In short
- Vitamin D tests usually measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the most accurate way to see if you have enough.
- Vitamin B12 and folate are often tested together when a doctor suspects a type of anaemia.
- Iron tests show the iron in your blood. Ferritin shows how much iron your body has stored.
- Routine vitamin D testing is not recommended for everyone, so a doctor can help you decide.
Vitamin and mineral tests you can book
- Energy and immunity64% off
Folic Acid, Vitamin D & B12
The Folic Acid, Vitamin D and B12 Test is a targeted nutritional assessment designed to evaluate three essential vitamins that play key roles in immunity, energy production, mood regulation, red blood cell formation, bone health and nervous system function. De
AED 187.95
View detailsUsual price AED 523.95 - Lab tests60% off
Minerals Panel
The Minerals Panel is a targeted test designed to evaluate the body’s essential minerals that support bone strength, muscle function, immunity, metabolism, and overall wellness. This panel helps identify nutritional deficiencies, absorption issues, fatigue-rel
AED 166.95
View detailsUsual price AED 418.95 - Lab tests57% off
Anemia Test
The Anemia Test is a focused diagnostic screening designed to evaluate the most common causes of anemia, including low hemoglobin, iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency. This panel helps identify patterns of nutritional anemia, fatigue, weakness, dizzines
AED 124.95
View detailsUsual price AED 292.95 - Energy and immunity56% off
Iron Test
The Iron Test is a focused assessment designed to evaluate iron status, iron-binding capacity and the efficiency of iron transport in the body. This panel helps identify iron deficiency, iron overload, fatigue-related issues, anemia patterns and nutritional im
AED 114.45
View detailsUsual price AED 261.45 - Energy and immunity60% off
Vitamins & Minerals Panel
The Vitamins & Minerals Panel is a targeted nutritional assessment that measures essential micronutrients responsible for energy production, immunity, bone strength, nerve health, metabolism, red blood cell formation, muscle function and cellular repair. A DHA
AED 250.95
View detailsUsual price AED 628.95 - Energy and immunity57% off
Vitamins D & B12 Test
The Vitamins D & B12 Test is a targeted nutritional assessment that measures two of the most essential vitamins for energy production, immunity, bone strength, mood balance, nerve function, metabolism, and hormonal regulation. A DHA-licensed nurse collects you
AED 135.45
View detailsUsual price AED 313.95 - Energy and immunity50% off
Vitamin D Profile
The Vitamin D Profile is a targeted blood test that measures the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH Vitamin D), the most accurate marker for assessing vitamin D status. This test helps identify deficiency, insufficiency, or optimal levels, which are essential
AED 103.95
View detailsUsual price AED 208.95
Who might be low
- Vitamin D: MedlinePlus says your risk is higher if you rarely expose your skin to sunlight because you stay indoors or cover up, if you have had weight loss surgery, or if you have a condition that affects how you absorb food.
- Vitamin B12 and folate: the NHS lists a vegan diet without B12 supplements or fortified foods, a condition called pernicious anaemia, and some medicines, including proton pump inhibitors, among the causes. Both are more common in older people.
- Iron: the NHS says iron deficiency anaemia is often caused by blood loss or pregnancy. MedlinePlus adds heavy periods and being underweight to the reasons to check iron stores.
What each test measures
| Test | What it measures | Signs that may lead to it |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | 25-hydroxyvitamin D in your blood | Bone pain, muscle weakness or aches |
| Vitamin B12 | A vitamin that keeps nerves and blood cells healthy | Extreme tiredness, pins and needles, a sore red tongue, mouth ulcers |
| Folate | A B vitamin your body needs to make new cells | Similar signs to low B12 |
| Iron studies | Iron in the blood and how well it is carried | Tiredness, shortness of breath, pale skin, headaches |
| Ferritin | The protein that stores iron | The same signs, or a low haemoglobin on another test |
The listings differ. The Vitamins & Minerals Panel listing covers calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, folate, B12 and vitamin D, while the Anemia Test listing combines a blood count with iron and B12.
How to prepare
The vitamin D, and vitamin D and B12, listings say fasting is not needed. The Folic Acid, Vitamin D & B12 listing asks you to avoid vitamin supplements for 24 hours before the test unless you have been told otherwise. The Iron Test and Minerals Panel listings recommend fasting for 8 hours, and MedlinePlus says a doctor may ask you to fast for 12 hours before a ferritin test.
You can have the sample taken at home if collection is available at your address. The app shows this when you enter it. See what to expect from a home lab test or lab tests at home.
What the results mean
Reference ranges vary between labs, so compare your result with the range on your own report. Low iron, for example, has many causes, and the NHS says the reason should be found before treatment starts.
More is not always better. The NHS warns that taking too many vitamin D supplements for a long time can raise calcium in the blood and damage the bones, kidneys and heart, and advises adults not to take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) a day. Too much iron can also cause problems, which ferritin helps to show. Talk to a GP before starting high-dose supplements.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if a result is low or symptoms such as pins and needles appear. The NHS says B12 or folate deficiency should be treated as soon as possible, because some of the problems it causes may not get better.
Call 998 or go to an emergency department if you have palpitations together with chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting.
Doctors you can book for vitamin and mineral tests
Dr Anju Begum, General Practitioner, uniCare Medical CenterGeneral Practitioner · 10 years · Hindi, Urdu, English
Dr. Leena KapoorGeneral Practitioner · 28 years · AED 25 · Hindi, Urdu, English
Dr. Tarun ShuklaGeneral Practitioner · 35 years
Dr. Dany RajakumarGeneral Practitioner · 5 years
Dr. Shilpa Surian, General Practitioner, WeCARE Medical Center LLCGeneral Practitioner · 3 years · AED 45 · English, Malayalam
Dr. Ekramulla Mohamed Ali, General Practitioner, Wecare Medical CenterGeneral PractitionerDoctors are independent. A listing is not a recommendation. Before you book, you can check a doctor's licence in the health authority's public register. See all doctors.
Questions people ask
Do I need to fast for a vitamin D test?
MedlinePlus says no special preparation is needed for a vitamin D test, and the vitamin D listings say fasting is not required. Packages that also test iron or minerals may ask for fasting.
Should I stop vitamins before a blood test?
The Folic Acid, Vitamin D & B12 listing asks you to avoid vitamin supplements for 24 hours before, unless you have been advised otherwise. Do not stop prescribed medicines without asking your doctor.
What is the difference between an iron test and ferritin?
An iron test measures iron circulating in your blood, which changes with meals and supplements. Ferritin shows how much iron your body has stored, so doctors often look at both.
Does everyone need a vitamin D test?
No. MedlinePlus says routine vitamin D testing is not recommended for everyone. It is usually done when symptoms, a condition or your risk suggest you may be low.
Sources and further reading
- Vitamin D Test (MedlinePlus)
- Vitamin B Test (MedlinePlus)
- Ferritin Blood Test (MedlinePlus)
- Iron deficiency anaemia (NHS)
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia (NHS)
- Vitamin D (NHS)
Read next
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