Blocking folate receptor autoantibody
- Looks for
- Antibodies that sit on the folate receptor (FRα) and directly block folate from attaching to it.
- If positive
- Folate may be unable to enter the brain through its main receptor pathway.
4.6 on Google from 157 reviews
FRAT Test in India with Home Sample Collection
Specialised FRAT testing by Altus Diagnostic Pvt. Ltd. checks for folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAbs), which are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral folate deficiency (CFD). Every test runs under the clinical supervision of Dr. Alok Gupta, MD Pathology, Ex-PGIMER, Chandigarh, with more than 12 years of diagnostic expertise.
₹8,500
Free collection at your home. Report in 5–7 working days once your sample reaches our reference lab.
Talk directly to our team. Lines open 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM, every day.
Our lines are closed for the night. Book now and we'll call you after 7:30 AM to confirm.
- Madhya Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
- Jharkhand
- West Bengal
- Gujarat
- Rajasthan
- and across India
Home collection across India
NABL-accredited reference lab
- No fasting neededWe guide you before the visit
- Free home collectionPhlebotomist suited to your child's age
- Tested in our own reference labIn Chandigarh, never outsourced
- NABL-accredited reference labServing families since 2013
- 3,000+ home collectionsAcross India
- Reports widely acceptedPGI, AIIMS and major hospitals
FRAT test details at a glance
Everything you need to know before you book.
Test summaryAltus Lab, Chandigarh
- Sample
- A small blood sample, collected at your home
- Fasting
- Not needed; our team guides you
- Price
- ₹8,500, with free home collection
- Report
- 5–7 working days once the sample reaches our reference lab, sent on WhatsApp and email
- Supervised by
- Dr. Alok Gupta, MD Pathology, Ex-PGIMER, Chandigarh
- Reference lab
- NABL accredited, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh
₹8,500, with home collection included
FRAT test
₹8,500
Free home collection, wherever you are
- Collected at home by a phlebotomist chosen for your child's age
- Held at the right low temperature and flown to Chandigarh in an international-grade cold chain
- Tested in our own NABL-accredited reference lab
- Report supervised by an MD pathologist, sent on WhatsApp and email
How we keep the FRAT test at ₹8,500
Tested in-house, not outsourced
We run the test ourselves at our reference lab in Chandigarh. Your sample is not sent on to another lab, so nobody else adds a margin.
Reference lab in Chandigarh UT
An NABL-accredited reference lab based in Chandigarh. Samples from across India are tested at this facility.
No incentives for referrals
Doctors and patients choose us for the quality of our work and the authenticity of our reports.
Every report checked by an MD pathologist
Dr. Alok Gupta, who founded Altus Lab in 2013, supervises every FRAT test we run.
How to book, step by step
No fasting needed. Our team will guide you.
Your child can eat and drink as usual. We call before the visit to confirm the time and answer your questions, so you know what will happen on the day.
- 1
Reach us your way
Call, message us on WhatsApp, or leave your details and we call you back.
- 2
Booking confirmed
We confirm the ₹8,500 price and a collection time. Payment is due only after the sample has been collected.
- 3
Tell us where and when
Share your full address, PIN code and location, a contact number, your child's name, age and sex, and your preferred time.
- 4
Collection at home
A phlebotomist chosen for your child's age, experienced in calm and gentle blood draws for children, visits your home.
- 5
Cold-chain air transport
The sample is kept at the required low temperature to preserve its quality and flown to Chandigarh through international-grade cold-chain logistics.
- 6
Report in 5–7 working days
Counted from the day your sample reaches our reference lab, and sent on WhatsApp and email.
Your child's report is supervised by Dr. Alok Gupta
MD Pathology, Ex-PGIMER, Chandigarh. Lab Director and founder of Altus Lab.
Dr. Gupta supervises every FRAT test we run. If you have a question about the test, the sample or the report, you can talk to him before you book.
- Education
- MD Pathology, CMC Ludhiana
- Senior residency
- PGIMER, Chandigarh
- Experience
- Apollo Hospitals and Vimta Labs
- Altus Lab
- Founded 2013, NABL accredited
Neurologists and paediatricians across India refer families to us for the FRAT test.
3,000+home collections done across India
330+referring doctors
Since 2013NABL-accredited reference lab
4.6 on GoogleRead 157 reviews
What the FRAT test looks for
Folate is a B vitamin the brain needs to grow and work normally. It gets into the brain through a carrier called the folate receptor alpha. In some children and adults, the immune system makes antibodies that act against this carrier.
The FRAT test looks for these antibodies in the blood.
When doctors suggest the FRAT test
Doctors usually suggest it for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), delayed or lost developmental milestones, delayed speech, seizures or other neurodevelopmental concerns, when they want to look into cerebral folate deficiency (CFD).
Not sure whether your child needs the FRAT test? Talk to your doctor, or call us and we'll explain what the test covers.
What a result can and can't show
What it can show
A positive result means these antibodies are present and may affect how much folate reaches the brain. Your doctor reads it together with your child's history and other tests.
What it can't show
The FRAT test does not diagnose autism or any other condition on its own. A negative result doesn't rule out other causes of your child's symptoms.
FRAT test vs a routine folate test
A routine folate test tells you how much folate is in the blood. The FRAT test checks for two kinds of antibodies that can keep folate from reaching the brain, so a child with normal blood folate can still be advised a FRAT test.
| Comparison | Routine folate test | FRAT test |
|---|---|---|
| What it checks | The amount of folate in the blood | Blocking and binding antibodies that can disrupt the receptor carrying folate into the brain |
| Detects folate receptor antibodies | No | Yes, both blocking and binding |
| Usually used for | General checks of folate levels and nutrition | Specialist testing when a doctor is looking into cerebral folate deficiency, often in children with ASD, developmental delay or seizures |
What the FRAT test looks for
Binding folate receptor autoantibody
- Looks for
- Antibodies that bind to the receptor and alter its position, so it takes up less folate.
- If positive
- Points to an immune response that may be disrupting folate transport.
Neither result is a diagnosis on its own. Your child's doctor interprets the report alongside the history and other tests.
Other tests doctors may advise for autism
Some doctors advise these alongside the FRAT test when they want to look at a child's metabolism, nutrition or exposure to metals. All of them are available at Altus Lab.
Organic acids test (OAT)
Looks at organic acids in urine, which reflect how the body breaks down food and uses nutrients.
MTHFR gene test
Checks for common changes in the MTHFR gene, which plays a part in how the body processes folate.
Heavy metal test
Measures metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic in the body.
Vitamin B12 and folate
Measures vitamin B12 and folate levels in the blood, which doctors often read alongside the FRAT result.
Book these only if your doctor has advised them. If they have, tell our team when you book your FRAT test.
FRAT test home collection in your state
We collect samples at home in these cities and in other towns across each state.
FRAT test in Madhya Pradesh
- Indore
- Bhopal
- Jabalpur
- Gwalior
- Ujjain
FRAT test in Uttar Pradesh
- Lucknow
- Kanpur
- Varanasi
- Prayagraj
- Agra
FRAT test in Jharkhand
- Ranchi
- Jamshedpur
- Dhanbad
- Bokaro
- Hazaribagh
FRAT test in West Bengal
- Kolkata
- Howrah
- Siliguri
- Durgapur
- Asansol
FRAT test in Gujarat
- Ahmedabad
- Surat
- Vadodara
- Rajkot
- Gandhinagar
FRAT test in Rajasthan
- Jaipur
- Jodhpur
- Udaipur
- Kota
- Ajmer
Don't see your city? We serve all towns and cities across India. Call +91 628 421 4977 to confirm availability in your area.
FRAT test questions, answered
How much does the FRAT test cost?
The FRAT test costs ₹8,500 at Altus Lab. The price includes sample collection at your home, transport of the sample to our reference lab in Chandigarh, testing and the report. There is no extra charge for home collection.
Do you collect FRAT test samples at home in my state?
Yes. We collect samples at home across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Gujarat and Rajasthan, including Indore, Lucknow, Ranchi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. We also cover other towns and cities across India. Call +91 628 421 4977 to confirm a visit in your area.
What does the FRAT test check?
The FRAT (Folate Receptor Autoantibody Test) is a blood test that looks for antibodies against the folate receptor alpha. This receptor carries folate, a B vitamin, into the brain. The test checks for two kinds of these antibodies: blocking and binding.
Does the FRAT test diagnose autism?
No. The FRAT test does not diagnose autism or any other condition. It shows whether folate receptor antibodies are present in the blood. Your doctor reads the result alongside your child's history and other tests. Doctors most often advise it 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.
Does my child need to fast before the test?
No fasting is needed. Before the visit, our team calls you to confirm the time and explain what to expect, so you know what will happen on the day.
Do I pay before the home visit?
No. You pay after the phlebotomist has collected the sample. We confirm the ₹8,500 price when we book your visit.
How does the sample reach your reference lab from another state?
Right after collection, the sample is kept at the required low temperature to protect its quality, then air-lifted to our reference lab in Chandigarh through international-grade cold-chain logistics. It usually reaches us within 1 to 3 days.
When will I get the FRAT report?
The report is ready in 5–7 working days, counted from the day the sample reaches our reference lab. We send it to you on WhatsApp and email.
Who checks the FRAT report?
Every FRAT test at Altus Lab is supervised by Dr. Alok Gupta, MD Pathology, Ex-PGIMER, Chandigarh. Altus Lab is NABL accredited, and our reports are accepted at PGI, AIIMS and major hospitals.
Why is the FRAT test ₹8,500 at Altus Lab?
We run the FRAT test ourselves at our reference lab in Chandigarh, so no other lab adds its margin. Altus Lab is an NABL-accredited reference lab where samples from across India are tested, and we do not offer incentives for referrals.
Do you offer other tests that doctors advise for autism?
Yes. Altus Lab also offers the organic acids test (OAT), the MTHFR gene test, heavy metal testing, and vitamin B12 and folate tests. If your doctor has advised any of these, tell our team when you book the FRAT test.
Book your child's FRAT test with home collection
₹8,500, with free sample collection at your home. Talk to our team, 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM, every day.
Prefer WhatsApp? Message us on WhatsApp