership
$9 /mo
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Without membership
$0
pay as you go
At-cost pricing on labs, scans, and more
Priority turnaround on your results
On-demand clinician consults when you need guidance
Personalized action plans across supplements, exercise, nutrition, and sleep
AI health coaching to help you act on your results
Year-round medical support, with in-chat clinician escalation
All your health records in one personal vault, with trends and biological age tracking
Early access to new diagnostics and product releases
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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 doctor's order?
No. Mito provides the laboratory order when one is required, so you do not need to arrange a separate doctor visit before purchasing.
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