Vitamin D 25-OH LIS Code: D (25-OH)
Private vitamin D (25-OH) blood test £49, results in about 4 hours. Find out if you're low, especially after winter. No fasting or GP referral. Slough, Victoria, Neasden.
Before your test
Test Categories
About this test
This test measures 25-hydroxy vitamin D, written as 25-OH vitamin D, which is the form doctors use to judge how much vitamin D your body has stored. Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium for healthy bones and muscles, and low levels are very common in the UK, especially at the end of winter.
Who is more likely to be low
- Anyone in the UK between October and March, when sunlight isn't strong enough for your skin to make vitamin D.
- People with darker skin, who need more sun to make the same amount.
- People who spend most of their time indoors, cover their skin when outside or always use sun protection.
- Older adults, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people living with obesity.
- People with conditions that affect absorption, such as coeliac disease or Crohn's disease.
Signs people test for
Many people with low vitamin D have no symptoms. When they do, the most common are tiredness, aching bones or muscles, muscle weakness, low mood in winter and frequent infections. Very low levels over a long time can soften the bones.
Understanding your result
Results are given in nmol/L. UK guidance generally uses these bands:
- Below 25 nmol/L: deficient.
- 25 to 50 nmol/L: may be too low for some people.
- Above 50 nmol/L: enough for most people.
UK health advice is that everyone should consider a daily vitamin D supplement in autumn and winter. If your level is low, a pharmacist or doctor can advise on the right amount, and retesting after about three months shows whether it's working. Very high levels are rare and usually come from taking high-dose supplements for a long time.
How it works at VitaLync
- £49 for the test, plus a £25 blood draw at our Slough, Victoria or Neasden clinic, or a nurse visit at home or work.
- No fasting and no special preparation. Book any time of day.
- The laboratory usually reports vitamin D within about 4 hours of receiving your sample, and your result appears in your secure online account.
To check other common shortfalls at the same time, see our Basic Vitamin Screen, or add vitamin B12 and ferritin (iron stores). For bone health, our Bone Profile checks calcium and related markers.
