Folate

FOLAT

Serum GOLD (SST)

• No hemolysis. Protect from light.
• For serum, collect blood samples in SST/Gold or Red top collection tubes. Allow tubes to clot adequately before centrifugation. For samples collected in Red top collection tubes, serum must be separated from the red blood cells within 2 hours post-centrifugation.
• For plasma, collect blood samples in PST/Green top collection tubes. Allow tubes to mix thoroughly before centrifugation. Keep tubes stoppered and upright at all times.
• Do not assay hemolyzed samples. The folate level in the red blood cells is much greater then that of the serum or plasma (heparin), leading to spuriously high results.

If samples cannot be assayed immediately, refrigerate samples at 2-8ºC. If the assay cannot be completed within 8 hours, or for the shipment of samples, freeze at -20ºC or colder. Frozen specimens can be stored up to 6 months before testing. Samples can only be thawed once..

24x7

Category	Range (ng/ml)
Deficient*	0.35 - 3.37
Indeterminate	3.38 - 5.38
Normal	>5.38

Folate is an essential vitamin vital to normal cell growth and DNA synthesis. It is present in a wide variety of foods such as dark, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, yeast, beans, eggs, and milk. It is absorbed by the small intestine and stored in the liver. A folate deficiency can lead to megaloblastic anemia and ultimately to severe neurological problems.
Folate deficiency can be caused by insufficient dietary intake, malabsorption or excessive folate utilization. Excessive utilization occurs very commonly during pregnancy. Alcoholism, hepatitis, or other liver-damaging diseases can also cause excessive folate utilization. Folate levels in both serum and red blood cells are used to assess folate status. The serum folate level is an indicator of recent folate intake. Red blood cell (RBC) folate is the best indicator of long term folate stores. A low RBC folate value can indicate a prolonged folate deficiency.