The short answer
The confirmatory test for vitamin B12 deficiency — MMA rises early, before B12 levels look clearly low, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $49.99 plus a $6 lab processing fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 5–12 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$180
cash pay
Other Labs
$99
+ lab fees
TestWell
$49.99
+ $6 lab processing fee
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) is the most specific marker for functional vitamin B12 deficiency. When your cells lack usable B12, MMA accumulates in the blood — often before serum B12 drops clearly below range. That makes this test the standard follow-up when a B12 result is borderline, when symptoms (fatigue, numbness or tingling, memory changes) persist despite a 'normal' B12, or when you're monitoring a known deficiency. It's frequently interpreted alongside homocysteine: MMA elevated with high homocysteine points at B12; homocysteine high with normal MMA points at folate. MMA is measured by LC-MS/MS, a specialty assay, so results take longer than routine labs.
Vitamin and nutrient testing identifies deficiencies that can drive fatigue, immune dysfunction, neurological symptoms, and long-term disease risk — and confirms that supplementation is working.
Anyone with restrictive diets (vegan, low-fat, low-carb), malabsorption conditions, fatigue, hair loss, mood changes, or currently supplementing and wanting to verify dosing.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
5–12 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
Your Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) results will include values for each of the 1 biomarker tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 5–12 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you. Already have results? Analyze them with your AI assistant against our physician-reviewed ranges.
No fasting required. This is a specialty send-out assay — allow extra time for results compared to routine bloodwork.
A Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) test costs $49.99 at TestWell — $55.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $180.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $49.99 | $55.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| TestWell (drawn at BioReference — New York & New Jersey) | $54.99 | $60.99 | New York and New Jersey orders route to BioReference; Quest Health and Labcorp OnDemand don't take self-ordered draws in those states |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $180.00 | $180.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Lab test codes: Quest test code 34879 · Labcorp test no. 706961 · BioReference code 0349-1. Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Most Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) results are available in 5–12 business days after your specimen arrives at the lab. You'll get an email the moment results are ready, with everything viewable in your TestWell portal.
Blood draw. Sample is collected at a Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference patient service center near you, or via at-home phlebotomy where available.
On TestWell, the Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) is $49.99. Quest Direct lists comparable tests at $99. Walk-in hospital labs typically bill $180 or more without insurance. Insurance is not required — pay one all-in price.
No fasting required for the Methylmalonic Acid (MMA). No fasting required. This is a specialty send-out assay — allow extra time for results compared to routine bloodwork.
The Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) is available at Quest and Labcorp patient service centers nationwide. Order online at TestWell, pick your preferred lab, and we'll generate a digital requisition for the location closest to you.
The CPT code for a Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) test is 83921. You can order it from TestWell for $49.99 — no doctor's visit or insurance required, with results in 5–12 business days.
The Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) test is Quest Diagnostics test code 34879, Labcorp test number 706961, BioReference code 0349-1 (CPT 83921). TestWell orders it under those codes for $49.99 at Quest, Labcorp or BioReference — no doctor's visit or insurance required, results in 5–12 business days. Codes verified against the labs' catalogs in 2026.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
Related guide
Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) and B12 Deficiency: Why the Test Is Ordered and How to Read It
TestWell Price
$49.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
Better value: the Comprehensive B12 Deficiency Panel
Save $23.98This test is part of the Comprehensive B12 Deficiency Panel — 3 tests · 3 biomarkers for $79.99, $23.98 less than à la carte.
$79.99$103.97
3 tests · 3 biomarkers
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Methylmalonic Acid (MMA)
$49.99