Vitamin - B12
Behind tingling, numbness, tiredness and a type of anaemia. Especially common in vegetarians and on metformin
Also known as B12, Cobalamin, Cyanocobalamin, Vitamin B12
₹455/-₹850/-46% offFree collection on orders above ₹500/-
- Reports within
- 8 hours
- Parameter included
- 01see list
- Sample
- Blood
- Fasting
- Not needed
- Measures
- Level of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in the blood
- Identifies
- B12 deficiency, and a cause of anaemia, nerve symptoms and fatigue
Collected at home
A trained phlebotomist visits at a time you pick, from the next hour
Sealed single-use kit
Opened in front of you, and carried to the lab under controlled conditions
Report within 8 hours
On WhatsApp and email, with any value outside the normal range highlighted
What is the B12 test?
Vitamin B12 is needed to make red blood cells and to keep the coating on nerves healthy. The body cannot make it, so it comes only from animal foods such as milk, curd, eggs, fish and meat. The test measures the amount of B12 in your blood serum, in picograms per millilitre.
A low result explains a surprising range of complaints: tiredness, breathlessness, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, a sore tongue, poor memory and low mood. Left for long, B12 deficiency causes a type of anaemia with unusually large red cells, and nerve damage that may not fully reverse. Once identified, the deficiency is inexpensive and straightforward to correct.
Deficiency is very common in India, especially among vegetarians, people on metformin for diabetes, and anyone taking acidity tablets for months. No fasting is needed. The sample is collected at home and the report arrives in 8 hours.
B12 parameters1 measured
Vitamin B12
211–911 pg/mL
A vitamin needed for nerves and red cells, low in vegetarian diets, with stomach acid medicines or poor absorption, causing tiredness, numbness and anaemia
Reference ranges are the lab's defaults for adults and are printed on the report beside every value
How to prepare
- No fasting is needed.
- If you are already taking B12 tablets or have had a B12 injection, tell the phlebotomist, as this raises the result and may hide a deficiency.
- Take your other regular medicines as usual.
Who should take it
Vegetarians and vegans, and anyone who eats little dairy. People with diabetes on metformin, and people who have taken pantoprazole, omeprazole or similar acidity tablets for months. Adults over 60, whose stomachs absorb B12 less well. Anyone with tingling, numbness, balance problems, tiredness, breathlessness, mouth ulcers or a sore tongue. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, whose needs are higher. People with coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, or a past stomach or bowel surgery. Anyone already on B12 treatment whose doctor wants to confirm it is working.
Before the visit
Tell your doctor about metformin, acidity tablets, oral contraceptives and any B12 or multivitamin supplements. A B12 injection in the past few weeks will make the result look normal even if stores are low. A normal B12 with ongoing symptoms sometimes needs further tests, so do not stop at one number.
Why take the B12 test?
- Tingling or numbness: pins and needles in the feet or hands, or unsteady walking, are nerve signs of low B12 that need checking before they become permanent.
- Tiredness with anaemia: if a CBC shows low haemoglobin with a high MCV, B12 is the first thing to measure.
- Vegetarian or vegan diet: with no animal foods, stores run down over years, and a baseline level tells you where you stand.
- On metformin or acidity tablets: both reduce B12 absorption, and anyone on them for over a year should test.
- Memory, mood or sore tongue: forgetfulness, low mood, a red smooth tongue or mouth ulcers can all be B12 related.
Questions about the B12 test
What is a vitamin B12 test used for?
It checks whether you have enough B12 to make healthy red blood cells and keep nerves working. It is ordered for tiredness, tingling or numbness, a sore tongue, memory problems, and anaemia with large red cells on a CBC.
Do I need to fast for a B12 test?
No fasting is needed. Eat normally and take your usual medicines. Do mention any B12 tablets, injections or multivitamins you have taken recently, because they raise the result.
What sample is taken and how does home collection work?
A small blood sample from the arm. A trained phlebotomist comes to your home, uses a sealed single-use kit, and takes the sample to the lab. It can be collected at any time of day.
What is the normal vitamin B12 range?
The reference range on the report is 211 to 911 pg/mL. Values towards the bottom of the range can still cause symptoms in some people, so your doctor reads the number together with how you feel and your CBC.
What does a low or high B12 result mean?
Low B12 usually means too little in the diet, poor absorption from the stomach or gut, or a medicine such as metformin or an acidity tablet. It is treated with tablets or injections. High B12 is usually from supplements, but occasionally from a liver or kidney problem, so mention it to your doctor.
Who should get B12 tested and how often?
Vegetarians, people on metformin or long-term acidity tablets, adults over 60, and anyone with tingling, numbness, tiredness or anaemia. A baseline once, then a repeat after three to six months of treatment, is the usual pattern.
How long does the B12 report take?
The report reaches your WhatsApp and email in 8 hours from collection. If it was booked with a CBC or folate, all results arrive together so your doctor can read them side by side.
I am vegetarian. Should I test B12 even without symptoms?
Yes, a baseline is worth having. B12 comes only from animal foods, and stores fall slowly over years, so deficiency is common in vegetarians before any symptoms appear. Nerve damage from long-standing deficiency does not always reverse, so finding it early matters.
Commonly tested together
Often on the same prescription
What happens after you book
- A phlebotomist is assigned and reaches you in your chosen slot, as soon as the next hour
- The sample is collected with a sealed single-use kit and moved on a cold chain
- The report lands on WhatsApp and email within 8 hours