Full blood count determines general health status. It is used as a screen for a variety of disorders, such as anaemia and infection, inflammation, nutritional status and exposure to toxic substances.
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that has a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and the formation of red blood cells. It is involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body, especially affecting DNA synthesis, fatty acid and amino acid metabolism.
Folate is essential for the body to make DNA, RNA, and metabolise amino acids which are required for cell division. Humans cannot make folates and therefore it is required from the diet.
Not enough folate can lead to folate deficiency. This may result in a type of anaemia where there is a low number of large red blood cells. Symptoms may include feeling tired, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, open sores on the tongue, and changes in the colour of the skin or hair. Low levels in early pregnancy are believed to be the cause of more than half of cases of neural tube defects in babies. Folate has also been implicated in several other conditions including cancer, heart disease and strokes, fertility, physiological problems and many others.
Low iron can cause anaemia, and is usually due to long-term or heavy bleeding, pregnancy, or rapid growth (in children); rarely is it due to poor diet. A high iron level can be due to a genetic condition, extensive blood transfusions, or rarely due to ingestion of an overdose of iron (usually in children).
Usually requested in the investigation of anaemias to see how much iron your body has stored for future use. The test is done, usually with an iron test and the total iron binding capacity (TIBC).
The test may also be requested when there is suspicion that you have too much iron, for example in haemochromatosis (a disease in which too much iron is absorbed from the diet) and elevated levels are also encountered in neoplastic disease.