Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Collect

Collect 4mL blood in a serum separator tube or 4mL in a plain red top tube. Separate serum from cells immediately by centrifuge, and aliquot into a labeled polypropylene or similar plastic tube.

Preferred volume: 1 mL serum

Specimen Preparation

Protect specimen from sunlight

Pediatric Collection

Minimum volume: 0.3mL serum

Unacceptable Conditions

Grossly hemolyzed specimens, exposure to sunlight

Storage Transport Temp

Frozen. Send frozen serum Priority Overnight via FedEx and in a well insulated container, on dry ice.

Stability

Stability after cell separation:       
7 days refrigerated at 2-8°C
30 day frozen at -20°C  (3 thaws only)

Performed

Weekdays

Methodology

2 Step Competitive Chemiluminescent

Reported

48-72 hrs from when specimen is received in the laboratory.

Department

Core Lab

Synonyms

Folic Acid (Folate, serum);FOLICX

Reference Interval

All: 4.0 - 20.0 ng/mL

CPT Code

82746