Test Detail

Folic Acid, RBC

Folic acid is vital for the body to produce healthy red blood cells (RBCs). When the body lacks sufficient folic acid, it leads to a type of anemia where RBCs become abnormally large and cannot function properly. An RBC folate test measures the level of folic acid within red blood cells, providing an indication of the body's long-term folate status rather than immediate fluctuations from diet, similar to how hemoglobin A1C reflects long-term blood glucose control.