Laboratory Medicine

Test catalogue

Folate, RBC
Test Name Folate, RBC
Specimen Type / Requirements Container Type = 1 Lavender (EDTA) Minimum Testing Volume = 0.5 mL whole blood Tube must fill to at least ½ or greater of its vacuum capacity
Specimen Handling Collection Instructions: Collect sample in lavender top (EDTA). Studies have shown that degradation of folate due to fluorescent light up to one week after blood collection is small and unlikely to affect accuracy of results. Write your initials, date and time of collection on the collection label or requisition. Laboratory Staff Instructions: : Place samples in -20°C freezer if testing will not be performed in 2hrs. Rejection Criteria: Gross hemolysis, unlabeled or samples of non sufficient quantity. Stability: Stable at room temperature for 2 hours, refrigerated for 1 day, and frozen for 28 days. Hemolysate sample stable for 1 month at -20 °C. Can withstand 3 freeze/thaw cycles. Transportation: Send sample to core lab as soon as possible.
Required Documentation
Turnaround Time (TAT) 48 hours	Test Utilization N/A
Reference Value Normal > 1475 nmol/L Deficient < 1475 nmol/L
Test Code RBFOL	Methodology Competitive Binding Principle Immunoassay
Testing Location SMH-Biochemistry	Other Information Last Updated: June 22, 2026

Folate, RBC

Test Name

Folate, RBC

Specimen Type / Requirements

Container Type = 1 Lavender (EDTA)

Minimum Testing Volume = 0.5 mL whole blood

Tube must fill to at least ½ or greater of its vacuum capacity

Specimen Handling

Collection Instructions: Collect sample in lavender top (EDTA). Studies have shown that degradation of folate due to fluorescent light up to one week after blood collection is small and unlikely to affect accuracy of results.

Write your initials, date and time of collection on the collection label or requisition.

Laboratory Staff Instructions: : Place samples in -20°C freezer if testing will not be performed in 2hrs.

Rejection Criteria: Gross hemolysis, unlabeled or samples of non sufficient quantity.

Stability: Stable at room temperature for 2 hours, refrigerated for 1 day, and frozen for 28 days.

Hemolysate sample stable for 1 month at -20 °C. Can withstand 3 freeze/thaw cycles.

Transportation: Send sample to core lab as soon as possible.

Required Documentation

Turnaround Time (TAT)

48 hours

Test Utilization

N/A

Reference Value

Normal > 1475 nmol/L

Deficient < 1475 nmol/L

Test Code

RBFOL

Methodology

Competitive Binding Principle Immunoassay

Testing Location

SMH-Biochemistry

Other Information

Last Updated: June 22, 2026