Medichecks Folate Range

[Schilddruse]

I've seen mentioned on here a number of times that folate levels should be at least halfway through the reference range. I'm struggling to understand whether a level of 12.2 is too low or not given that it's the product of a Medichecks test which simply states that normal means >7 ie without stating a range.

Can anyone shed any light on this please?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Indeed its not helpful having an open ended range!

On that range if you aim for around 20, just under would be fine you should be about right.

Your result at the moment is only 5.2 from the bottom of the range so higher would be better.

I've attached an image taken from the Medichecks website that offers some explanation although not really adequate.

medichecks.com/blogs/biomar...

folate level

[humanbean]

I agree with what you say. Open ended reference ranges are extremely unhelpful.

I have folate results and ranges going back about 10 years from different testing companies and the NHS. On the basis of those I have made a decision that I'm happy with but maybe nobody else would be!

1) I always want my result to be in double figures. (The units of measurement are always micrograms per litre. )

2) I'm happy if my result is between 15 and 20.

The ranges I've been given are :

4.6 - 18.7

3.9 - 26.8

> 3.89

> 2.9

4 - 26

I have seen some people quoting results from the NHS that have an upper limit of 60-something. But it is so different to every other range that I just ignore it.

[Thalia56]

I agree that's immensely unhelpful. Would it be worth contacting Medichecks and asking for the range? If we all did that, perhaps they'd eventually institute a range just so they didn't have to deal with the queries.