$13.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Brain & nervous system
Folate (red blood cell) test
Folate inside red blood cells; can reflect long-term folate status better than serum folate.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Shows the folate, a B vitamin, stored inside your red blood cells. Because red cells live for a few months, it can reflect your longer-term folate, not just recent meals.
Why it matters for women
Folate helps a baby’s brain and spine form in the first weeks of pregnancy, often before you know you’re pregnant. That’s why having enough before you conceive matters. Low folate can also cause anemia, a shortage of healthy red blood cells that can leave you tired.
You might check it if…
- you’re trying to get pregnant or could become pregnant
- you feel tired or a blood count showed large red cells
- a gut condition affects how you absorb food
- you drink alcohol often
What your result may mean
High Folate (red blood cell): what it may mean
High RBC folate may mean long-term good folate status, or regular use of folic acid, prenatal vitamins or fortified foods. Because red cells can live for a few months, this level can stay up for a while after intake changes. It may not be a concern on its own, and it can be an expected result when preparing for pregnancy. Large amounts of folic acid can hide the anemia of low vitamin B12, so a clinician may check B12 too. A recent blood transfusion can also sway this test.
Low Folate (red blood cell): what it may mean
Low RBC folate may point to a longer-term folate shortage (folate deficiency), and it can be more reliable than serum folate, which can swing with recent meals. It can happen with low intake, alcohol use, methotrexate, gut absorption problems or MTHFR gene variants. Low B12 can also lower this result. Folate can help a baby's brain and spine form in the first weeks of pregnancy, and needs can rise during pregnancy. Some people may notice tiredness, pale skin, mouth sores or shortness of breath, and others may have no symptoms.
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These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.