Folic acid - test

A blood sample is needed.

You should not eat or drink for 6 hours before the test. Your health care provider may tell you to stop taking any drugs that may interfere with test results, including folic acid supplements. Drugs that can decrease folic acid measurements include: Alcohol Aminosalicylic acid Birth control pills Estrogens…

You may feel slight pain or a little sting when the needle is inserted. There may be some throbbing at the site.

This test is done to check for folic acid deficiency . Folic acid helps form red blood cells and produce DNA that stores genetic codes. Taking the right amount of folic acid before and during pregnancy helps prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should…

The normal range is 2.7 to 17.0 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or 6.12 to 38.52 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your test results. The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some…

Lower-than-normal folic acid levels may indicate: Poor diet Malabsorption syndrome (for example, celiac sprue ) Malnutrition The test may also be done in cases of: Anemia that may be due to folate deficiency Megaloblastic anemia

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other slight risks from having blood drawn may include: Excessive bleeding…

Antony AC. Megaloblastic anemias. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 40. Elghetany MT, Banki K. Erythrocytic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory…