FRAT Test in India with Free Home Sample Collection

The FRAT (Folate Receptor Autoantibody Test) is a blood test that checks for antibodies against the folate receptor alpha, the carrier that helps folate reach the brain. It looks for two types: blocking and binding antibodies.

No. The FRAT test does not diagnose autism or any other condition. It shows whether folate receptor antibodies are present. Doctors read the result together with the child's history and other tests, usually when they are looking into cerebral folate deficiency. It is most often advised for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or signs such as:

• Speech delay
• Delayed milestones, or loss of skills already learned (regression)
• Developmental delay
• Seizures or a seizure disorder
• Learning, attention or memory difficulties
• Poor eye contact
• Poor social interaction
• Apraxia (difficulty planning speech or movement) or dystonia (involuntary muscle movements)
• Aggression or anxiety

These signs have many possible causes. Having one or more of them does not mean a child has folate receptor antibodies, and the test cannot confirm or rule out autism. Please speak to your child's doctor before booking.

The FRAT test checks for folate receptor antibodies, one of the known causes of cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), a condition in which too little folate reaches the brain. Because it is a simple blood test, doctors often advise it first when they suspect CFD in a child with autism or developmental concerns. Confirming CFD itself needs a spinal fluid test (CSF 5-MTHF), which only your doctor can advise.

The FRAT test is not a test for ADHD. Some doctors advise it for children with attention difficulties when these come with other signs, such as speech or developmental delay, loss of skills or seizures, to check whether folate receptor antibodies may be playing a part. Your child's doctor is the best person to decide whether it is needed.

Doctors may advise the FRAT test when a child has speech delay, developmental delay or loss of skills already learned, especially alongside autism, seizures or movement problems. A positive result can help your doctor decide whether folinic acid (leucovorin) treatment is worth considering. Many children with delays test negative, because delays have many causes.

Doctors may advise the FRAT test for children with seizures that are hard to control, unexplained movement problems such as dystonia, loss of skills, or other neurological symptoms where cerebral folate deficiency is a possibility. It is one part of a wider evaluation by a paediatric neurologist or your child's doctor.

At Altus Lab, the FRAT test costs ₹8,500. Home sample collection is included at no extra cost, and your sample is kept cold and air-lifted to our reference lab in Chandigarh. The FRAT test cost is the same in every city in India.

We test FRAT in-house at our own reference lab, so there is no third-party lab margin and no extra handling. Altus Lab is an NABL-accredited reference lab where samples from across India are tested, and we do not offer incentives for referrals. Every test is supervised by Dr. Alok Gupta, MD Pathology, Ex-PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Yes. We serve all towns and cities across India, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Pune. Call +91 628 421 4977 to confirm availability in your area, and we will send a phlebotomist suited to your child's age.

You pay only after the sample has been collected at your home. Our team confirms the price of ₹8,500 when you book.

No fasting is needed. Our team calls you before the visit to confirm the details and explain what to expect.

The report is ready in 5–7 working days from the day the sample reaches our reference lab. Your sample is kept at the required low temperature and air-lifted to Chandigarh through cold-chain logistics, usually reaching us within 1 to 3 days. We send the report on WhatsApp and email.

Altus Lab is NABL accredited, and our reports are accepted at PGI, AIIMS and major hospitals. Every FRAT report is supervised by Dr. Alok Gupta, MD Pathology, Ex-PGIMER, Chandigarh.