Serum and EDTA must be collected

Due to medicare changes, if a red cell folate is requested a serum folate must be performed first and a red cell folate is performed only if the serum folate is low.

MBS Item 66840 - Serum folate test and, if required, red cell folate test for a patient at risk of folate deficiency, including patients with malabsorption conditions, macrocytic anaemia or coeliac disease



1. A serum folate concentration of > 9.1 nmol/L effectively rules out folate deficiency.
2. A serum folate concentration of < 7.0 nmol/L is diagnostic of folate deficiency.
3. Red cell folate levels and measurement of the serum concentrations of the metabolic intermediaries homocysteine (HC) and methylmalonic acid (MMA) should be reserved for patients with borderline values (serum folate concentration 7.0 – 9.1 nmol/L) and for patients in whom the serum folate level may not be easily
interpreted, eg, recent hospital meal/fasting or medical conditions listed above.