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Folate details
What Folate shows
Folate (vitamin B9) is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division, making it especially important for red blood cell production and, during pregnancy, for a developing baby's neural tube development. Low folate can cause a type of anemia (macrocytic/megaloblastic anemia) similar in appearance to vitamin B12 deficiency, along with fatigue and other symptoms, so the two are often tested together. Folate deficiency can result from poor diet, alcohol use, certain malabsorption conditions, or increased needs during pregnancy, and adequate folate status before and during early pregnancy is specifically important for preventing neural tube defects like spina bifida.
Normal ranges
Typical adult range
5.5–27 ng/mL
Most labs report a range close to this
Hormunity optimal range
15–27 ng/mL
A narrower functional target
Each lab sets its own reference range. Always compare your result with the range printed on your report, and review it with a healthcare provider.
Tests that include Folate
Folate is an essential B vitamin required for red blood cell production, DNA synthesis, and neurological function. This test is used to detect folate deficiency and to evaluate causes of macrocytic or megaloblastic anemia.
Biomarkers
- Folate Vitamin B9, needed for cell division, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause a type of anemia and are important in pregnancy.
Folate is an essential B vitamin required for red blood cell production, DNA synthesis, and neurological function. This test is used to detect folate deficiency and to evaluate causes of macrocytic or megaloblastic anemia.
Biomarkers
- Folate Vitamin B9, needed for cell division, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause a type of anemia and are important in pregnancy.
This panel checks key markers to determine if the patient has levels that point towards anemia.
Biomarkers
- Basophils (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are basophils, a cell type involved in allergic and inflammatory responses.
- Eosinophils (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are eosinophils, elevated with allergies, asthma, or parasitic infections.
- Ferritin Reflects your body's stored iron levels. Low levels point to iron deficiency; high levels can indicate iron overload or, since it's also an inflammation marker, other conditions.
- Folate Vitamin B9, needed for cell division, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause a type of anemia and are important in pregnancy.
- Hematocrit The percentage of your blood volume made up of red blood cells. Used to help diagnose anemia or polycythemia (excess red blood cells).
- Hemoglobin The oxygen-carrying protein in your red blood cells. A core marker for diagnosing anemia and other blood disorders.
- Lymphocytes (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are lymphocytes, key immune cells including T-cells, B-cells, and NK cells.
- Monocytes (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are monocytes, cells that help fight infection and clear damaged tissue.
- Neutrophils (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are neutrophils, a first-line defense against infection.
- Vitamin B12 A vitamin essential for nerve function and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause fatigue, neurological symptoms, and a type of anemia.
- Band Neutrophils (%) Shows band neutrophils, young infection-fighting white blood cells, as a percentage of all your white blood cells, which can rise with infection or inflammation.
- Band Neutrophils Counts the number of band neutrophils, young infection-fighting white blood cells, per volume of blood, which can rise with infection or inflammation.
- Basophils The number of basophils, a type of white blood cell involved in allergic and inflammatory responses, in your blood.
- Blasts (%) Shows blasts, very immature blood cells, as a percentage of your white blood cells, reported as part of a full differential blood count.
- Blasts Counts the number of blasts, very immature blood cells, in your blood sample as part of a full differential blood count.
- Eosinophils The number of eosinophils, a white blood cell type involved in allergic reactions and parasite defense, in your blood.
- Iron % Saturation The percentage of transferrin (your iron-carrying protein) that's currently occupied by iron — a key marker for detecting iron deficiency or overload.
- Iron, Total Measures the iron circulating in your blood, used along with other markers (like ferritin and TIBC) to evaluate for iron deficiency or overload.
- Lymphocytes The number of lymphocytes, white blood cells central to your immune response (including T-cells, B-cells, and NK cells), in your blood.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration — the average concentration of hemoglobin within your red blood cells, used to help classify types of anemia.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin — the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell, used to help classify types of anemia.
- Mean Corpuscular Volume Mean Corpuscular Volume — the average size of your red blood cells, a key value used to help determine the cause of anemia.
- Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) Measures the average size of your platelets, the cells that help blood clot, and is read alongside your platelet count.
- Metamyelocytes (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are metamyelocytes, an immature white blood cell normally confined to the bone marrow.
- Metamyelocytes The absolute number of metamyelocytes, immature white blood cells normally found in bone marrow, in your blood as part of a differential count.
- Monocytes The number of monocytes, white blood cells that help fight infection and clear damaged cells, in your blood.
- Myelocytes (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are myelocytes, early immature white blood cells normally confined to the bone marrow.
- Myelocytes The absolute number of myelocytes, early immature white blood cells normally found only in bone marrow, in your blood.
- Neutrophils The number of neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cell type and a first-line defense against infection, in your blood.
- Nucleated RBC (%) The number of nucleated red blood cells, immature red cells not normally seen in adult blood, expressed relative to your white blood cells.
- Nucleated RBC The absolute number of nucleated red blood cells, immature red cells not normally seen in adult blood, as part of a blood count.
- Platelet Count Cell fragments that help your blood clot. Counted to screen for bleeding or clotting risk and various blood disorders.
- Promyelocytes (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are promyelocytes, immature cells normally found only in bone marrow, reported as part of a differential.
- Promyelocytes The absolute number of promyelocytes, immature white blood cells normally found only in bone marrow, in your blood, reported as part of a differential.
- Reactive Lymphocytes Reports lymphocytes that look activated under the microscope, a common sign that your immune system is responding to an infection, especially a viral one.
- Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) Red blood cell count — the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in your blood, used to help diagnose anemia or polycythemia.
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) Red Cell Distribution Width — measures how much your red blood cells vary in size, helpful for narrowing down the cause of anemia.
- Reticulocyte, Absolute The absolute number of reticulocytes, young red blood cells, in your blood, showing how actively your bone marrow is making new red cells.
- Reticulocyte Count, Automated The percentage of young red blood cells in your blood, reflecting how actively your bone marrow is producing new cells.
- Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Total Iron-Binding Capacity — reflects how much transferrin (the iron-carrying protein) is available in your blood, used with iron and ferritin to evaluate iron status.
- White Blood Cell Count (WBC) White blood cell count — the total number of white blood cells in your blood, key immune cells. Used to help detect infection, inflammation, and other blood disorders.
This panel evaluates red blood cells, iron status, and other blood markers that are important for identifying and monitoring anemia.
Biomarkers
- Basophils (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are basophils, a cell type involved in allergic and inflammatory responses.
- Eosinophils (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are eosinophils, elevated with allergies, asthma, or parasitic infections.
- Ferritin Reflects your body's stored iron levels. Low levels point to iron deficiency; high levels can indicate iron overload or, since it's also an inflammation marker, other conditions.
- Folate Vitamin B9, needed for cell division, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause a type of anemia and are important in pregnancy.
- Hematocrit The percentage of your blood volume made up of red blood cells. Used to help diagnose anemia or polycythemia (excess red blood cells).
- Hemoglobin The oxygen-carrying protein in your red blood cells. A core marker for diagnosing anemia and other blood disorders.
- Lymphocytes (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are lymphocytes, key immune cells including T-cells, B-cells, and NK cells.
- Monocytes (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are monocytes, cells that help fight infection and clear damaged tissue.
- Neutrophils (%) The percentage of your white blood cells that are neutrophils, a first-line defense against infection.
- Vitamin B12 A vitamin essential for nerve function and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause fatigue, neurological symptoms, and a type of anemia.
- Basophils The number of basophils, a type of white blood cell involved in allergic and inflammatory responses, in your blood.
- Eosinophils The number of eosinophils, a white blood cell type involved in allergic reactions and parasite defense, in your blood.
- Iron % Saturation The percentage of transferrin (your iron-carrying protein) that's currently occupied by iron — a key marker for detecting iron deficiency or overload.
- Iron, Total Measures the iron circulating in your blood, used along with other markers (like ferritin and TIBC) to evaluate for iron deficiency or overload.
- Lymphocytes The number of lymphocytes, white blood cells central to your immune response (including T-cells, B-cells, and NK cells), in your blood.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration — the average concentration of hemoglobin within your red blood cells, used to help classify types of anemia.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin — the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell, used to help classify types of anemia.
- Mean Corpuscular Volume Mean Corpuscular Volume — the average size of your red blood cells, a key value used to help determine the cause of anemia.
- Monocytes The number of monocytes, white blood cells that help fight infection and clear damaged cells, in your blood.
- Neutrophils The number of neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cell type and a first-line defense against infection, in your blood.
- Platelet Count Cell fragments that help your blood clot. Counted to screen for bleeding or clotting risk and various blood disorders.
- Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) Red blood cell count — the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in your blood, used to help diagnose anemia or polycythemia.
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) Red Cell Distribution Width — measures how much your red blood cells vary in size, helpful for narrowing down the cause of anemia.
- Reticulocyte Count, Automated The percentage of young red blood cells in your blood, reflecting how actively your bone marrow is producing new cells.
- Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Total Iron-Binding Capacity — reflects how much transferrin (the iron-carrying protein) is available in your blood, used with iron and ferritin to evaluate iron status.
- Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity Unsaturated Iron-Binding Capacity — reflects how much additional iron your blood's transferrin could still carry, used with iron and TIBC to assess iron status.
- White Blood Cell Count (WBC) White blood cell count — the total number of white blood cells in your blood, key immune cells. Used to help detect infection, inflammation, and other blood disorders.
This comprehensive test measures levels of B-vitamins in your body, essential for energy, brain function, and cell metabolism. It includes tests for Folate (B9), Vitamin B12, B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6 (Pyridoxine), and B1 (Thiamine). Knowing your B-vitamin levels is crucial for addressing deficiencies that can lead to fatigue, anemia, immune system issues, and neurological problems.
Biomarkers
- Folate Vitamin B9, needed for cell division, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause a type of anemia and are important in pregnancy.
- Vitamin B12 A vitamin essential for nerve function and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause fatigue, neurological symptoms, and a type of anemia.
- Vitamin B6 A B vitamin involved in amino acid metabolism, red blood cell production, and nervous system function.
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Thiamine, a B vitamin essential for energy metabolism and nerve function.
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Riboflavin, a B vitamin involved in energy production and cellular function.
- Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid) Niacin, a B vitamin involved in energy metabolism, skin health, and nervous system function.
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) Pantothenic acid, a B vitamin involved in energy production and hormone synthesis.
Vitamin B12 & Folate are two essential B vitamins critical for red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and neurological function. Testing both helps evaluate causes of anemia, fatigue, or cognitive changes, and is important in assessing overall methylation and metabolic health.
Biomarkers
- Folate Vitamin B9, needed for cell division, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause a type of anemia and are important in pregnancy.
- Vitamin B12 A vitamin essential for nerve function and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause fatigue, neurological symptoms, and a type of anemia.
Vitamin B12 & Folate are two essential B vitamins critical for red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and neurological function. Testing both helps evaluate causes of anemia, fatigue, or cognitive changes, and is important in assessing overall methylation and metabolic health.
Biomarkers
- Folate Vitamin B9, needed for cell division, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause a type of anemia and are important in pregnancy.
- Vitamin B12 A vitamin essential for nerve function and red blood cell production. Low levels can cause fatigue, neurological symptoms, and a type of anemia.
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