Vitamin A plays a vital role in vision, immune defense, skin regeneration, and cellular function, yet deficiency often goes unnoticed until symptoms arise. Whether you're struggling with low energy, recurring infections, dry skin, or simply want to stay ahead of potential nutrient gaps, this easy at-home blood test gives you answers.

Our Vitamin A Test uses a simple dried blood spot (DBS) method, allowing you to collect a sample from your fingertip, no need for a clinic visit. Your sample is then analyzed by our accredited lab to measure your retinol levels, the biologically active form of Vitamin A.

This test is ideal for those following restricted diets, dealing with malabsorption issues, or focused on skin health, immune strength, and long-term wellbeing. Early detection allows you to take proactive steps before deficiency symptoms affect your health or performance.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin critical for:

• Eye health – supports night vision and protects the retina
• Immune system function – essential for fighting infections
• Skin and mucosal health – supports healthy skin, lungs, and gut
• Cell development and reproduction – influences gene expression and fetal growth

Deficiency may stem from poor diet, liver disorders, chronic illness, or fat absorption issues — even in developed countries.

If your results show low Vitamin A (retinol), don’t worry — it can often be corrected with simple dietary or lifestyle changes. Here’s how you can improve your levels:

1. Eat more Vitamin A-rich foods:

• Animal sources: liver, egg yolks, butter, dairy, and oily fish provide retinol — the active form your body can use immediately.
• Plant sources: orange and dark green vegetables like carrots, sweet potato, spinach, and kale contain beta-carotene, which your body converts into Vitamin A (though less efficiently).

2. Support fat absorption:
Vitamin A is fat-soluble, meaning it needs dietary fat for absorption. Make sure you’re including healthy fats (like olive oil or avocado) with meals.

3. Address gut and liver health:
If you have conditions like coeliac disease, IBD, or liver dysfunction, these may impact Vitamin A absorption or storage. Speak with your healthcare provider for targeted support.

4. Supplement if needed:
Vitamin A supplements (retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate) may be recommended if levels are low and dietary changes aren’t enough. Avoid megadosing — more is not always better, especially with fat-soluble vitamins.

A healthy Vitamin A level is generally considered to fall between 325–780 ng/mL, based on population reference ranges. Levels below this threshold may indicate suboptimal intake, poor absorption, or increased physiological demand.

Vitamin A exists in two main forms:

• Retinoids (from animal foods like liver, eggs, dairy) — these are biologically active and readily used by the body
• Carotenoids (from plant sources like carrots, spinach, sweet potato) — these must be converted into retinoids by the body, though conversion efficiency varies widely between individuals

Your result is interpreted against clinically validated cutoffs to determine whether your Vitamin A level supports immune function, vision, and skin repair. If your level is below 325 ng/mL, we recommend reviewing your intake and discussing options with your healthcare provider.

By identifying suboptimal levels early, you can take proactive steps to prevent symptoms like night blindness, recurring infections, or poor skin health — all of which are associated with Vitamin A deficiency.

• WHO (2009): Identified Vitamin A deficiency as a major cause of preventable childhood blindness and increased infection-related mortality.
• Sommer et al. (1995): Demonstrated that even mild Vitamin A deficiency impairs immune function and increases risk of respiratory infections.
• Stephensen (2001): Reviewed the role of Vitamin A in modulating immune responses and reducing inflammation.
• Semba (1998): Highlighted Vitamin A’s role in epithelial tissue integrity and its importance in reducing maternal mortality.

These studies support the importance of regular Vitamin A testing, especially in individuals with restricted diets, absorption issues, or symptoms such as night vision problems or recurring infections.

• Support immune resilience – Vitamin A helps protect against infections by supporting white blood cell and mucosal barrier function.
• Protect night and low-light vision – Essential for producing rhodopsin, the pigment that enables vision in dim light.
• Promote healthy skin and cellular repair – Plays a vital role in maintaining epithelial tissues and supporting wound healing.
• Identify silent deficiency – Symptoms often go unnoticed until levels are significantly low. Testing helps uncover hidden gaps early.
• Personalize your nutrition – Understand if your diet or supplements are delivering enough active Vitamin A (retinol) for your needs.

Testing provides insight and control — allowing you to make informed decisions about diet, supplementation, and long-term health planning.

This test measures your serum retinol concentration from a dried blood spot (DBS) sample. Retinol is the active, fat-soluble form of Vitamin A and the most clinically relevant indicator of your Vitamin A status.

Unlike carotenoids (which must be converted into retinol), serum retinol reflects the biologically usable form of the vitamin — offering a direct insight into your body's available Vitamin A reserves.

Your result is reported in ng/mL and interpreted against the reference range of 325–780 ng/mL, helping you understand whether your current intake is adequate or requires improvement.

This test is ideal if you:

• Follow a low-fat or plant-based diet with limited animal sources of retinol
• Have health conditions affecting nutrient absorption (e.g., IBD, coeliac, liver disease)
• Experience symptoms like night blindness, dry skin, or frequent colds
• Want to monitor fat-soluble vitamins as part of a longevity or skin health routine

• Dried blood spot collection card
• Lancets, alcohol swab, gauze, bandage
• Return envelope and instructions
• Lab analysis + secure online results