folic acid
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Folate (vitamin B9) is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin essential for DNA synthesis, repair, methylation, and red blood cell production. Folate deficiency can lead to megaloblastic anemia, characterized by large, immature red blood cells, and in pregnancy, is associated with neural tube defects in the fetus. Serum folate reflects recent dietary intake, while red blood cell (RBC) folate provides a better indicator of long-term folate status. Causes of folate deficiency include poor dietary intake, malabsorption (e.g., celiac disease), increased requirements (e.g., pregnancy, hemolysis), and use of certain medications such as methotrexate or phenytoin. In clinical practice, folate testing is often ordered alongside vitamin B12 and homocysteine to evaluate macrocytic anemia or suspected nutritional deficiencies.
References
Green, R., & Miller, J. W. (2005). Folate deficiency beyond megaloblastic anemia: Hyperhomocysteinemia and other manifestations. Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 20(3), 341–348. https://doi.org/10.1177/0115426505020003341
O’Leary, F., & Samman, S. (2010). Vitamin B12 in health and disease. Nutrients, 2(3), 299–316. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu2030299
Tamura, T., & Picciano, M. F. (2006). Folate and human reproduction. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 83(5), 993–1016. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/83.5.993
Statement on Medical Necessity
All ordered tests should be medically necessary for the diagnosis or detection of disease, illness, impairment, symptom, syndrome, or disorder and the results should be used in the medical management and treatment decisions for the patient. Solaris requires ICD-10 codes with each order for lab testing and both the tests ordered and the diagnosis should be documented in the provider’s medical record for the patient. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, takes the position that a provider who orders medically unnecessary tests may be subject to civil penalties.
Panels and Profiles
Solaris offers Providers the convenience of ordering test combinations in a group at times with the flexibility to choose appropriate test(s) for individual patients. Providers should only order those tests that he or she believes are medically necessary for each patient, and a lesser inclusive profile or individual tests should be ordered if not all tests in the test combination/profile are medically necessary. All tests offered in a test combination/profile may be ordered separately as individual tests. Solaris encourages clients to contact their Solaris representative if the testing configurations shown do not meet individual needs for any reason, or if some other combination of procedures is needed.
CPT Codes
CPT Codes listed are in accordance with Current Procedural Terminology, a publication of the American Medical Association. CPT codes are the responsibility of the billing party and are listed here for informational purposes. Correct coding may vary from one carrier to another. Solaris may bill specific carriers using codes other than what is shown.
For questions or inquiries related to testing please reach out to
customerservice@solarisdx.com or contact us by phone at (844) 550-0308.
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