Specialist marker · Heart and brain
A homocysteine blood test measures an amino acid that builds up when B12, folate or B6 run low, and high levels are linked to heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline. GPs rarely check it. You can add it to TrueVitals Ultimate for £89 (£488 in total with the clinic draw), or get it included in Signature (£799) alongside 44 other specialist markers.
Add-ons are tested on the same blood draw as your panel and reported inside your clinician-reviewed report, read alongside your other 140 results. They are not sold on their own.
Pay in instalments with Klarna or Clearpay at checkout. Want it with Advanced instead? Email support@truevitals.co.uk and we will set it up.
Homocysteine is made when your body processes methionine, an amino acid from protein. It is normally recycled straight away, and that recycling depends on vitamin B12, folate and vitamin B6. When any of them run short, homocysteine builds up in the blood.
That makes it two things at once: a heart and brain risk marker, and a functional check of whether your B vitamins are actually doing their job, which a standard B12 or folate level cannot always show.
Most UK labs flag results above about 15 µmol/L as raised. Many clinicians consider levels under about 10 µmol/L ideal. Levels rise with age and are usually a little higher in men. Your report uses the lab's own range and reads homocysteine alongside your B12, folate, MCV and kidney results.
| Option | Includes it | Price | What else you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate + homocysteine add-on | Yes | £488 incl. clinic draw | Read alongside B12, folate, MCV, kidney function, ApoB, Lp(a) and hs-CRP. Clinician-reviewed report in 4 working days. |
| TrueVitals Signature | Yes | £799 incl. draw | Included as standard, with 44 other specialist markers. Randox Health clinics, up to 12 working days. |
| TrueVitals Advanced | On request | £319 + £89 | Can be added on request by email. |
| NHS GP | On request | Free if clinically indicated | Rarely requested outside specific clinical questions. |
TrueVitals prices checked 5 November 2026. Every TrueVitals report is clinician-reviewed. Pay in instalments with Klarna or Clearpay. Book a draw at one of 103 partner clinics, or add a home visit.
When you need a GP, not a panel: sudden weakness, numbness, slurred speech or chest pain need 999. Numbness, tingling or memory changes that have been building up should be seen by your GP, who can check B12 directly.
A private panel is a good way to get a baseline, understand a result in context and track it over time. It does not replace your GP for symptoms, and anything that needs follow-up is flagged in plain words in your report.
Homocysteine on its own rarely tells the whole story. In TrueVitals panels it is reported with these related markers:
Not as standard. You can add it to Ultimate for £89, or choose Signature, which includes it.
Red blood cells keep releasing homocysteine into the sample after it is taken, so it has to be spun in a centrifuge soon after the draw. We book homocysteine at one of 19 partner clinics that spin samples on site.
Fasting is advised. A protein-rich meal can raise homocysteine a little, and Ultimate also includes fasting insulin and glucose, so an overnight fast with water only gives the cleanest result.
Most labs flag above about 15 µmol/L. Many clinicians aim for under about 10 µmol/L. Your report explains where you sit and what is likely driving it.
By fixing the cause, usually low B12, folate or B6. That might mean diet changes or supplements, ideally after checking which vitamin is short. Retest after about three months to confirm it has come down.
Common MTHFR variants can slow folate processing and push homocysteine up, mainly when folate intake is low. Your homocysteine level tells you whether it matters for you, which is more useful than the gene result alone.
How this page was written: by James Smillie, founder of TrueVitals, reviewed by the TrueVitals clinical review team, using NHS and laboratory reference sources. Ranges are typical values; your report uses your lab's own ranges. TrueVitals sells the panels named on this page, so we have stated plainly what this test cannot do. Last updated 5 November 2026.
Ultimate + homocysteine: £488 including the clinic draw, or Signature with homocysteine included: £799. Clinician-reviewed report either way.
Clinical trust, built in
Included in the price, never an add-on. We consider it essential.
We've had GPs, surgeons and specialist doctors trust us for their own bloods.
Metabolic health, menopause specialists and more, ready if your results need a closer look.
Meet our specialists →We use cookies to help improve your experience. Learn more
Keep you signed in and let checkout work. The site needs these.
Help us see which pages are useful and where people come from. No advertising, nothing sold.
.png)