It’s tough to get enough vitamins in your diet and to absorb them properly.
Even if you eat healthy, you can have a dietary blind spot and can be vitamin or mineral deficient.
Over time this can lead to serious problems such as anemia, fatigue or bodily pain.
Many people think they need to go through insurance in order to get blood testing done, but the truth is that you can schedule a blood test for vitamin deficiency online.
You’ll still have to go to a lab, but there are a number of benefits to doing this:
- It’s more convenient and often cheaper than going through your doctor or hospital
- Many vitamin deficiency blood test companies offer fast turnaround times and same-day lab results
- You can quickly pinpoint your dietary blind spots and give your body the nutrients it needs to function
But before scheduling a vitamin deficiency blood test from an online company, be sure to read some reviews about the company first so you know what kind of quality you’re getting! Always a good idea to consult with your doctor too!
All options below are free from co-pays, deductibles, or hidden fees. You don’t have to deal with insurance headaches either. You pay for the test, go to the lab, and receive your results in 1–3 business days. That’s it.
Besides listing some vitamin deficiency blood tests to consider, this article discusses other things you should think about before purchasing!
After reading this post – including our reasons why you should NOT purchase – please be aware that if you do end up purchasing a test we may receive a small commission.
1 – Ulta Wellness
- Price = From $59
- # of Labs in US = 2000
- # of Reviews = 2728
- Average Rating = 4.9/5
Ulta Wellness is our top recommendation for a vitamin deficiency blood test.
Why? Their reputation is excellent with a Better Business Bureau score of A+ after 8 years of being in business.
Most importantly they offer the lowest pricing we could find.
For example their Basic Vitamins and Minerals test goes for $59 and has 6 biomarkers.
A $59 test from other labs would usually only have 1-2 biomarkers. For 6 biomarkers the normal pricing would be around $250 (Ulta’s price is ~75% off!)
Disadvantages:
- Only 2000 locations so less chance of finding a location near you
2 – Walkin Lab
- Price = $95 or $125
- # of Labs in US = 3700
- # of Reviews = 16,605
- Average Rating = 4.8/5
Walkin Lab is our second choice for vitamin deficiency blood tests.
The best thing about Walkin Lab is that they have been independently reviewed over 16,000 times and have gotten consistently high marks!
Walkin Lab partners with two of the nation’s leading blood testing labs – Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp.
By partnering with both companies, Walkin Lab offers two pricing options per test so that you get low prices.
This low price does NOT come at the expense of quality.
For example, their Essential Blood Test Panel has two pricing options for both Quest and Labcorp – $95 and $125.
Normally for a blood test you’ll pay $75-125 for a test that only measures folate, Vitamin B12 or Vitamin D.
However, Walkin Lab’s blood test measures results for 11 health indicators, including a complete blood count.
Disadvantages:
- Their # of labs nationwide is less than one of the other options (see below). This means you may have to drive farther, especially if you live in a rural area.
- Walk-In Lab is prohibited from selling lab tests to residents in the following states:
- LabCorp: NY, NJ, RI, MA, MD
- Quest Diagnostics: NY, NJ, RI
3 – Health Labs
- Price = $349
- # of Labs in US = 4500
- # of Reviews = 15,500*
- Average Rating = 96%
*Health Labs provides 15,500 testimonials with an average rating of 96%. Please note these reviews listed on Health Lab’s website and are not from a third party.*
Health Labs does have a variety of third party reviews too.
Better Business Bureau in Texas lists 1,508 reviews of Health Labs with an average rating of 4.84.
We list Health Labs as our #3 choice because three primary reasons:
- Highest number of lab locations
- One of the most comprehensive vitamin blood tests available
If you want one of the nation’s premier vitamin blood tests, order here.
Disadvantages:
- Higher cost
- However, according to Health Labs, “if you find a lower price elsewhere for the exact same test that you’ve ordered, we will match the competitor’s price and give you a 10% discount on that test’s cost.”
You could order the cheap Ulta Wellness test above, and then if Health Labs location is better, see if you can go with Health Labs and get the same cheap price.
4 – Personalabs
- Price = $123
- # of Labs in US = 2300
- # of Reviews = 1557
- Average Rating = 4.8/5
Personalabs is another great option.
Personalabs has been around since 2006 and is competitive with the other choices above.
The reason we place Personalabs fourth is because with “only” 1557 reviews, in comparison to Walkin Lab and Health Labs, Personalabs is relatively new.
There’s also less likelihood Personalabs will serve a location with you because they have “only” 2300 labs in the US.
Things To Consider Before You Buy
While you can get a blood test for fun and to satisfy your curiosity, it’s worth asking:
Do you even need a blood test?
If you don’t have any symptoms, then perhaps it’s best to save your wallet and your finger a prick!
Symptoms of vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Fluttering heartbeat
- Gums that bleed
- Loss of hair
- Fatigue
- Joints hurting
- Skin prickly
- Cramping muscles
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness in general
- White dots on nails
- Dry scaly skin
- Poor immune system
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please think about common vitamin and mineral deficiencies as a possible cause.
If you are experiencing signs of a deficiency AND you match a common cause, then this provides much greater clarity on whether or not to buy a deficiency blood test.
Causes of Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
The most common cause of deficiencies is diet.
- Your diet is mainly processed foods (like restaurants, DoorDash, etc.)
- You hardly eat any vegetables or fruit
- You’re a vegan or vegetarian
- Your diet is artificially restricted due to an eating plan (Keto, etc.)
Besides dieting, however, there are reasons you can become vitamin or mineral deficient too:
- Too much alcohol
- Being pregnant
- Poor absorption due to disease (like Crohn’s disease or other chronic diseases)
- Not enough sunlight (aka, not enough Vitamin D)
If you have a symptom and match any of these general criteria, then getting a blood test makes more sense.
Most Common Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
If you aren’t sure which blood test to order, your best bet is going with the comprehensive options listed above.
You can also order vitamin deficiency blood tests which only look for one deficiency. Usually these tests are cheaper!
If you want to only test for one deficiency, you should know the most common vitamin and mineral deficiencies:
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Calcium deficiency
- Folic acid
- Folate
- Iron deficiency
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
The good thing about deficiencies is you can easily get dietary supplements for any nutrient you lack.
Take a look at the most popular supplements for mineral and vitamin deficiencies:
- Vitamin D supplements
- Folic Acid supplements
Are there any risks to a Vitamin Deficiency Blood Test?
The risk of undergoing blood tests is practically nil. There may be mild bruising at the site where a needle is inserted to draw the blood sample, but most symptoms vanish quickly.
How to prepare for your appointment
Before taking most tests, you may need to fast or avoid specific meals or beverages. If the test(s) you choose require additional measures on your part, you will be informed.
Vitamin Deficiency Blood Tests Conclusion
Our number one recommendation is Ulta Labs because of their stellar reputation and low costs.
However, they have a bit less locations so be sure to check lab locations for any blood test you order.
Overall though, determining your vitamin and mineral levels through blood testing through one of these providers offers a viable alternative to scheduling a doctor’s appointment.
No need to deal with all the deductibles, copays and premiums!
Plus, you can order and go to the lab the next day, and get your results the day after.