FOLATE

Test Code

FOLS (OE), FOL (LAB)

Alias/See Also

Folic Acid
Vitamin B9

CPT Codes
82746

Preferred Specimen

1 Gold tube (SST)

OR

1 Red tube

Patient Preparation
Fasting at least 8 hours

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

1 Green tube (Lithium Heparin)

Instructions

Centrifuge for complete separation of serum or plasma from red cells WITHIN 2 HOURS of collection.

Transport Container

GOLD Tube

Transport Temperature

Refrigerate

Specimen Stability

2-8°C up to 7 days
Frozen samples are stable for 6 months

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Hemolyzed

Methodology
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay

Setup Schedule

M, T, W, Th, F, Sa, Sun

As received; STAT testing is available

Report Available

Same day received

Reference Range

≥5.9 ng/mL

Clinical Significance

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.

Performing Laboratory
Alverno Central Lab

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.