--- title: Vitamin A (Retinol) Test type: biomarker url: "https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-a-retinol" also_known_as: - vitamin a - vitamin a (retinol) - retinol category: Vitamins & Nutrients units: - mcg/dL - ug/dL order_price_usd: 44.99 order_item: Vitamin A (Retinol) order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/vitamin-a" reviewed_at: 2026-09-08 --- # Vitamin A (Retinol) > Vitamin A (Retinol) is measured with a standard blood draw after an 8–12 hour fast. A typical reference range is 38.0 – 98.0 mcg/dL. At TestWell it's $44.99 all-in as Vitamin A (Retinol), results in 3–5 business days, drawn at Quest. An out-of-range result is a prompt to look closer, not a diagnosis. Also known as: vitamin a, vitamin a (retinol), retinol. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Units | mcg/dL / ug/dL | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | 8–12 hours | | Results | 3–5 business days | | Price | $44.99 | | Labs | Quest | ## What does Vitamin A (Retinol) measure? A fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision, immune function, and skin health. ## What is the normal range for Vitamin A (Retinol)? | Population | Reference range | | --- | --- | | age 18+ | 38.0 – 98.0 mcg/dL | Reference intervals differ slightly between labs; the range printed on your report is the one to interpret against. Ranges are usually set so 95% of healthy people fall inside them. ## What does a high Vitamin A (Retinol) mean? High vitamin A (retinol) almost always comes from supplements — high-dose vitamin A, cod-liver oil, some 'immune' or skin formulas — or from very high liver consumption; retinoid medications for acne and psoriasis do not raise serum retinol but carry the same toxicity. Chronic excess causes headaches, dry skin, hair loss, bone pain, liver injury and, in pregnancy, birth defects. Kidney disease and oral estrogens raise it modestly. ### Common causes of high Vitamin A (Retinol) 1. Vitamin A supplements above ~10,000 IU/day, cod-liver oil, multivitamin stacking 2. Frequent liver or liver-based foods 3. Chronic kidney disease (reduced clearance) 4. Oral contraceptives (raised retinol-binding protein) 5. Hyperlipidemia ### Symptoms that go with high Vitamin A (Retinol) - Headache, nausea, blurred vision (acute) - Dry cracked skin and lips, hair loss, bone and joint pain, fatigue, liver enzyme elevation (chronic) ### What clinicians usually check next - Stop supplemental vitamin A and retest in 8–12 weeks - Liver panel, kidney function, lipids - Pregnancy: stop immediately and inform the obstetric clinician — vitamin A excess is teratogenic ### Seek care promptly if - High vitamin A with severe headache, vomiting or vision changes — same-day care (possible raised intracranial pressure) **Does beta-carotene count?** No — beta-carotene converts to vitamin A only as needed and is not toxic in the same way, though large amounts turn skin orange. Only preformed vitamin A (retinol, retinyl esters) raises this test and carries the toxicity. ## What does a low Vitamin A (Retinol) mean? Low vitamin A is uncommon in the US and points to fat malabsorption — celiac disease, Crohn's, cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, bariatric surgery, cholestatic liver disease — or to a very restricted diet, heavy alcohol use or zinc deficiency (zinc is needed to mobilize vitamin A from the liver). Acute illness lowers the measured level temporarily because retinol-binding protein falls. ### Common causes of low Vitamin A (Retinol) 1. Fat malabsorption: celiac disease, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, bile-acid deficiency 2. Bariatric surgery, especially bypass procedures 3. Very low-fat or restrictive diets, alcohol use disorder, malnutrition 4. Zinc deficiency, liver disease 5. Acute infection or inflammation (transient), premature infants ### Symptoms that go with low Vitamin A (Retinol) - Difficulty seeing in dim light, dry eyes - Dry, rough skin, frequent infections, slow wound healing ### What clinicians usually check next - Repeat when well; zinc, vitamins D and E, albumin, CRP - Celiac antibodies, stool fat or elastase if malabsorption is suspected - Dietitian or GI review; supplementation is dosed by a clinician because of the toxicity margin Follow-up tests at TestWell: [Zinc](https://www.test-well.com/tests/zinc) ($26.99), [C-Reactive Protein (CRP)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/crp) ($26.99). **Should I just take a vitamin A supplement?** Only after the cause is known and with a clinician setting the dose — the gap between correcting a deficiency and toxicity is narrower than for most vitamins, and pregnancy changes the limits further. ## How do you get tested for Vitamin A (Retinol)? | Order | Type | Price | Includes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Vitamin A (Retinol)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/vitamin-a) | Single test | $44.99 | This marker | ## Quest vs Labcorp vs BioReference | Lab | Available | Price | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | Yes | $44.99 | Choose Quest at checkout; walk-in patient service centers in every state TestWell serves outside NY and NJ. | | Labcorp | No | — | Not offered through Labcorp for this test. | | BioReference (NY & NJ) | No | — | Not available in NY/NJ for this test. | ## Common questions about Vitamin A (Retinol) ### Do I need a doctor's order to test my vitamin a (retinol)? No. TestWell's licensed physician network reviews and approves your order — usually within minutes. You can place an order online without an in-person visit or a referral from your own doctor. ### How long does it take to get Vitamin A (Retinol) results? Most Vitamin A (Retinol) results are available in 1–3 business days after your specimen arrives at the lab. You'll get an email the moment your results are ready, with everything viewable in your TestWell portal. ### How much does a Vitamin A (Retinol) test cost? Our Vitamin A (Retinol) starts at $44.99. That's the all-in price — no copays, no insurance hoops, no surprise bills. HSA and FSA cards are accepted. ### Do I need to fast before my Vitamin A (Retinol) test? Yes — for the most accurate result, fast for 8–12 hours before your blood draw. Water is fine; coffee, food, and supplements are not. Your prep instructions will be included with your order. ### Which lab will process my Vitamin A (Retinol) test? Your test will be processed by Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, or BioReference depending on which is closest to you and which lab carries the test. All three are CLIA-certified and trusted by hospitals nationwide. You'll choose your lab during checkout from 4,000+ locations. ## Sources - [Mayo Clinic Labs](https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/overview/42359) - [Testing.com (AACC) — Vitamin A Blood Test: Order, Results & What They Mean](https://www.testing.com/tests/vitamin-a/) ## Related biomarkers - [Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-d-25-hydroxy) - [Vitamin B12](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-b12) - [Methylmalonic Acid](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/methylmalonic-acid) - [Folate](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/folate) - [Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-b1-thiamine) - [Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-b2-riboflavin) - [Reference range lookup tool](https://www.test-well.com/tools/reference-range-lookup) - [Lab unit converter](https://www.test-well.com/tools/lab-unit-converter) - [All biomarkers](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-08. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-a-retinol Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.