What is a vitamin B7 blood test?

Vitamin B7 is also called biotin. A true biotin deficiency is rare, and a routine blood test for it is not commonly done. Doctors usually decide from your symptoms, diet and other tests. If you take biotin supplements, tell the lab, because biotin can affect the results of some other blood tests.

Do multivitamins work?

They can help if your diet has a gap or you are deficient, but they do not replace a balanced diet. If you eat a varied diet, the benefit is usually small. It is better to test first and take what you actually lack, because very high doses of some vitamins can cause harm.

How do I check for vitamin D deficiency?

With a blood test called 25-hydroxy vitamin D. A result below 20 ng/mL is generally treated as deficient and 20 to 30 ng/mL as low. You do not need to fast for it.

What is the test for iron deficiency?

Doctors usually start with a CBC and a serum ferritin test, which shows how much iron your body has stored. They may add serum iron, TIBC and transferrin saturation. Ask your doctor which ones you need.

What foods have vitamin B12?

Mainly animal foods: fish, meat, chicken, eggs, milk, curd, paneer and cheese. Some cereals and plant milks are fortified with B12. Vegans and many vegetarians may need fortified foods or supplements on a doctor's advice.

Is there a test for vitamin A deficiency?

Yes. A blood test for serum retinol measures vitamin A, but it is not part of routine checkups. Doctors usually advise it if you have symptoms such as poor night vision or a condition that affects how you absorb fat.

Which vitamin deficiency causes anxiety?

Low vitamin B12 and low vitamin D have both been linked with low mood and anxiety, and so have some other B vitamins. Anxiety has many causes, though, so a deficiency is only one possibility. A test can show whether it is playing a part.

Which deficiency causes hair fall?

Low iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and zinc can all contribute, and so can thyroid problems and stress. Because there are several possible causes, testing is more useful than guessing.

Vitamins Tests in Howrah

A vitamin test checks how much of key vitamins is in your blood, so a shortage can be fixed before it affects your energy, bones or nerves. Book vitamin D and vitamin B12 tests in Howrah with home sample collection and online reports.

Most booked vitamins tests in Howrah

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Vitamin D Test (Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy)

The Vitamin D Test (Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy Test) is a blood test that measures the level of 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D in the body. It is the most commonly used test to evaluate vitamin D status and helps identify vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, which can affect bone health, muscles, immunity, and overall wellbeing. This test helps doctors determine whether a person has adequate vitamin D levels and whether supplementation or lifestyle changes may be required.

1 parameter
Within 24–30 hours
No fasting

₹499

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Vitamin B12 Test

The Vitamin B12 Test is a blood test that measures the level of Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) in the body. It helps detect Vitamin B12 deficiency or excess, which can affect red blood cell formation, nerve health, energy levels, and overall body function. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient required for producing healthy blood cells, maintaining the nervous system, and supporting DNA synthesis. This test is commonly recommended for people with symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, numbness, tingling sensations, anemia, or those at risk of nutritional deficiency.

What is a vitamin test?

A vitamin test is a blood test that measures how much of a vitamin is in your body. The two most common are vitamin D and vitamin B12. A low level often causes no clear symptoms at first, which is why a test is the only sure way to know.

Your body gets vitamin D mostly from sunlight, and it cannot make vitamin B12 at all, so B12 has to come from food or supplements. When your diet, sun exposure or digestion falls short, levels can drop slowly over months.

Why take a vitamin test?

A test is useful if you:

Feel tired or weak most days
Have bone, back, joint or muscle pain
Follow a vegetarian or vegan diet
Spend most of the day indoors
Are over 50 years old
Have a digestive condition that affects how you absorb food
Take metformin or medicines that reduce stomach acid for a long time
Take vitamin supplements and want to check they are working

What do vitamin D and vitamin B12 do?

Vitamin D:

Helps your body absorb calcium
Keeps bones, teeth and muscles strong
Supports your immune system

Vitamin B12:

Helps make healthy red blood cells
Keeps nerves and the brain working well
Helps your body turn food into energy

Other vitamins, such as A, C, E and K, are usually tested only when a doctor suspects a particular problem.

Signs your vitamin levels may be low

Low vitamin D can cause:

Bone pain or back pain
Muscle weakness or aches
Frequent tiredness

Low vitamin B12 can cause:

Weakness, tiredness or dizziness
Pale skin
Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
Memory problems or low mood
A sore, smooth tongue

These signs have many other possible causes, so do not treat yourself without a test. See a doctor if they last or get worse.

Foods that help

Vitamin D:

Sunlight (15 to 20 minutes a day is a common suggestion)
Oily fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel
Egg yolks
Fortified milk and cereals

Vitamin B12:

Fish, chicken and eggs
Milk, curd, paneer and cheese
Fortified cereals and plant milks

If you eat no animal foods, ask your doctor about B12 supplements.

How is the test done?

A trained phlebotomist takes a small blood sample from a vein in your arm, usually at your home. You do not need to fast for a vitamin D or vitamin B12 test. Reports are usually ready within 24 to 30 hours, and you can download them from your OnHealth account.

When you book in Howrah, you choose the date and time that suit you. If a test shows a low level, your doctor will advise the right treatment, often diet changes or supplements. Avoid high-dose vitamins unless a doctor has advised them.

Frequently asked questions

Does a CBC check vitamin levels?

No. A CBC counts your blood cells. It can show changes, such as unusually large red cells, that may point towards low vitamin B12 or folate, but it does not measure vitamin levels. A vitamin D or B12 test measures them directly.

How much vitamin D do I need per day?

Most healthy adults need about 600 IU (15 micrograms) a day, and people over 70 about 800 IU. If a test shows you are low, your doctor may advise a different amount, so avoid high doses without a test.

What foods have vitamin D?

Few foods contain much vitamin D. The best are oily fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel, and egg yolks. Some milk, cereals and mushrooms are fortified or exposed to light. Sunlight on your skin is the main source for most people.

What are 5 vitamin deficiency diseases?

Rickets and osteomalacia (low vitamin D), scurvy (low vitamin C), beriberi (low vitamin B1), pellagra (low vitamin B3) and megaloblastic anaemia (low vitamin B12 or folate). Low vitamin A can also cause night blindness.