Vitamins & Nutrients
Vitamin B12 test cost — $8–$26.95
Vitamin B12 · measured in pg/mL
Keep it above ~500 — serum alone can mislead.
Higher is betterReference range
299–1,054 pg/mL
Published blood B12 example. The assay, symptoms and additional markers can affect interpretation; the laboratory may publish a different interval.
Optimal range / clinical target
A separate universal ‘optimal’ interval is not established in the cited guidance. The goal depends on why you were tested; aiming for the middle or an extreme of the reference interval is not a treatment plan.
Examples are educational, not your reporting lab’s interval.
NIH MedlinePlus: B12 levelVitamin B12 test prices
Compare direct-pay test prices, without using insurance. Test prices are shown before separate collection fees.
Tracking more than one biomarker?
Build a list to compare test and panel combinations, with one blood-draw fee in your GoodLabs estimate.
$12 blood draw per visit, added once to your order.
Collection fee is additional; not included in this test price.
Does insurance cover Vitamin B12 testing?
When a clinician orders Vitamin B12 for a diagnosis or to follow a known condition, most plans cover it — and many cover routine screening as $0 preventive care for eligible adults. The catch is you need a qualifying reason and an in-network order; a “I just want to see my number” request often isn’t covered, and if you haven’t met your deductible you can end up paying the lab’s full list price anyway.
The direct-pay prices above skip insurance entirely: you pay the cash price, test on your own schedule with no doctor visit, and it’s HSA/FSA-eligible. For a single marker that’s often cheaper — and faster — than a copay plus deductible exposure.
Vitamin B12 inside a bundle
Every compared membership/panel that includes Vitamin B12, cheapest first. Worth it when you want several markers at once rather than a single test.
| Provider | Model | Advertised panel | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiPhox Health | At-home, per-panel (selectable) | 59+ 39 biomarkers mapped | $99-124 / panel |
| Empirical Health | One-time panel | 100+ 46 biomarkers mapped | $190 one-time |
| Mito Health | At-cost marketplace + optional membership | 100+ 63 biomarkers mapped | Core Panel ~$198 |
| Superpower | Annual membership | 103+ 73 biomarkers mapped | $199/yr |
| Hundred | Annual membership | 160+ 74 biomarkers mapped | $199/yr |
| Everlywell 360 | Annual membership | 83+ 35 biomarkers mapped | $399/yr |
| Quest Health (Elite) | One-time direct-pay | 85+ 49 biomarkers mapped | $399 one-time |
| InsideTracker | Membership + à-la-carte tests | 48+ 46 biomarkers mapped | $489 (1st test) |
| OneTwenty | Annual membership | 85+ 51 biomarkers mapped | $499/yr |
| Thorne Advanced | One-time panel | 60+ 51 biomarkers mapped | ~$830 one-time |
What Vitamin B12 is
Cobalamin — a cofactor for DNA synthesis, methylation, and myelin maintenance. Serum B12 measures mostly inactive cobalamin; functional status is better judged by MMA and homocysteine.
Why it matters for longevity & performance
Low-normal B12 can cause reversible cognitive and neuropathic decline and elevated homocysteine; longevity practitioners keep it high-normal, especially in older, vegan, or metformin-using people.
Vitamin B12 testing — frequently asked
Do I need to fast for a Vitamin B12 test?
No. Vitamin B12 does not require fasting — you can test any time of day.
Do I need a doctor's order to get a Vitamin B12 test?
No. Direct-to-consumer labs (GoodLabs, Ulta, Quest and Labcorp OnDemand) include the physician order in the price — you order online and visit a draw site, no appointment with your own doctor needed.
How fast are Vitamin B12 results?
Usually 1–3 business days after your blood draw; most results post to the lab's online portal.
What's the difference between the standard and optimal Vitamin B12 range?
Reference intervals describe results in a reference population; they do not by themselves diagnose or exclude disease. A treatment target depends on the condition and the person. A separate universal ‘optimal’ interval is not established in the cited guidance. The goal depends on why you were tested; aiming for the middle or an extreme of the reference interval is not a treatment plan.
Does insurance cover Vitamin B12 testing?
Often, when ordered for a diagnosis; many plans cover it as preventive care at no cost for eligible adults. The direct-pay prices above let you skip insurance and test on your own schedule.
Related Vitamins & Nutrients biomarkers
Educational guidance. Use your reporting lab’s reference interval and discuss personal targets and results with your clinician.