ORDER
Order and referral check
Order your test. We review the order and check whether a referral or other information is required before the next step can begin.
Practitioner grade
NutriPath
Active B12 and folate blood test
NutriPath pathology testing
A blood test measuring active vitamin B12 and folate. Check the markers included when comparing it with a broader B vitamin panel.
About this test
Standard serum B12 testing has a known sensitivity problem. The total serum B12 number includes both the active fraction (bound to transcobalamin II, which is the part your cells actually take up) and the inactive fraction (bound to haptocorrin, which is metabolically useless). People can have normal total B12 but low active B12, with consequent fatigue, cognitive symptoms, nerve tingling or anaemia. Active B12 testing, also called holotranscobalamin or HoloTC, measures only the functional fraction and catches deficiency that standard testing misses. Active folate measurement (5-MTHF) adds similar value, particularly in people with MTHFR variants who cannot efficiently convert folic acid into the usable 5-MTHF form. Together these markers are the more accurate modern approach to B vitamin status assessment.
What it measures
- Active B12 (Holotranscobalamin)
- Active Folate (5-MTHF)
Test details
CollectionBlood collection provider
LabNutriPath
When to expect your results
48 hours after the laboratory receives your sample
Allow time for order and referral checks, your collection appointment and sample transport. Laboratory processing starts after your sample reaches the testing laboratory.
See the steps from order to results
Practitioner consult session
A 15-minute consultation. An email link will be included in your order confirmation to make the booking.
Optional 1:1 with our clinical team · $49
What it measures
Active B12 (Holotranscobalamin)
Blood (SST)
The metabolically active fraction of B12 that your cells can actually take up. Low active B12 with normal total B12 is a commonly missed pattern.
Active Folate (5-MTHF)
Blood (EDTA)
The biologically active form of folate that your cells use directly. More informative than total folate in anyone with MTHFR variants or methylation concerns.
Your testing journey
From your order to your results.
Order and referral review, sample collection, laboratory analysis and discussing your report are separate stages. Your test’s processing estimate covers the laboratory stage.
ARRANGE
Arrange your collection
Once the required checks are complete, follow the collection form and instructions for the nominated provider. Check appointment and preparation requirements.
COMPLETE
Provide your sample
Attend the nominated collection provider with the required form. Your sample then needs to reach the testing laboratory before processing begins.
RESULTS
Laboratory processing
Once the laboratory receives your sample, it completes the analysis and prepares your report. Discuss the findings with your practitioner alongside your symptoms and health history.
Preparing for this test
Read the instructions supplied for your exact test before collecting. Check food, drink, medicines, timing, storage and return requirements with your practitioner. Do not stop prescribed medicines without advice.
Does the estimate include postage?
No. The laboratory estimate does not include order review, referral checks, delivery to you, the time you take to collect, or transport back to the testing laboratory. These stages make up the full order-to-results journey.
Need results by a particular date?
Check with Evergreen before ordering so the referral requirements, collection timing, delivery and laboratory estimate can be considered together.
Ask Evergreen about timingBefore you order.
Practical questions about choosing, preparing for and reviewing this test.
Do I need a consultation or referral?
Requirements vary by test. Check the ordering options on this page and confirm any referral requirements with Evergreen. A laboratory’s practitioner-referral requirement is separate from whether you need to book an additional consultation.
Should I change medicines or supplements before testing?
Do not stop prescribed medicines on your own. Tell your practitioner what you take and follow the preparation instructions for this test. Timing, fasting and other requirements depend on the sample and markers being measured.
Does the test tell me what treatment I need?
A result is one part of an assessment. A qualified practitioner should interpret it alongside your symptoms, history and medicines. Check whether a results consultation is included in your purchase or needs to be booked separately.
How should I read the reference ranges?
Use the reference intervals and units on your own laboratory report. Ranges can vary with the method and patient factors. A result inside or outside a range does not establish a diagnosis on its own.
Who is the testing provider?
These tests are supplied through NutriPath, a medical laboratory founded in 2011 and based in Burwood, Victoria. NutriPath works through a practitioner-referral system.
When does the turnaround estimate start?
The laboratory estimate is not the time from placing your order. Allow time for referral checks, kit dispatch where needed, sample collection and transport before processing. The estimate varies by test, and specialist or overseas analysis can take longer.
Follow the estimate for your specific test. A quoted 3–5 business days does not include the whole ordering and collection journey.
Where do I find preparation and collection instructions?
Use the instructions supplied for your exact kit. Blood tests may require an arranged collection appointment; receiving a kit does not mean you should draw blood yourself. Saliva, urine, stool and breath tests each have different preparation requirements.
Need help choosing?
Find a test that fits your question.
Compare the sample type and what each test measures, or use the guide to narrow your options.