Methylmalonic Acid levels: what's normal, high and low
A metabolite that builds up when cells lack usable vitamin B12. The most specific marker of functional B12 deficiency.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
The short answer
Methylmalonic Acid is measured with a standard blood draw; no fasting is needed. A typical reference range is 0.000 – 378 nmol/L. At TestWell it's $49.99 all-in as Methylmalonic Acid (MMA), results in 5–12 business days, drawn at Quest or Labcorp. An out-of-range result is a prompt to look closer, not a diagnosis.
- Units
- nmol/L
- Sample
- Blood draw
- Fasting
- Not required
- Results
- 5–12 business days
- Price
- $49.99
- Labs
- Quest or Labcorp · BioReference in NY/NJ
Methylmalonic Acid Reference Range
These are the typical adult reference ranges used by major US labs. Your report will include the specific range used by the lab that processed your sample.
| Population | Range |
|---|---|
| age 18+, Labcorp interval; Quest reports 87–318 nmol/L (1 µmol/L = 1,000 nmol/L) | 0.000 – 378 nmol/L |
Reference ranges are educational. Always interpret your result with the specific range printed on your lab report and discuss anything outside the range with a clinician.
What your Methylmalonic Acid result may mean
Most often reflects vitamin B12 deficiency at the tissue level, even when serum B12 looks borderline or normal. Reduced kidney function raises MMA independently, so the result is read with creatinine; pregnancy, older age and rare inherited metabolic disorders also raise it.
A low or undetectable MMA has no clinical significance — it simply indicates adequate B12 activity.
Educational only — not a diagnosis. Many factors can influence a single result. Discuss anything that concerns you with a healthcare provider.
How do you get a Methylmalonic Acid test?
Order online, a licensed physician reviews the requisition, and you walk into a nearby lab for the draw. Methylmalonic Acid is available on its own or inside these panels — panels cost less per marker when you want the fuller picture.
| Option | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) | This marker only | $49.99 |
| Comprehensive B12 Deficiency Panel | 3 tests | $79.99 |
Quest vs. Labcorp for Methylmalonic Acid: which lab should you pick?
Both are CLIA-certified national labs and the result is clinically equivalent, so pick whichever location is closer. Your report will print that lab's own reference range, which can differ slightly from the table above.
| Lab | Available | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics | Yes | $49.99 |
| Labcorp | Yes | $49.99 |
| BioReference (NY & NJ) | Yes | $54.99 |
Need help choosing a location? Use the lab finder to see draw sites near your ZIP.
How often should you retest Methylmalonic Acid?
If MMA was raised and B12 replacement has started, a recheck after about 3 months of treatment shows whether tissue-level deficiency has resolved; MMA normalizes within weeks of effective treatment, so a persistently high value points to ongoing malabsorption, kidney disease or another cause.
General guidance from the sources listed below — your clinician may set a different schedule based on your history and results.
Related Vitamins & Nutrients biomarkers
Markers commonly tested alongside Methylmalonic Acid.
Frequently asked
Most often reflects vitamin B12 deficiency at the tissue level, even when serum B12 looks borderline or normal. Reduced kidney function raises MMA independently, so the result is read with creatinine; pregnancy, older age and rare inherited metabolic disorders also raise it. A single result above the reference range is a prompt to look closer with a clinician — often a repeat test and related markers — not a diagnosis on its own.
Ready to test your methylmalonic acid?
Order in two minutes, get physician-approved, and visit a lab the same day. Starts at $49.99.