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- Title
The Continued Need for the Routine Assessment of Folate Status.
- Authors
Osa-Andrews, Bremansu; Sanchez, Melissa; Hashim, Ibrahim A
- Abstract
Objective The Choosing Wisely initiative recommended cessation of folate measurement, suggesting folate supplementation in macrocytic anemia. This study reviewed the need for continued blood folate testing at a large SafetyNet county teaching hospital. Methods Red blood cell (RBC) folate, vitamin B12, iron, ferritin, and hemoglobin results were obtained for utilization review. Results Of the 593 RBC folate results, 69 (11.7%) were deficient and 30 (5%) had high values. Collectively, 369 (73.9%) had normal vitamin B12 levels, 342 (70%) had low hemoglobin, 184 (62.5) had normal and 57 (19.4%) had low ferritin, 122 (38.2%) had normal and 188 (59%) had low iron levels. A total of 41 (12%) had normal folate, low ferritin, low hemoglobin, and low iron, suggestive of iron deficiency anemia. There were 11 patients who exhibited low folate, low or normal ferritin, low hemoglobin, and low iron levels, suggesting combined folate and iron deficiency anemias. Conclusion This study highlights the need for institutions to assess the applicability of national recommendations to their local population.
- Subjects
VITAMIN B12; HEMOGLOBINS; SOCIAL determinants of health; FOLIC acid deficiency; MACROCYTIC anemia; IRON; FERRITIN; FOOD security; IRON in the body; FOLIC acid; ERYTHROCYTES; DATA analysis software
- Publication
Laboratory Medicine, 2023, Vol 54, Issue 4, p424
- ISSN
0007-5027
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/labmed/lmac148