Folate blood test results done week apart and different?

[OrangeElephant1215]

Hello!

Apologies if I’ve posted this in the wrong place.

Last week I had blood test which showed my folate at 3 - which is low. The nurse practitioner however hadn’t tested my B12 etc so they said they’d need to repeat the bloods again with the B12 included before they treated me. 7 days later I have a blood test, but this time my folate is 3.9 and normal they say. However the nurse practitioner called me today and said she’s referring me to the GP as she isn’t sure why my folate would change so much in the space of a week? She’s made me an appointment for next week. Has anyone experienced this before? She said my vitamin B12 and other tests were normal.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Suggest you ask for a copy of test results.

Folate isn't regulated by stores of folate in the same way as B12 is regulated, so it is much more responsive to dietary intake.

[MindfulSquirrel]

What time of day did you take your blood tests and were they fasting or had you eaten? I had a similar difference just from having eaten breakfast. Also some foods are actually fortified with folic acid.

Also 3.9 is still low folate, even if it’s marginally within range.