Vitamin B12 Blood Test

What’s covered?

Vitamin B12 Blood test is an easy procedure that provides information about the level of Vitamin B12 in your blood. A low level of this vitamin can indicate pernicious anemia, a condition caused by a lack of intrinsic factor (IF), which is necessary to absorb the vitamin from food.

Vitamin B12 Blood Test Steps:

-The first step is to get ready for the test by not eating or drinking anything other than water for 4 hours prior to the test. If you are using medications that need to be taken with food, consult your doctor before stopping or taking them at different times during the day. The reason being that skipping meals or delaying them could cause a false negative result.

-On the day of testing, make sure you have fasted for at least 4 hours. If you order a Welzo folate B12 test then you do not need to fast. To view the Welzo study on blood testing, visit our comprehensive guide to blood testing here.

-The procedure can be done on an empty stomach or after a light meal (such as toast and milk). If you are taking medications or supplements, ask your doctor whether they should be taken before or after the test.

-You will also need to avoid drinking anything except water up to one hour before the test. In some cases, you may need to take a complete "bowel prep" solution that removes all food from your intestinal tract. This will likely involve receiving an enema and not eating during the bowel preparation process. Your doctor will tell you what is needed in your particular case.

-Once ready, a healthcare provider will collect a blood sample by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. The blood sample will be sent for laboratory analysis where the concentration of Vitamin B12 is measured.

-Expect the results to arrive one to two weeks after the test date depending on your healthcare provider's policies regarding lab testing. A low level of this vitamin can indicate pernicious anemia, a condition caused by a lack of intrinsic factor (IF), which is necessary to absorb the vitamin from food. If needed, further tests or treatments can be recommended by your doctor based on these results.

If you suspect that you may have pernicious anemia and want to track your Vitamin B12 Blood Test results over time, consider using HealthiVibe’s health tracking software as it is easy to use and provides private, secure, digital access to records. You can also read our article on what are the signs and symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Unlike other websites, the software does not contain advertisements or trackers, and you are never required to provide your personal information. This means that you can access your lab results in a private space without being targeted by advertisers based on your health history or demographics.