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Test Code FOL Folate, Serum

Important Note

Many dietary supplements promoted for hair, skin, and nail benefits contain Biotin (Vitamin B7) levels up to 650 times the recommended daily intake.  High levels of Biotin can cause clinically significant incorrect lab test results, resulting in falsely high or falsely low results, depending on the test. Patients taking high doses of Biotin should be instructed to discontinue Biotin for at least 12 hours prior to lab testing.

Performing Laboratory

MaineGeneral Medical Center

Reference Values

Adults: 5.38-24.0 ng/mL

Day(s) Test Performed

Monday through Friday

Specimen Requirements

Draw blood in a gold-top (serum separater) gel tube(s) from a fasting patient (12 hour preferred). For pediatric specimen, draw blood in a red-top MICROTAINER(S)®. Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. Protect specimen from light. Label specimen with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw, and phlebotomist’s initials.

 

Hemolyzed specimens are not acceptable.

 

Specimen stability:

8 hours at room temperature

2 days refrigerated at 2-8°C

30 days when frozen at  ≤ -20°C

 

Minimum volume:

1 mL
 

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82746

Methodology

Chemiluminescent immunoassay