Homocysteine test

An amino acid that rises when some B vitamins are low.

€34.40. You pay at the desk, not online.

Homocysteine test: what it is for

Homocysteine is an amino acid your body makes every day as it breaks down protein. To clear it, your body needs three vitamins: B12, folate and B6. If one is short, or your kidneys work less well, homocysteine builds up in your blood.

When it is done

Doctors mostly order it in three cases: when they suspect a shortage of B12 or folate, after a heart attack, stroke or blood clot at a young age, or when similar cases run in the family.

It is not a routine test for people who feel well. A high homocysteine is linked to a higher risk for your heart and arteries, but in trials, lowering it with vitamins did not reduce heart attacks.

How the homocysteine test is done

It is a blood test, done at a Bianalisi lab without a prescription. You can add other tests to the same draw.

Questions about the homocysteine test.

Do I need to fast for a homocysteine test? Yes. Usually at least eight hours of fasting is asked. You can drink water.

How much does the homocysteine test cost? €34.40, from Bianalisi’s private list for Lombardy. You pay at the desk on the day of the draw, not online.

Do I need a prescription for the homocysteine test? No. You book it here without a prescription and pay at the Bianalisi desk.

When do results arrive? Within 10 working days, in the Rosa app, with each value next to the lab’s interval. The report a doctor approves is in the Rosa membership.