Folate is a type of B vitamin (B9). Folacin was its former name, and folate is the general term for the natural folate and folic acid. Folate is essential for cell growth and metabolism. Furthermore, it also has a function of making or repairing DNA as well as producing red blood cells (RBCs). Folate is the natural version found in foods, whereas folic acid is the human-made version found in supplements. They are also crucial for pregnant women because they help develop cells during infancy and adolescence. Certain foods like citrus fruits and dark green vegetables are sources of folate. Less intake of folate can lead to a deficiency of folate, causing several medical issues. Folate serum is a test that indicates folate levels in the human body. At home, test kits are also available to test for folate serum.

Folate At-Home Test Kit Steps

This test is essential to check for deficiency of folate serum in the body. Inadequate diet, as well as genetic weaknesses, can cause a deficiency of folate. Folate is a nutrient that a body obtains through a diet so that the test can measure the folate levels from the blood portion, i.e., plasma. The test kits for folate can be booked online and delivered to your doorstep. The user carries out the procedure, and the instructions as follows:

1. Activation of the test kit is essential to connect it to a unique number. The sample should be taken in a fasted state before 9 am using the finger prick method. The kit also contains the instruction.
2. After collecting the sample, you must ship it back immediately using the prepaid shipping label provided.
3. CLIA and CAP-accredited laboratories analyze the samples. These are the highest accreditation. The results are confidential and are available on the secure account of the user within 2-5 days.
4. After the availability of results, a team of medical experts is available 24/7 to guide treatment if there is folate serum deficiency.

Symptoms and Complications of Folate Deficiency

Poor diet is the leading cause of folate deficiency, and the folate levels can reduce within weeks if the diet is not balanced. Several symptoms can detect folate deficiency. These symptoms include fatigue, constipation, vulnerability to cold and flu, pale skin, and feeling less energetic. Grey hairs, mouth ulcers, and swollen tongue are also some symptoms of folate deficiency. Most importantly, an infant’s development issues arise during pregnancy, and inadequate growth is also folate deficiency symptoms. This test is essential to take when a female is pregnant or when a couple is planning to have babies.

Moreover, suppose someone has undergone gastrointestinal surgery or have digestive disorders like Celiac disease. In that case, it is essential to consider taking a test. If someone has anaemia symptoms or has a vitamin B12 deficiency, it is crucial to test for folate serum test. Finally, medical experts recommend this test for alcoholic persons because alcohol increases folate secretion through urine, leading to deficiency.

The deficiency may lead to anaemia; anaemia is a condition in which RBCs are more massive than average. Folate deficiency may also lead to low white blood cells and platelets and severe congenital disabilities in the fetus’s spinal cord or brain. Increasing the intake of dietary folate or folate supplements can treat folate deficiency.