Folate (Red Cell)
Private Folate (Red Cell) blood test in London for £68, assessing longer-term vitamin B9 status with results expected in around 1–2 days.
Turnaround time
1-2 business days
Biomarkers count
1
Book your test
Choose Service Type
Professional phlebotomist comes to you
+ £{{ home_visit_fee }}
Visit our clinic for your test
{{ clinic_visit_fee > 0 ? '+ £' + clinic_visit_fee : 'Free' }}
Home Visit Details
Home visits require at least 24 hours notice.
Select a clinic: Sorting by distance…
{{ clinicAddress(clinic) }}
{{ clinicAddress(selectedClinic) }}
Select a date
Select an hour
Available time slots: {{ timeSlots.length}}
Overview of the Folate (Red Cell) Test
The Folate (Red Cell) blood test measures folate contained within red blood cells, providing information about longer-term Vitamin B9 status.
The test assesses 1 nutritional biomarker: Folate (Red Cell).
Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin required for DNA synthesis, normal cell division and healthy red blood cell production.
It is particularly important in tissues where cells divide rapidly.
Folate requirements also increase around conception and during pregnancy because adequate folate is essential for normal fetal neural-tube development.
Folate can be assessed using either serum or red blood cells.
Serum Folate is more responsive to recent dietary intake and supplementation.
Red Cell Folate reflects folate incorporated into developing red blood cells and therefore provides a longer-term view of folate status.
Because red blood cells circulate for around 120 days, Red Cell Folate changes more slowly than serum Folate.
Low folate can impair DNA synthesis and contribute to megaloblastic anaemia, where red blood cells become abnormally large.
However, Vitamin B12 deficiency can produce a similar blood-count pattern.
This distinction is clinically important.
Folic acid supplementation can improve the anaemia associated with B12 deficiency while allowing neurological complications of untreated B12 deficiency to continue.
For that reason, Folate should often be considered alongside Vitamin B12 and a Full Blood Count.
Low Red Cell Folate can occur with inadequate intake, malabsorption, increased physiological requirements, excessive alcohol use and selected medications.
The result should be interpreted with diet, supplementation, B12 status and haematology findings.
What Does the Folate (Red Cell) Test Check?
The test measures folate stored within red blood cells and provides information about longer-term Vitamin B9 status. This test measures 1 biomarker.
Folate (Red Cell)
Measures folate contained within red blood cells, supporting assessment of longer-term Vitamin B9 status and investigation of folate deficiency or megaloblastic anaemia.
Who May Benefit From the Folate (Red Cell) Test?
Red Cell Folate testing can be useful where longer-term folate status or possible deficiency is being assessed.
People with macrocytosis or megaloblastic anaemia - Folate deficiency is one recognised cause of enlarged red blood cells.
People with a previous low Folate result - Red Cell Folate can provide additional information about longer-term status.
People with dietary risk of low folate intake - Limited intake of folate-rich foods can contribute to deficiency.
People with suspected malabsorption - Coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and other gastrointestinal conditions can affect nutrient absorption.
People with significant or prolonged alcohol intake - Alcohol can impair folate intake, absorption and metabolism.
People taking medicines that interfere with folate metabolism - Selected antiepileptic, antifolate and other medicines can influence folate status.
People planning pregnancy where nutritional status requires assessment - Folate is particularly important before conception and during early pregnancy.
People undergoing broader nutritional assessment - Red Cell Folate can complement Vitamin B12, iron studies and other vitamin measurements.
How to Prepare
Do not stop medically prescribed folic acid during pregnancy or for another clinical indication solely to alter the laboratory result.
Recent transfusion can affect red-cell measurements and should be disclosed.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Folate (Red Cell) Test
Folate deficiency can affect red blood cell production and produce symptoms of anaemia, although mild deficiency may cause no obvious symptoms.
Persistent fatigue or weakness - Anaemia associated with folate deficiency can reduce oxygen delivery and contribute to tiredness.
Shortness of breath on exertion - Significant anaemia can reduce exercise tolerance.
Pale skin - Pallor can occur when Haemoglobin becomes reduced.
A sore or smooth tongue - Glossitis can occur in folate and other nutritional deficiencies.
A raised Mean Cell Volume - Macrocytosis can prompt assessment of Folate and Vitamin B12.
A previous low serum Folate result - Red-cell measurement can provide information about longer-term folate status.
Malabsorption or chronic gastrointestinal disease - Reduced nutrient absorption can contribute to Folate deficiency.
Pregnancy planning with nutritional concerns - Adequate folate intake is important before conception.
Folate deficiency and Vitamin B12 deficiency can produce similar blood-count abnormalities.
Vitamin B12 status should therefore be considered before treating significant folate deficiency, particularly where macrocytosis or neurological symptoms are present.
New neurological symptoms require clinical assessment because these are more characteristic of Vitamin B12 deficiency than isolated Folate deficiency.
How to Book Your Folate (Red Cell) Test
The Red Cell Folate test can be booked privately for focused assessment of longer-term Vitamin B9 status.
Choose the Folate (Red Cell)
Select the individual Red Cell Folate blood test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic blood draw or professional home or hotel phlebotomy where suitable.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the required venous whole-blood sample.
Laboratory analysis
Your blood sample undergoes laboratory measurement of Folate (Red Cell).
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside Vitamin B12 and Full Blood Count results where appropriate.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current London Blood Tests product header lists a turnaround of approximately 1–2 days after laboratory receipt for Folate (Red Cell).
The sample undergoes Red Cell Folate analysis, quality-control procedures and laboratory authorisation.
Turnaround begins when the specimen reaches the laboratory rather than necessarily from the exact time of collection.
Specimen requirements for Red Cell Folate differ from routine serum Folate and must be followed correctly.
Understanding Your Results
A low Red Cell Folate result indicates reduced folate within circulating red blood cells and can support folate deficiency when interpreted appropriately.
Possible causes include inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption, increased requirements, excessive alcohol use and medication effects.
The Full Blood Count can provide important additional information.
Folate deficiency can cause an increased Mean Cell Volume and, when sufficiently severe, megaloblastic anaemia.
Vitamin B12 should also be considered because B12 deficiency can produce a similar haematological pattern.
A result within the laboratory range suggests adequate red-cell folate status according to that laboratory method.
A high result is commonly associated with supplementation or a folate-rich intake and is not usually interpreted as toxicity by itself.
Very high folate intake should nevertheless be considered alongside Vitamin B12 status because folic acid can correct the anaemia of B12 deficiency without addressing neurological injury.
The laboratory's own reference range should take priority over unrelated online values.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private Red Cell Folate testing for longer-term nutritional assessment.
Measures folate within red blood cells - The test provides a longer-term view of Vitamin B9 status than a single serum concentration.
Relevant to anaemia investigation - Folate deficiency can contribute to macrocytic and megaloblastic anaemia.
Can complement Vitamin B12 - Both nutrients are essential for normal red blood cell production and DNA synthesis.
Useful where serum Folate has been difficult to interpret - Red-cell measurement can provide additional nutritional context.
Relevant to malabsorption assessment - Gastrointestinal disease can reduce folate absorption.
Rapid laboratory turnaround - The current product header lists approximately 1–2 days after laboratory receipt.
Professional blood collection - Clinic and suitable home or hotel phlebotomy appointments are available.
Clear pricing - The Folate (Red Cell) test costs £68.
Private Folate (Red Cell) Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Red Cell Folate testing for people requiring assessment of longer-term Vitamin B9 status.
The test costs £68 and measures 1 nutritional biomarker.
The current product header lists results in approximately 1–2 days after laboratory receipt.
Red Cell Folate is best interpreted alongside Vitamin B12 and a Full Blood Count where anaemia or macrocytosis is being investigated.