Vitamin B3 Test
The vitamin B3 test measures nicotinic acid, a form of vitamin B3 that occurs naturally in plants and animals and is also added to many foods, in a frozen serum sample. It gives a clinician a read on this nutrient as part of a broader evaluation.
About this test
Vitamin B3, also called niacin, occurs naturally in plants and animals and is added to many foods as a supplement. This test measures nicotinic acid, one form of vitamin B3, using chromatography combined with mass spectrometry on a frozen serum sample collected in a light-protected tube.
People who talk with their clinician about this test are often looking at niacin status as part of a broader nutrient evaluation, since vitamin B3 comes from both diet and supplements and the body carries it in more than one chemical form. Because the sample is collected frozen and protected from light, the handling reflects how sensitive this particular measurement is to storage and light exposure.
Test details
| Quest code | 91029 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry |
| Sample type | 1 mL frozen serum |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
Reference range
Nicotinamide; Nicotinamide is a metabolite of nicotinic acid. Due to the large variability in the metabolism of nicotinic acid, plasma concentrations of this metabolite are variable. In one study, fasting plasma concentrations were reported to be approximately 40 ng/mL. In another study it was reported that the administration of a single 1000 mg of extended-release tablet of nicotinic acid resulted in a mean peak nicotinamide concentration of 400 ng/mL between 5 and 10 hours post dose, decreasing to about 100 ng/mL by 16 hours post dose. ; ; Nicotinic Acid; Due to the large variability in the
Reference ranges are general guidance. The range printed on your own laboratory report is the one that applies to your result.
Related tests and panels
Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
The test reports two analytes: nicotinamide and nicotinic acid, both forms related to vitamin B3. Niacin is the other name Quest lists for this same nutrient. Reporting both forms together reflects that vitamin B3 occurs in the body and in food as more than one related chemical.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the vitamin B3 test measure?
It measures nicotinic acid, a form of vitamin B3, along with nicotinamide, using chromatography combined with mass spectrometry.
How is the sample collected?
The test uses a 1 mL frozen serum sample, collected in a light-protected tube, from a routine blood draw.
Do I need to prepare for a vitamin B3 test?
No preparation instructions are listed for this test, though people follow any instructions their ordering clinician provides.
Is vitamin B3 the same as niacin?
Yes. Niacin is the alias Quest lists for vitamin B3, and this test reports nicotinic acid, one of the forms niacin takes in the body.
How much does the Vitamin B3 test cost?
The cash price at Celio Health is $199. That covers the physician's order and sample collection at a Quest patient service center — no insurance is needed and there's no separate doctor's visit to pay for.