Folate, Serum

Folate, Serum

Alternate Test Name

Folic Acid

Epic Mnemonic
Sunquest Mnemonic

LAB69
FOL

Category

Chemistry

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay

Test Performance Schedule

Sunday - Saturday

Result Availability

Within 24 hours

Container

Gold top (SST) or Red top (serum) tube

Volume

Pref. Vol.: 1.0 mL serum
Min. Vol.: 0.5 mL serum

Collection Instructions

• Routine venipuncture

• Immediately after collection, gently invert tube 5-10 times

• Clot 30 minutes

• Promptly centrifuge 10 minutes

• If no gel barrier is present immediately transfer serum or plasma to a plastic tube and refrigerate

• Properly centrifuged gel barrier tube does not require transfer of serum or plasma to separate tube

•Avoid prolonged exposure to light

Transportation Instructions

Refrigerated

Protect from light

Stability

• NOTE: Store the samples protected from light

• Room Temperature: 2 hours

• Refrigerated: 2 days
• Frozen: 4 Weeks at -20 °C

Causes for Rejection

Hemolysis may significantly increase folate values due to high concentrations of folate in red blood cells. Therefore, hemolyzed samples are not suitable for use in this assay.

Biotin, also referred to as Vitamin B7 or Vitamin H, can interfere with this test when taken in mega doses of 5mg (5000 mcg) or more. It is often promoted as a skin and hair beauty aid. Please ask your patients to refrain from taking Biotin or supplements containing Biotin for at least 24 hours before collecting specimens for lab testing.
Samples collected from non-fasting persons
Samples not protected from light

https://biotinfacts.roche.com/
https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/safety/alertsandnotices/ucm586505.htm

Remarks

Do not ADD test

CPT Codes

82746

Effective/Revised

Nutritional and macrocytic anemias can be caused by a deficiency of folate. This deficiency can result from diets devoid of raw fruits, vegetables or other foods rich in folic acid, as may be the case with chronic alcoholics, drug addicts, the elderly or persons of low socioeconomic status, etc. In addition, low serum folate during pregnancy has been associated with neural tube defects in the fetus. Dietary deficiency and malabsorption are the major causes of folate deficiency in humans. Folate is necessary for normal metabolism, DNA synthesis and red blood cell regeneration. Untreated deficiencies may lead to megaloblastic anemia.

Since a deficiency of either vitamin B12 or folate can cause megaloblastic anemia, it is advisable to determine the concentration of both vitamin B12 and folate in order to properly diagnose the etiology of anemia.