Folate (Folic Acid), Serum

Casandra

Casandra Test Code LC55130Version 1 (DRAFT)

Performing Lab

Lab LabcorpLab Test ID 002014CPT Code 82746

Folate (Folic Acid), Serum

Clinical Use

Use

Detect folate deficiency; monitor therapy with folate; evaluate megaloblastic and macrocytic anemia; evaluate alcoholic patients and those with prior jejunoileal bypass for morbid obesity or those with intestinal blind-loop syndrome

Special Instructions

This test may exhibit interference when sample is collected from a person who is consuming a supplement with a high dose of biotin (also termed as vitamin B7 or B8, vitamin H, or coenzyme R). It is recommended to ask all patients who may be indicated for this test about biotin supplementation. Patients should be cautioned to stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours prior to the collection of a sample.

Limitations

Folate assays of samples from patients receiving therapy with certain pharmaceuticals (e.g., methotrexate or leucovorin), are contraindicated because of the cross-reactivity of folate-binding protein with these compounds. Serum samples should not be altered with additives (biocides, antioxidants, or substances possibly changing the pH of the sample) in order to avoid erroneous folate recovery. Hemolysis may significantly increase folate values due to high concentrations of folate in red blood cells; therefore, hemolyzed samples are not suitable for this assay. Samples with extremely high total protein concentrations (e.g., patients suffering from Waldenström macroglobulinemia) are not suitable for use in this assay, since they may lead to the formation of protein gel in the assay cup. Erroneous findings may be obtained from samples taken from patients who have been treated with monoclonal mouse antibodies or have received them for diagnostic purposes. In rare cases, interference due to extremely high titers of antibodies to streptavidin and ruthenium can occur.

Test Details