This test is done to check for folic acid deficiency.
Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should take at least 600 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Some women may need to take more if they have a history of neural tube defects in earlier pregnancies.
INTERPRETATIONS
The normal range is 2.7 to 17.0 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or 6.12 to 38.52 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L).
What Abnormal Results Mean
Lower-than-normal folic acid levels may indicate:
- Poor diet
- Malabsorption syndrome (for example, celiac sprue)
- Malnutrition
The test may also be done in cases of:
- Anemia due to folate deficiency
- Megaloblastic anemia