Red Cell Folate Testing
Unwarranted and Overutilized in the Era of Folic Acid Supplementation
Analytical Imprecision: RBC Folate (CAP Surveys)
November 2010
Analytical imprecision is notably worse with red cell folate assays compared to serum folate assays. This has been well documented in the literature and noticeable in proficiency testing surveys, where the variability even within the same peer group may be up to 50%. Manual sample preparation and variability among procedures to completely lyse the red blood cells are likely responsible for much of this variation.
Analytical Imprecision: RBC Folate |
Jump to section:
- Introduction
- Folate
- Folate
- Selected Food Sources of Folate and Folic Acid*
- Causes of Folate Deficiency
- Laboratory Diagnosis of Folate Deficiency
- Folate and Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Quantitation of Folate: Methods
- Differences Between Folate Immunoassays
- Analytical Imprecision: RBC Folate (CAP Surveys)
- Equivalence of Serum and RBC Folate
- Modern Folate Deficiency is Rare
- Mayo RBC/Serum Folate Orders 1999-2009
- Conclusions
- Questions?
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