Ulta Lab Tests Review: How It Works, Prices, and Folate Testing

Ulta Lab Tests is an online service that lets you buy blood tests without a separate doctor's visit and then give a sample at a Quest Diagnostics location; it says a doctor's order is included.¹ It suits people who want low listed prices on standard blood tests, including a vitamin B12 and folate panel listed at $41.95 in October 2026, and who live in a state it serves.²³ People in New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island cannot use it, and anyone who wants to use insurance should look elsewhere.³

We have not used Ulta Lab Tests. This review is based on Ulta's own published pages, checked on October 2, 2026, and government sources on lab quality.

Quick answer: who Ulta Lab Tests suits

What is Ulta Lab Tests and how does it work?

Ulta Lab Tests says it offers over 2,000 lab tests and 400 lab panels.⁶ The process it describes has three steps: order your tests, visit a lab near you that you select at checkout, and receive results in 1 to 2 business days for most tests.⁶

• Ordering: Ulta says you do not need to see a physician to get a lab test through its site.³ Its promotions page lists "doctor's order included."¹
• Collection: Ulta names Quest Diagnostics as its partner and refers to about 2,100 Quest locations, most accepting walk-ins or appointments.¹
• Lab quality: Its FAQ says all specimens are analyzed at national CLIA-certified laboratories.³
• Results: You get an email when results are ready, usually within 1 to 3 business days, and PDFs you can share with your clinician.³
• Follow-up: Ulta says it will contact you if the lab flags a critical or panic value, or a positive result for a communicable disease, but it strongly recommends reviewing all results with your own clinician.³

What to expect at the lab visit

Ulta describes its service as direct-access testing: the patient starts the request online, and a licensed clinician or another authorized process may still review or authorize the lab order when required.⁵ You pick a collection site at checkout and then visit that lab.⁶

Ulta's own guidance says not every patient service center performs every specimen type, so it suggests using its location finder and confirming hours, appointment policy, age limits, order acceptance, and specimen capability before you travel.⁵ Ulta says most of the Quest locations it uses accept walk-ins or scheduled appointments.¹

After the draw, results appear in a private online dashboard, with PDF copies you can share with your clinician.³ Ulta's B12 and folate page advises having results reviewed by a licensed healthcare professional for proper interpretation.²

What do customers say?

Ulta's product pages display ratings collected through a third-party service called Verified Reviews; the B12 and folate page showed an average of 4.9 out of 5 based on 7,491 reviews when we checked.² These are customer ratings shown on Ulta's own site, not an independent quality measure, and we did not verify them.

What's included in the Vitamin B12 and Folate Panel

Ulta also lists folate and B12 separately: Folate Serum Test at $27.95 and Vitamin B12 Test at $28.95, plus a Homocysteine Test at $36.95.⁴

Folate and B12 coverage: what the result can and cannot tell you

A serum folate test reflects recent intake and is generally the first-line folate test; red blood cell folate reflects longer-term status.⁷⁸ Checking B12 at the same time is standard practice, because B12 and folate deficiency can look alike and folic acid can correct the anemia of B12 deficiency while nerve damage continues.⁹¹⁰

NIH describes serum folate above 3 ng/mL as adequate, but each lab sets its own reference range, so use the range printed on your report.⁸ A high folate result often reflects recent supplements or fortified foods and is not a diagnosis by itself.¹¹⁸ Our folate blood test guide explains results in detail, and our page on folic acid and vitamin B12 covers why the two are tested together.

Why the lab's CLIA status matters

CLIA is the federal program that sets quality standards for labs testing human specimens such as blood.¹³ Under CLIA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issues lab certificates, conducts inspections, and monitors proficiency testing, while FDA categorizes tests by complexity.¹⁴ A stated CLIA certificate is a minimum, not a guarantee that a given test is right for you.

Ulta Lab Tests pricing as listed

All prices below were listed on Ulta's site on October 2, 2026. Confirm before ordering.

Ulta runs frequent promotions; one general health panel page showed 50% off with a code when we checked.¹ Ulta does not accept insurance, but accepts major credit and debit cards and most HSA debit cards.³

Pros and cons (from published facts)

How Ulta compares with other options

• Quest (questhealth.com) sells a B12 and folate test directly at $82.00 plus a $6.00 physician fee, with results in 2 to 3 business days.¹⁶ Same lab network, higher listed price.
• Labcorp OnDemand lists its B12 and folate test at $89, collected at Labcorp, with results 1 day after the sample reaches the lab.¹⁷
• Everlywell's lab-draw service lists folate at $56 and B12 at $40, each with a $15 clinician review fee.¹⁸¹⁹ See our Everlywell review.
• Finger-prick kit companies we checked did not list folate at all.²⁰²¹²²

For the full side-by-side, see our at-home blood test hub and our guide to ordering a blood test online.

Questions to ask your clinician

• Which test do I need: serum folate, red blood cell folate, B12, or a B12 and folate panel?
• Should I also have a complete blood count, since folate and B12 problems often show up there first?¹¹⁹
• Should I keep taking my usual supplements before the draw, and when should I take biotin?²
• How will you read my result against this lab's reference range?⁸
• Is there a reason my insurance would cover this test if you ordered it?

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Doses and needs differ from person to person, so talk with your clinician or pharmacist about your situation. Read our editorial policy and medical disclaimer.