FOLATE, SERUM

"Clinical Significance
Folate, Serum - Folic acid deficiency is common in pregnant women, alcoholics, in patients whose diets do not include raw fruits and vegetables, and in people with structural damage to the small intestine. The most reliable and direct method of diagnosing folate deficiency is the determination of folate levels in both erythrocytes and serum. Low folic acid levels, however, can also be the result of a primary vitamin B12 deficiency that decreases the ability of cells to take up folic acid.

Preferred Specimen(s)
1 mL serum

Alternative Specimen(s)
Amber vial

Minimum Volume
0.5 mL

Collection Instructions
Dietary supplements containing biotin may interfere in assays and may skew analyte results to be either falsely high or falsely low. For patients receiving the recommended daily doses of biotin, draw samples at least 8 hours following the last biotin supplementation. For patients on mega-doses of biotin supplements, draw samples at least 72 hours following the last biotin supplementation.

Note: If transport to performing laboratory will exceed 24 hours please transport refrigerated (cold packs)

Transport Container
Serum Separator Tube (SST®)

Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 36 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days

Reject Criteria
Hemolysis

Setup Schedule, Transport Temperature"

Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)

Reference Range(s)
≤4 years    Not established
5-9 years    >7.1 ng/mL
10-17 years    >8.0 ng/mL
      
≥18 years     
  Low    <3.4 ng/mL
  Borderline    3.4-5.4 ng/mL
  Normal    >5.4 ng/mL

Alternative Name(s)
Folic Acid