Folate

Folic acid, Vitamin B9, Pteroglutamic acid

24 hours

Competitive immunoassay

Accredited NRL Laboratory

Daily

Folate has limited clinical utility but is primarily used as a marker of folate deficiency.

Results are reported in conventional units (ng/mL)

Serum or Plasma

0.5 mL

Serum (SST; Gold Top or plain serum; Red Top) - Preferred, Lithium Heparin Plasma with gel separator (PST; Green Top) - acceptable

High doses of Biotin (Vitamin B7) may potentially interfere with the results for this test. The effect of Biotin interference can be greatly reduced or eliminated if the sample is taken at least 8 hours following the last dose.

This test does not require any special collection or pre-analytical handling. Follow routine specimen collection protocols.