Folate levels have diagnostic significance in nutritional deficiencies, especially in cases of severe alcoholism, function damage to the upper third of small bowel, pregnancy and various forms of megoblastic anemia. Since serum folate levels are subject to rapid change reflecting diet and absorption, RBC folate may be a better diagnostic tool since the levels remain fairly constant.
2.0 mL Whole Blood from a Lavender Top Tube - EDTA into an Amber Vial
Folate protected from light
5 days Ambient
5 days Refrigerated (preferred)
Hematocrit
48 hours Ambient
48 hours Refrigerated (preferred)
Unacceptable Frozen
Protect from Light whole blood to be poured into Amber Vial.
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.
0.2 mL Whole Blood
>280 ng/mL RBC
Folate levels have diagnostic significance in nutritional deficiencies, especially in cases of severe alcoholism, function damage to the upper third of small bowel, pregnancy and various forms of megoblastic anemia. Since serum folate levels are subject to rapid change reflecting diet and absorption, RBC folate may be a better diagnostic tool since the levels remain fairly constant.
1 to 2 days
00912747
82747
Recommended as outpatient testing only