| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Folate, Serum
Test Code466
CPT Codes
82746
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Amber vial
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.
Transport Container
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 36 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolysis
Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)
Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: Next day
Reference Range
| ≤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 |
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
| Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute |
| 14225 Newbrook Drive |
| Chantilly, VA 20153 |
