🌱 Plant-Based & Vegetarian Check

For everyone · 9 markers · $211.45 with code CAMERON $234.95

Vegan, vegetarian, or mostly plant-based — whether you've been doing it a decade or three months.

🩸 Order this exact panel — 10% off

All 9 markers load into your cart in one click. No doctor's visit, drawn at any Quest location in the US, results by email in about two weeks. Code CAMERON applies automatically.

Add all 9 markers — $211.45 → Open the full Bloodwork Vault →

Why this panel

A well-planned plant-based diet is genuinely healthy, and the honest version of this is that it runs short on a small, specific and entirely predictable list of nutrients. This panel checks that list rather than the vague 'are you getting enough protein' conversation, which is rarely the actual problem.

💡 What most people missB12 is the one that causes permanent damage, and serum B12 lies. Deficiency causes irreversible neurological injury if left long enough, and serum B12 can read normal while you're genuinely deficient — MMA is the marker that catches it. The second is iron: plant iron is non-haem and far less absorbable, so intake can look fine on paper while ferritin falls. And the most overlooked is iodine — it's mainly in dairy and seafood, plant milks are usually not fortified, and deficiency causes hypothyroidism.
⏰ When to get it drawnMorning, fasted. Off any B-complex or biotin supplement for 72 hours — it distorts both B12 and thyroid results.

The 9 markers — and why each one is here

Vitamin B12 $19.00
The critical one — deficiency causes irreversible nerve damage
Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) $80.00
Catches true deficiency when serum B12 reads falsely normal
Ferritin $9.00
Plant iron absorbs poorly; stores fall before anaemia appears
Iron Panel (Iron, TIBC, UIBC, Sat%) $9.50
Confirms deficiency and rules out the opposite
Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) $20.00
Limited plant sources; D3 is usually animal-derived
Zinc, Plasma $20.00
Phytates in grains and legumes reduce absorption substantially
Iodine $48.00
Mainly dairy and seafood — plant milks are often unfortified
Homocysteine $20.45
Rises when B12, folate or B6 are short — a functional cross-check
Complete Blood Count (CBC) w/ Differential $9.00
MCV picks up both B12 and iron problems
✓ How to read the resultsRaised MMA with a 'normal' B12 means real deficiency — act on it. Ferritin under 30 needs iron, taken with vitamin C and away from tea and coffee, which block non-haem absorption hard. Low iodine → check thyroid. Raised homocysteine suggests B12, folate or B6 shortfall. Folate is usually excellent on this diet and calcium is often fine — this panel is as much about what you can stop worrying about.

Related panels

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🔒 Your results, explained

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Frequently asked questions

What blood tests are in the Plant-Based & Vegetarian Check panel?

9 markers: Vitamin B12, Methylmalonic Acid (MMA), Ferritin, Iron Panel (Iron, TIBC, UIBC, Sat%), Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy), Zinc, Plasma, Iodine, Homocysteine, Complete Blood Count (CBC) w/ Differential.

How much does the Plant-Based & Vegetarian Check panel cost?

$234.95 before discount, $211.45 with code CAMERON applied automatically. Individual markers add a one-time $10 draw fee. Ordered through Marek Diagnostics and drawn at any Quest Diagnostics location in the US.

Do I need a doctor's order for these tests?

No. These are ordered direct-to-consumer through Marek Diagnostics — you order online, walk into a Quest location, and results are emailed to you in about two weeks. No physician visit or insurance required. Not available in NY, NJ or RI.

When should I get the Plant-Based & Vegetarian Check panel drawn?

Morning, fasted. Off any B-complex or biotin supplement for 72 hours — it distorts both B12 and thyroid results.

How do I interpret Plant-Based & Vegetarian Check results?

Raised MMA with a 'normal' B12 means real deficiency — act on it. Ferritin under 30 needs iron, taken with vitamin C and away from tea and coffee, which block non-haem absorption hard. Low iodine → check thyroid. Raised homocysteine suggests B12, folate or B6 shortfall. Folate is usually excellent on this diet and calcium is often fine — this panel is as much about what you can stop worrying about.

Important: This page is education only, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. A panel is a starting point for a conversation with a clinician, not a substitute for one. Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay — always compare against the range printed on your own report.