Folic Acid

Results

A folic acid test measures the amount of folic acid in the blood. Normal values vary from lab to lab. Results are ready in 1 to 2 days.

Folate in liquid portion (plasma) of blood

Adult	2–20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL)	4–45 nanomoles per litre (nmol/L) (SI units)
Children	5–21 ng/mL	11–47 nmol/L

 

Folate in red blood cells

Adult	140–628 ng/mL	317–1422 nmol/L (SI units)
Children	More than 160 ng/mL	More than 362 nmol/L

High values

• High levels of folic acid in the blood may mean that you eat a diet rich in folic acid, take vitamins, or take folic acid pills. Consuming more folic acid than the body needs does not cause problems.

Low values

• Low folic acid levels can mean you have a problem with your diet, alcohol dependence, or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa.
• Low folic acid levels can also mean you have a problem absorbing or using folic acid, such as a vitamin C deficiency, liver disease, celiac disease, sprue, or Crohn's disease.
• Low folic acid levels can cause problems for certain people. For example:
  • A pregnant woman needs extra folic acid for her growing baby.
  • People who have hemolytic anemia, a condition that causes the rapid destruction of red blood cells, need more folic acid to make more red blood cells.
  • People with certain conditions, such as kidney failure and some types of cancer, may use up folic acid quickly. They may need their blood to be cleaned using a machine (kidney dialysis).

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: April 20, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology
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