ST AIA-PACK RBC FOLATE

Folate is an essential dietary requirement and may be found as polyglutamate forms in a variety of leafy plants and animal organ tissues. Folate is converted to monoglutamates and absorbed in the jejunal mucosa of the small intestine. After enterocyte conversion, folic acid is released into portal circulation. The majority of folic acid circulates in human serum primarily as N5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Deficiencies of either folate or vitamin B12 may result in megaloblastic anemia and neuropathy. Folate deficiency may be produced by several factors including inadequate dietary intake, intestinal malabsorption, pregnancy, alcoholism and a variety of drugs, including oral contraceptives and anticonvulsants. Although serum folate offers a reliable test, it fluctuates resulting from dietary changes. Erythrocyte folate or folate in red blood cells, however, does not become depleted as quickly as serum and is much more concentrated than that in serum. Erythrocyte folate concentration correlates well with other indexes of folate deficiency such as bone-marrow cell morphology and hematological changes. Therefore, erythrocyte folate concentration is considered as a reliable indicator of folate status.

Technical specifications

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