Specimen Collection

Specimens must be separated on the day of collection.

Sample stability:

• 2 hours at 20-25 ^o C
• 48 hours at 2-8 ^o C
• 28 days at -20 ^o C

4.5 mL PST Blood (Preferred)

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-PST Blood (Preferred)

5 mL Adult Heparin Blood

4 mL Adult Plain Blood

3.5 mL SST Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Microsample Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-heparin Blood
Reference Intervals

Units: nmol/L

Reference interval : 5 - 45

Values may be higher in the first year of life.

Conversion: ng/mL x 2.265 = nmol/L

Uncertainty of Measurement: 2 nmol/L at a concentration of 7 nmol/L
12% at concentrations of 15 nmol/L and higher

Haemolysed specimens may spuriously elevate the serum folate result.

Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours
Assay Method

Principle : Competitive type immunoassay with chemiluminescence detection

Reagents: Roche Elecsys Folate III

Analyser: Cobas e801

Contact Information

Emails to chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.

If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.

If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).

Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.

After-hours : contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours.

Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402

Dr Cam Kyle: CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052

Dr Weldon Chiu: WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Campbell Heron: CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe: Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Last updated at 15:26:00 06/01/2025