Folate (folic acid, B9)
Folate (folic acid, vitamin B9) is needed for cell division and to make red blood cells.
At a glance
- Sample
- Blood
- Units
- ng/mL (US), nmol/L (Europe)
- Often looked at with
- Vitamin D, 25-OH, Vitamin B12
- Preparation
- You may be asked not to eat for a few hours before the test.
Units: ng/mL and nmol/L
US labs usually print folate in ng/mL, most European labs in nmol/L. To convert, multiply ng/mL by 2.2655.
nmol/L = ng/mL × 2.2655 · molar mass 441.4 g/mol
This converter changes units only. It doesn’t tell you whether a number is in or out of any range: that depends on the range printed by your own lab, and on your doctor. Soma does not diagnose and is not medical advice.
Why lab ranges differ
Each lab sets its reference range for its own method and analyser, and many ranges differ by age and sex. Two labs can print different ranges for the same blood, so a result is read against the range on its own report, not against a number from another lab or a website.
Soma charts every folate result against the range printed by the lab that measured it.
What can affect the result
- Food or supplements shortly before the test raise serum folate.
- Hemolysis: red cells breaking down in the tube, raises it.
- It reflects the last few days, not the body’s stores.
If something like this applies, mention it to the doctor who reads your results.
Questions
How do I convert folate from ng/mL to nmol/L?
Multiply ng/mL by 2.2655. For example, 10 ng/mL is 22.7 nmol/L.
Why does my lab’s folate range differ from another lab’s?
Each lab sets its range for its own method and equipment, and many ranges differ by age and sex. That’s why a result is best read against the range printed on the same report.
How do I prepare for a folate test?
You may be asked not to eat for a few hours before the test. Follow your lab’s instructions.
Related tests
Got a lab report with Folate?
Share it to Soma: it reads every row on your phone, with no account and no upload, and puts your folate on one chart with your earlier results, each against the range your lab printed.
Sources
- Vitamin B Test — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Units: PubChem: Folic acid (folic acid), molar mass 441.4 g/mol, as the Soma app converts.
Mention of a source doesn’t mean it endorses Soma. This page explains the test; it doesn’t diagnose and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about what your results mean.