Private Folate Blood Test

Because your health matters.

Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is an essential vitamin with many important functions in the body, from helping cells work properly to producing DNA. Folate is also vital during the cell division that occurs during pregnancy in developing foetuses. As a result, pregnant women are advised to supplement their folate levels with folic acid, a man-made version of folate, throughout pregnancy.

A folate deficiency can cause numerous problems, including extreme fatigue, pins and needles, ulcers and diarrhoea, and can also lead to folate deficiency anaemia.

While most people can get sufficient folate from the food they eat, people who follow a restricted diet, have difficulty absorbing vitamins, or are pregnant can find it hard to get the folate they need from food alone. For these people, folic acid supplementation may be recommended, or further investigation may be needed to find the underlying cause of the folate deficiency.

If you are concerned about your folate levels, a serum folate blood test can help analyse your levels and provide insights into whether they are in a healthy range.

At Bluecrest Wellness, our private Folate blood test is a quick, easy and accurate way to assess your B12 levels.

Explore our packages and book online today.

USPs

USPs

  • 1.

    Fast, accurate results

  • 2.

    Competitively priced testing within 20 minutes of your home

  • 3.

    Detailed, personalised Results Report

  • 4.

    Access to our 24/7 GP service with all test packages

How it

works

How it works

1. Select and book your package

View our health test packages and book a full body private health check. All our individual tests can be added to any of our private health check packages. . Just call our team on 0800 652 2183 before your appointment to add an extra test.

2. Make an appointment

Choose the venue, date and time that suits you. With over 2000 appointments available nationwide every week, you're sure to find a convenient time, date and venue.

3. Attend your appointment

A trained health assessment specialists will carry out your blood test. The whole process only takes around 20 - 30 minutes.

4. Fast, accurate results

Your results will be available 24/7 through our online dashboard, My Wellness. You will receive an email notification as soon as your results are ready for viewing. Processing times vary by test, with some results accessible on the dashboard in as little as three days.

What is a folate blood

test?

A private folate blood test analyses the levels of folate in your blood. Folate is an essential vitamin that plays an important role in many of the body’s functions. It helps tissues to grow, and cells to work, and plays a vital role in forming red blood cells and producing DNA, the genetic material in all your body’s cells. Folate also works with vitamin B12 and vitamin C to help the body break down and create new proteins.

Having too little folate in your body can be linked to various health conditions, including:

  • Anaemia
  • Fatigue
  • Ulcers
  • Birth defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly

A serum folate blood test is a quick and easy way to evaluate your folate levels. It will indicate whether you are suffering from a deficiency and need to start taking a folic acid supplement or require further investigations to uncover the underlying cause of your low folate levels.

Do I need a folate blood

test?

A blood test for folate levels can help you better understand whether you are getting enough folate in your diet and whether you need to take appropriate action to try and ensure your levels stay within a healthy range.

If you suspect your levels are low, you may experience symptoms, such as:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Pins and needles
  • Sore and red tongue
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Weak muscles
  • Problems with your vision
  • Psychological issues (depression or confusion – seen most commonly in elderly people with folate deficiency)
  • Memory problems

Most people can maintain healthy folate levels through diet alone. Folate-rich foods include dark leafy green vegetables, like Brussels sprouts or broccoli, dried beans and peas, and citrus fruits and juices. In addition, many foods, like bread, cereals, flour, pasta, and rice, are fortified with folic acid, a man-made form of folate, that can help prevent deficiency.

A blood test for low folate can help to indicate that a person is not able to get the folate they need from diet alone. The most common causes of folate deficiency are:

  • Insufficient uptake due to dietary choices
  • Malabsorption due to:
    • Coeliac disease
    • Bacterial overgrowth
    • An autoimmune disorder
    • Gastric band surgery
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Type 2 diabetes
    • Alcoholism
  • Increased need i.e. during pregnancy, it is recommended women should take 600 micrograms of folic a day, or 1000 micrograms a day if expecting twins, to ensure adequate folate levels

What does a folate blood test

involve?

A serum folate blood test involves having a blood sample taken to assess the amount of folate in your blood.

A trained health assessment specialist will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm using a small needle. Once the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood is collected into a test tube, which is then sent to a lab for testing. The whole process typically takes less than five minutes.

Private Health Checks for complete peace of

mind

Our full body private health checks are designed for busy people who want to take control of their health. Our tests are quick, accurate, convenient and completely stress-free. No waiting for an appointment, no invasive procedures, no embarrassing questions, no long travel times and no busy waiting rooms.

Our tests are conducted by trained health assessment specialists at over 350 venues across the UK and Ireland, ensuring accurate professional health checks within 20 minutes of your home.

Any individual tests can be added to any full body health check. Just book one of our full body private health assessments and call us before your appointment to add an extra test.

Need help? Call free on 0800 652 2183 to speak to one of our team.

FAQs

A private folate blood test measures the levels of folate in your blood to see if it is within a healthy range. If your folate blood test is in normal range, you don’t need to take any action. But if your results indicate your folate levels are too low, supplementation with folic acid or dietary changes may be recommended, or further investigations may be required.

Full preparation instructions will be provided in writing when you book your appointment, including any information about whether you need to fast before your test. It is important that you stay hydrated and drink enough water prior to the test.

You should also inform us about any medications or supplements you are currently taking, as these could affect your results. Do not stop taking any medications prior to the test unless explicitly advised in your preparation instructions.

Your test results and other readings will each be given a ‘flag’ of a different colour: green, amber or red. Green results are within the recommended range for your age and sex; amber results are slightly outside what we'd normally expect; and red results are further outside the norm.

Where a result is amber or red, we'll give follow-up advice on what to do next - whether that's making lifestyle changes, simply monitoring the result, or visiting your doctor for further investigation.

If there are any critical results discovered by our laboratory, we will contact you immediately, so you won’t need to wait for your full Results Report to arrive to take appropriate action.

A home blood test for low folate, although a practical option, will not give you the most complete results. With Bluecrest Wellness, you can choose a test location close to home, making our folate testing easily accessible and offering comprehensive results.

We run our affordable private health checks from high-quality venues across the UK and Ireland. Simply find a location near you and book an appointment online today.

A private folate blood test can be booked individually. However, if you are keen to take a proactive approach to your health, we recommend purchasing our full health check packages for a comprehensive overview of your general health. In addition to a wide range of health tests, following your appointment, you'll receive a personalised Results Report and free 24/7 GP helpline access for an entire year.

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Supporting a world where fewer lives are lost through preventable illness.

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