Update Type: Specimen collection or handling and/or storage changed
Test Updated: 06/18/2025
Test Overview
Test Methodology

Chemiluminescence

Test Usage

Note that red cell folate levels provide no additional information beyond that provided by serum folate in virtually all situations; MLabs recommends the Folic Acid, Serum assay for detection of folate deficiency or monitoring folate therapy.

Reference Range *

280 - 791 ng/mL

* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.

Test Details
Days Set Up
Sunday - Friday
Analytic Time

1 day

Soft Order Code
RBCF
MiChart Code
Folate RBC
Synonyms
  • Folic Acid, Erythrocytes
  • Red Cell Folate
  • RBC Folate
  • Folate, RBC
Laboratory
Sendout
Reference Laboratory
Warde RBCF
Section
Special Testing
Specimen Requirements
Collection Instructions

Collect specimen in a lavender top tube. Send intact EDTA whole blood frozen; do not spin or aliquot. Since specimen is submitted frozen, include a Hematocrit result from a specimen drawn within 24 hours of the RBC Folate specimen. There is a spot on the Soft label to write it

Special Handling

Send intact whole blood; do not spin or aliquot. Send frozen and be sure to include the hematocrit result written on the label

Alternate Specimen
Pink top (K2EDTA) is also acceptable
Normal Volume
3 mL EDTA whole blood
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL EDTA whole blood
Storage Temperature
Frozen
Additional Information

Test sent to Warde Medical Laboratory.

Billing
CPT Code
82747
Fee Code
23329
LOINC
2283-0
NY State Approved
No