Contributed by – Healthians Team
What is the Folic Acid test?
A folic acid test measures the amount of folic acid in the blood and determines its deficiency. Folic acid is a man-made version of the compound vitamin B9. Think of folic acid as a ‘powerhouse vitamin’ that your body needs to make new cells, including brain cells, blood cells, the genetic material inside your cells, DNA and RNA. Many times folic acid is referred to as folate, which is the form of folic acid occurring naturally in food.
A folic acid test measures the amount of folic acid in the blood to detect a B9 deficiency. It’s a good idea to get laboratory testing to determine the severity level of B9 deficiency, establish an underlying cause of symptoms, or to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
Who should get a Folic Acid test?
Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should get a Folic Acid test to give the baby better odds of healthy development. Folic acid is crucial for the healthy growth of the foetus – especially in the first trimester. This is the time when the baby’s vital organs are beginning to develop, in particular the brain and spinal cord. So it is important to take the test to assess how much Folic Acid supplement is needed.
Other people who are at risk of deficiency and should get the test done are:
- Elderly people over 65 years of age
- Lactating women
- People with chronic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract that prevent them from absorbing enough of the vitamins
- People undergoing renal dialysis that affects the amounts of homocysteine in the body
- Heavy alcohol drinkers/people with alcohol dependence
- People with low dietary intake due to weight-loss regimes
- People with long-term use of certain medications
Why is the Folic Acid test needed?
The importance of folic acid to health cannot be overstated. It helps you determine if dietary changes and/or oral supplements may be needed to help address conditions like fatigue, blood disorders, or potential pregnancy complications.
Folic Acid deficiency does not go away on its own. If left untreated, folic acid deficiency may result in anemia, which can cause severe complications.
What does a Folic Acid test result mean?
Normal
The normal reference range of folic acid in the blood is between 2.7 and 17.0 nanograms per milliliter. Normal levels may mean that you do not have a deficiency. Nonetheless, normal levels may also reflect that your stored B12 has not yet been fully depleted.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
High values
Higher-than-normal levels usually aren’t problematic, as it is water-soluble and the excess amount is passed out in the urine. However, it may reflect the deficiency of Vitamin B.
Low values
Lower-than-normal levels may indicate:
- Anemia
- Malnutrition
- Malabsorption
Low levels can harm your health and cause problems for certain people. For example:
- Pregnant woman and lactating mothers
- People with hemolytic anemia need more folate to make more red blood cells.
- People with certain medical conditions like kidney failure and some types of cancer may use up folate quickly.
How is the Folic Acid test done?
A folic acid test requires a small sample of blood. It is typically drawn from a vein on the inside of the elbow. It is advisable to not eat or drink for 6 to 8 hours before the test. The blood sample is thereafter sent for investigation.
