What's the difference between vitamin A and beta-carotene?

Retinol (vitamin A) is the active form your body uses directly. Beta-carotene is a provitamin found in plants that your body converts to retinol as needed. You cannot develop vitamin A toxicity from beta-carotene alone—conversion is self-limiting. However, very high beta-carotene intake can cause harmless orange skin discoloration.

Can vitamin A supplements be dangerous?

Yes, vitamin A toxicity is possible because it's fat-soluble and stored in the liver. Chronic intake above 10,000 IU/day can cause toxicity over time, with symptoms including headaches, nausea, skin changes, bone pain, and liver damage. Pregnant women should avoid high-dose vitamin A due to birth defect risk.

Why might someone be deficient in vitamin A?

Common causes include inadequate dietary intake (rare in developed countries), fat malabsorption conditions (celiac, Crohn's, pancreatic insufficiency, cystic fibrosis), gastric bypass surgery, liver disease, and zinc deficiency (zinc is needed to release vitamin A from liver stores).

Is vitamin A the same as Accutane/isotretinoin?

Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a synthetic retinoid derived from vitamin A, used for severe acne. Taking vitamin A supplements while on isotretinoin is dangerous due to additive toxicity risk. If you're on retinoid medications, discuss any supplementation with your provider.

Back to Tests

💊 Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin A (Retinol) Blood Test

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision (especially night vision), immune function, skin health, cell growth, and reproduction.

Vitamin A refers to a group of fat-soluble compounds including retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid. It plays irreplaceable roles in vision—particularly night vision and color perception—immune system function, skin cell turnover, bone growth, and reproductive health. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant.

Unlike water-soluble vitamins, vitamin A is stored in the liver and can accumulate to toxic levels with excessive intake. This makes testing valuable to ensure you're in the optimal range—neither deficient nor at risk of toxicity.

Dietary vitamin A comes in two forms: preformed vitamin A (retinol) from animal sources like liver, fish, eggs, and dairy; and provitamin A carotenoids (like beta-carotene) from colorful fruits and vegetables that your body converts to retinol. This test measures retinol, the active form circulating in your blood.

Price

$32

All-in

$50

incl. $18 lab & physician fee

Results

3-5 business days

Fasting

Not Required

What's Measured

Vitamin A

What This Test Measures

This test measures retinol (vitamin A) concentration in your blood serum. Normal levels typically range from 28-86 mcg/dL. Levels below 20 mcg/dL indicate deficiency, while levels above 100 mcg/dL may suggest toxicity risk.

Who Should Consider This Test

People with night blindness or vision changes, those with dry skin, eyes, or recurrent infections, individuals with malabsorption conditions (celiac, Crohn's, cystic fibrosis), people who've had gastric bypass surgery, those taking high-dose vitamin A supplements or using retinoid medications, and people with liver disease.

Health Insights

Conditions Screened

Vitamin A deficiencyVitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A)Malabsorption disordersLiver disease evaluationNight blindness workupXerophthalmia (dry eye)

Related Symptoms

Night blindnessDry eyesDry, rough, or scaly skinFrequent infectionsSlow wound healingAcne or skin problemsHair lossImpaired growth (children)

When to Get Tested

Fasting for 8-12 hours is recommended as recent fat intake can affect levels. Avoid vitamin A supplements for 24 hours before testing for baseline assessment.

No fasting needed. How to prepare for your blood test →

Understanding Your Results

Normal vitamin A is 28-86 mcg/dL. Low levels indicate deficiency requiring supplementation and investigation of underlying causes. High levels (>100 mcg/dL) may indicate toxicity risk, especially with continued supplementation. Chronic toxicity can cause liver damage, bone problems, and birth defects.

What to Expect

After placing your order, we send it straight to Quest Diagnostics — there is no consent form to sign and no partner email to wait for. Your requisition is usually ready to download from your dashboard within about an hour, and you can book your blood draw at any Quest Diagnostics location.

The blood draw typically takes just a few minutes. Results are usually available within 3-5 business days and will appear in your secure JustLabs dashboard.

Our results include reference ranges and easy-to-understand indicators showing whether your values are within normal limits.

How much does the Vitamin A test cost?

The Vitamin A test costs $32 at JustLabs — $50 all-in, since the $18 lab & physician order fee is charged once per order, however many tests you add. The price is fixed before your blood draw; no insurance or doctor visit needed.

Option	Price	Order all-in	Notes
Vitamin A at JustLabsDrawn at Quest Diagnostics	$32	$50	Includes the one $18 fee, charged once per order

Paying with an HSA or FSA? See which lab tests qualify

Frequently Asked Questions

Vitamins & Minerals1 biomarker

Hospital cash price: $100–$200

$32

+ $18 order fee · $50 all-inOne $18 fee per order covers your Quest blood draw and the independent physician order, however many tests you add.

Results in 3-5 business days
No fasting required
Physician order included

No insurance needed · HSA/FSA eligible

Physician-ordered
CLIA-certified Quest lab
Drawn at Quest Diagnostics

Need Help Choosing?

Not sure if this is the right test for you? Take our quick questionnaire.

Take the Quiz

Related Tests

Zinc

$20

Measures zinc levels important for immune function, wound healing, and thyroid function.

2-3 days

Biomarkers:

Zinc

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy

$25

Measures vitamin D status. Deficiency is common and linked to bone health, immune function, and mood.

1-2 days

Biomarkers:

Vitamin D, 25-OH

CMP

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

$9.50

Measures 14 substances including glucose, electrolytes, kidney and liver function markers.

Fasting Required1 days

Biomarkers:

Glucose, BUN, Creatinine +13 more

$32

+ $18 order fee · $50 all-in